1142 



almost as beautiful as the famed tail of the Bird of Paradise." — Brit. Flor. ed. 5. 383. 

 Such of the CompositSB as have their fniit crowned with a pappus, whether stipitate or 

 sessile, present a somewhat analogous provision for ensuring both the dispersion and 

 the subsequent germination of the seed. The thistles offer a familiar illustration. 

 When the seed, separated from its pai'ent plant, and borne to a distance by its beauti- 

 ful balloon, has met with a spot suitable for germination, it becomes, as it were, screwed 

 into the ground ; the pappus then separates from the seed by an articulation at the 

 apex of the latter, and buoyantly floats away. If the thistle-down with which the air 

 is filled in autumn, be examined, very few will be found with the seed attached, but 

 the rays of the pappus will be seen to proceed from a central elastic ring. At this 

 ring the pappus was articulated with the seed. — Ed^ 



535. Note on Asplenium fontanum. " Eveiy man has his bubbly 

 Jock," and Asplenium fontanum appears to be mine. I might per- 

 haps deny the existence of such a fern, and treat it merely as a name 

 unrepresented by a reality ; but T decline availing myself of this plea, 

 and acknowledge that there are three European species of Asplenium 

 successfully cultivated by our nurserymen under this name, and freely 

 distributed to those inclined to purchase. I therefore admit the ex- 

 istence of such a fern, and merely dispute its having been found wild 

 in Britain. My correspondence on this subject would fill several 

 numbers of ' The Phytologist,' but I have no idea of dragging it before 

 the public. Still, Mr. Redhead and Mr. Thompson, by cdXimg public 

 attention to supposed discoveries, seem to invite a public reply. Of 

 all the recorded British habitats of Asplenium fontanum, Mr. Red- 

 head's appears to me decidedly the best and most worthy of reception 

 (Phytol. 1084). In the first place, the specimens are actually in exist- 

 ence ; are decidedly referrible to Asplenium Halleri, one of the spe- 

 cies cultivated under the name of fontanum ; and finally, they came 

 into ray hands directly from the discoverer ; who unequivocally de- 

 clares that at a certain date, and at a certain place, he gathered them 

 with his own hand. This, one would suppose sufficient for the most 

 sceptical ; but I will venture to ask Mr. Redhead a few questions, 

 which, if he will kindly and satisfactorily answer, I will instantly apo- 

 logize for having expressed the slightest doubt on the subject. 1. 

 Will Mr. Redhead inform the readers of ' The Phytologist,' whether 

 he was more than eight years of age when he discovered Asplenium 

 fontanum in WharnclifFe wood, in the year 1838 ; and if older than I 

 suppose, will he please to say how much older ? 2. Will Mr. Red- 

 head inform the readers of ' The Phytologist,' whether he had any 

 knowledge whatever of Botany at the peiiod of this discovery ; that 

 is, whether he believes that in 1838, he would have known a fern from 

 a thistle ? 3. Will Mr. Redhead inform the readers of ' The Phyto- 



