ON VARIETIES IN PLANTS 



313 



But Piersoni soon produced a tri-pinnate sport which was more regularly 

 divided. Its fronds were somewhat shorter and much broader at 

 the base, thus making the plant more compact. It was named elegantis- 

 sima (Fig. 128, 3). Although it was unstable like Piersoni, its uniformity 

 was considerably improved by selection. Soon it produced a sport of 

 quite similar characters except that it was more dwarf which was named 

 compacta (Fig. 128, 4). In both elegantissima and compacta there was 

 variation from the tri-pinnate to the quadri-pinnate condition. 



The Pierson fern also gave rise to another interesting series of new 

 forms which exhibited variation in two more characters. In the ele- 



Fio. 129. The fronds of modern commercial varieties differ greatly from those of the 

 original Boston fern. The varieties shown here are relatively stable, although they are all 

 likely in turn to produce new sports some of which may prove valuable, o, viridissima ; b, 

 Millsii; c, muscosa; d, verona; e, magnified;/, superbissima. (After Boshnakian.) 



gantissima series the color of the foliage is similar to that of the original 

 Boston form, but in the new sport, which was named superbissima (Fig. 

 129f), the fronds are not only shorter and the pinnae three- or four- 

 divided, but the foliage is of a deeper green color. Moreover, the fronds 

 and separate pinnae are twisted so as to give the individual frond an 

 irregular appearance although an entire plant appears fairly symmetrical. 

 Although superbissima was unstable, producing uni-pinnate fronds occa- 

 sionally, it soon produced a sport that is more compact in form and which 

 proved to be more stable. This was named muscosa (Fig. 129,c). 



Other distinct uni-pinnate forms that have sprung as bud mutations 

 either directly or indirectly from the Boston fern are the dwarfs, such 

 as Scotti, Dwarf Boston, and Teddy Jr., and the vigorous, broad fronded 

 variety, Roosevelti. There is no regularity in the production of larger and 



