664 



On the power of Oxalis Acelosella and Viola canina to produce fertile 

 Seed without apparent inflorescence. By H. Deane, Esq.* 



It is now about five years since I had a glass case made wherein to 

 grow a few hardy ferns, after the manner pi-oposed by Mr. Ward, 

 and in which I discovered the curious fact lately mentioned to you 

 respecting the fertilization of the seed of Oxalis Acetosella, without 

 the slightest appearance of inflorescence, and T will now endeavour to 

 give you a correct history of the facts as observed, that in case you 

 should think them worth recording in your Phytologist you may do so. 



Having planted my ferns in small pots, they were arranged in the 

 case, and intermediate spaces carefully and lightly filled in with some 

 moss obtained from a neighbouring nurseryman. Moss was also 

 placed over the mould in the pots, to keep it moist and to protect the 

 young ferns. In the course of a few weeks many plants began to 

 spring forth from the moss, and among them a few of Oxalis Acetosella. 

 As with me the wood-sorrel has ever been a favourite plant, I allowed 

 them to grow. The first year they did not flower, but in the follow- 

 ing spring they did, but without that peculiar character which adds 

 so much to the beauty of the plant in its natural state, viz., the red- 

 ness of the stalks, and the delicate striated appearance of the petals. 

 At first I doubted its identity with my old favourite, but thought seed- 

 pods would soon decide the matter. Alas ! before the pods had time 

 to mature, the flower-stalks broke down with dropsical decay, and my 

 hopes were gone for that season. However the plants grew vigor- 

 ously, and numerous seedlings had from the early spring made their 

 appearance, so there was no fear of the stock being lost. I watched 

 my plants almost daily through the summer, and from the day that 

 the last flower fell to the ground, many buds reared their heads above 

 the foliage, and at length fell dropsical and abortive, as I thought, 

 without an attempt at expansion. Thus the second year passed 

 away. 



In the mean time I was much puzzled and surprised at the number 

 of seedling plants, that continued to rise in all directions. 



The third year, as my ferns did not make satisfactory progress, 

 the pots were removed, the greater part of the Oxalis thrown away, 

 and the moss shaken up and mixed with a little garden mould, in 

 which bed the ferns were planted mostly without the pots. The old 

 rhizomes of the Oxalis that escaped destruction, soon made new 

 plants, and numerous seedlings also sprang up, so that I began to 



* In a letter addressed to E. Newman. 



