312 GENERAL REVIEW. 



a hybrid between A. ruta muraria and A. septentrionale. 

 Gymnogramma Martensii originated in French gardens, and 

 was afterwards found in Guadaloupe. Of course it is possible 

 that spores may have been accidentally introduced from its 

 native habitat, but in appearance it is intermediate between 

 G. calomelanos and G. chrysophylla. 



One of the earliest references to hybrid Ferns I have seen is 

 in the ' Gardeners' Chronicle,' 1844. p. 500, and is a translation 

 by the Rev. M. T. Berkeley of a paper by E. Regel which 

 appeared in the ' Botanische Zeitung,' 1843. From the 

 gardens of Bonn and Berlin, M. Regel had eight seemingly 

 hybrid forms, all Gymnogrammas, as follows : 



G. L' Herminieri, between G. chrysophylla and G. peruviana. 



G. chrysophyllo-distans, raised both at Erfurt and Berlin. 



G. Martensii, between G. chrysophylla and G. dealbata, 



G. Massonii, between G. chrysophylla and G. calomelanos. 



G. chrysophyllo-melana, between the same species. 



G. distanti-dealbata, between G. distans and G. calomelanos. 



G. calomelanos-dealbata, between the species whose united names it bears. 



G. distanti-calomelanos, between G. distans and G. calomelanos. 



It does not appear to be generally known that G. decomposita 

 accidentally made its appearance some years ago in Mr Gare's 

 collection at Falkirk, N.B., and that it is presumably a spore- 

 sport from G. Pearcei. Mr Henderson also describes several 

 supposed hybrids or sports, these also belonging to the gold 

 or silver dusted section of Gymnogramma. Whether these 

 forms are really hybrids or not we have no means of ascer- 

 taining, although the truth from a scientific point of view 

 would be very valuable. The fact, however, that many Ferns, 

 especially Pteris and powdered Gymnogrammas, do vary when . 

 spores are sown in proximity, remains, and is of vast practical 

 importance to the intelligent cultivator. One of the latest of 

 novelties in this way is a beautiful Fern exactly like Pteris 

 serrulata cristata in general habit, but there is also somewhat 

 of the texture and variegation of P. cretica albo-lineata. Mr 

 Meehan, in alluding to this variety (which originated as a 

 spore-sport in America), says : " It is exactly intermediate " be- 

 tween the two varieties above named (see * Amer. Gard.,' 

 1875, P- 330). 



THE D i ELYTRA FAMILY (Fumariacetz). 



A group of fleshy herbaceous plants, principally natives of 

 temperate countries. The principal genera grown in gardens 

 are Dicentra, Dielytra, Adlumia, Corydalis, and Fumaria. 



