May 12, 190(3 



M O Ml C U LT U Rt 



611 



About Abnormal Ferns 



fllix-foemi in 



Branching forma 



The production of abnormal forms in ferns is a 

 passion with many fern growers, and no wonder, for it 

 is not <mlv a very captivating wink to raise new forms. 

 but sometimes is quite remunerative as witness the new 

 forme of Boston ferns which are bringing considerable 

 money, I think, also 1 1 1 < - crested pterises, winch are 

 liked more than the type, and so on. 



The question is, how do these abnormal forms in 

 ferns originate? After one of these forms is found in 

 any species the harriers seem to be broken and it is easj 

 to get other forms from that one Boston fern was cul- 

 tivated a long time as Boston fern without any change 

 m its fronds, but since Piersoni appeared no one can 

 foresee the end of the new forms that will evolve from 

 time ti time. 



These abnormal forms me found not onlj in green- 

 houses hut also in the wild state and in some countries 

 more numerously than in others. In the British Island- 

 there bave been found more abnormal tonus in ferns 

 than in all Europe and the Tinted States together; the 

 reason why can not he explained. 



Athyrium aiix-foeiniua. Pinnae of crested forms. 



Another peculiarity which can not he explained is; 

 thai hi Japan man} of the plants growing there bave 

 been found with variegated leaves while very few are 

 found here or elsewhere. Some abnormal forms may 

 originate from spores hut there are in ferns different 

 kinds id' growth on the fronds or on the roots which 

 young plants grow and I am of the opinion that most 

 of these odd forms conic from those growths as in other 

 plant,- where shoots appear with changed foliage oi 

 differently colored (lowers and one proof of this is that 

 in propagating by spores abnormal ferns found in a. 

 wild -late they have a tendency to go hack to normal 

 forms and it is onl\ h\ selection and in the second or 

 third generation from spore -ceding that constant forms 

 are obtained. There arc a tew of the newer Boston 

 ferns raised from spores already in existence and front: 

 these will he developed in time a set of constant forms. 

 I take Boston fern lor an example because it is the 

 fern of the moment. There is no rule about reproduc- 

 ing abnormal wild-found ferns: some reproduce them- 

 selves with hut little reversion to normal while others 



Athyrium fiUx-foemina. Lunulate and oru date forms 



Athyrium liliN fiHiiiina. Showing change 

 X -Pinnae normal. 



