18 



Mr Charles T. Druery on 



veloped at once small palmate fronds and aerial roots, the 

 growth being so vigorous that the roots were projected 

 into a mound of soil raivsed at a distance of half an inch. 

 The second frond produced bears four buds, which are, 

 however, dormant, the growing season being over. In 

 addition to these axillary buds, there is a whitish mass of 

 apparent bud formation in the crown of the caudex at the 

 base of the fronds. The same prothallus has also developed 

 three small independent ferns from its edge ; these, how- 

 ever, are seemingly normal^ which fact, coupled with the 

 abnormal vigour of the main plant, points to a hybrid 

 origin of the latter. Fig. 2 is an altogether different form, 



Fig. 2. — Proliferous Fern Sporeling. x 2\ times. 



A, first frond ; B, second frond ; b, bulbils ; c, aerial roots ; 

 cc, root entering soil. 



being very depauperate and ramose ; the two fronds of 

 these have developed no less than thirteen buds, of which 

 the majority have evolved aerial roots, one reaching and 

 penetrating the soil. The buds on the first fronds have 

 thrown up small circinate fronds, which have so far not 

 unfolded. The genus of Athyrium, rich as it is in varia- 

 tions, has so far been remarkable for its non-proliferous 

 nature, the exhibitor failing to find any record of a bulbil- 

 bearing form ; it is, therefore, singular that two forms so 



