Two new ferns from New England. 
With some observations on hybridity and nomenclature. 
GEORGE E. DAVENPORT. 
The unexpected discovery of a new (species) fern, whose 
characters show unmistakable evidence of hybridization, in 
Essex county, Massachusetts, by Mr. Raynal Dodge, of New- 
buryport, is of unusual interest and importance, as it opens 
up again the question of hybridity among the ferns, a ques- 
tion by no means as yet satisfactorily settled. 
Unfortunately absolute proof of hybridity among ferns in 
nature is beyond our reach and we can only conjecture prob- 
able results, with possibility of error in our deductions. We 
must not assume that because one plant possesses certain 
characters in common with two others it is necessarily a hy- 
brid, as fundamental structural characters alone are impor- 
tant. The innate tendency of ferns to vary must always be 
considered, for herein the explanation of many apparent dif- 
ferences and superficial resemblances will be found. 
The number of fern hybrids is exceedingly small as it must 
necessarily be from the very nature of the difficulties sur- 
rounding germination even in normal directions. 
Asplenium ebenoides is probably the best example of a 
fern hybrid that we have, the infrequency of its occurrence, 
the presence always of Camptosorus and Asplentum ebene- 
um, and the few plants found in the recorded stations, all 
going to favor the hypothesis of hybridization; yet even here 
the difficulty of demonstrating such an hypothesis is almost 
insurmountable. é 
The late Wm. H. Leggett wrote to me only a short time 
before his death that some efforts were being made to test 
the hybridity of Asplenium ebenoides, but the probabilities 
are, that the effort, if made, was unsuccessful, as no attempt 
of that kind has been recorded to my knowledge; and if that 
fern really derived its origin from two species separated from 
each other by generic distinctions, the presumption is wholly 
in favor of its sterility. 
Aspidium Boottii is generally considered a hybrid between 
Aspidium spinulosum and A. cristatum, but the frequency 
of its occurrence has oftentimes caused me to doubt the sound- 
