1023 



Note on Trichomanes speciosum. By Edward Newman. 



The curious facts handed me by Mr. Andrews, touching the longe- 

 vity of the fronds of Trich6manes, and published in 1844, have in- 

 duced me to keep a journal of a ie-w observations of my own; and 

 bearing in mind the dictum of Sir J. E. Smith, " that the slightest 

 piece of information ought to be thankfully received," I now lay my 

 journal before the readers of the 'Phytologisl.' However, let me first 

 of all quote Mr. Andrews' interesting remarks. 



" The formation of the young frond takes place about May ; the 

 stem then gradually lengthens, without much development of the cir- 

 cinate character of the frond, till September, when a more rapid growth 

 takes place ; about November the full length of the stem is attained, 

 but the pinnules are not perfectly formed, nor has the frond attained 

 its full development until the autumn of the second year ; no dispo- 

 sition to bear fruit is shown till the autumn of the third year, when 

 the involucres appear, and the setae and capsules attain maturity in 

 October." 



May 24, 1845. — Received from Mr. Moore, of Glasnevin, a small 

 plant of Trichomanes speciosum, bearing five small fronds, four of 

 them (hereafter referred to, as «, h, d and e) nearly erect, the fifth 

 (referred to as c) prostrate. The two largest, h and e, appear healthy, 

 their colour being vivid, and their ultimate divisions without any dis- 

 coloration ; the remaining three, a, c and d, were considerably 

 smaller; apparently older than the others, and exhibiting discolora- 

 tion at the extremities of their pinnae. The frond d, and the stipes 

 of the frond h, are beset with numerous seedling Jungermanniae and 

 mosses. The flower-pot containing this plant is placed in a small, 

 glazed apartment, and a drip of water so contrived as to keep the 

 plant constantly moist. 



June 24, 1845. — The plant looks unhealthy ; it is partially covered 

 with a white deposit from the water. Removed the pot from the 

 glazed house and placed it in a large milk-pan partially filled with 

 broken flower-pots and earth : covered it with a common hand-glass 

 that did not fit close. 



December 24., 1845. — The white deposit has disappeared. The 

 plant looks healthy: the smaller fronds, a, c and d, remain as before; 

 the larger ones, h and e, have slightly increased in length : two inci- 

 pient fronds, y* and y, have appeared at opposite extremities of the 

 rhizoma : no water has touched the fronds since the 24th June, but 

 there is an abundance of water in the pan, and the atmosphere aj)- 



