98 American Fern Journal 



Early the past spring the writer noticed marked difference 

 in the color of different clumps and in the shape of their 

 pinnae. The difference is so noticeable, some being 

 pure leaf green or but slightly tinged with the peculiar 

 blue-glaucous tint and the other scarcely appearing 

 green but rather dark blue-green, that the clumps can 

 be distinguished from a considerable distance. Reference 

 to descriptions at hand failed to clear the matter up, 

 for the other differences, noted below, which are evident 

 after careful examination of the plants are most pecu- 

 liarly mixed up in the usual descriptions. Two qu<'<tions 

 have arisen, viz: Which of these, if either, is to be taken 

 as the type of P. atropurpurea Link? Is the other a 

 representative of another species or a variety of the 

 above? At the suggestion of Dr. Benedict, to whom the 

 question was referred, a full statement of the differences 

 is submitted in the hope that some one will set the matter 

 right. 



In general the following description fits both forms. 

 Rootstock short and densely clothed with hairlike 

 scales. Stipes tufted, dark brown to black. 3-15 cm. 



long. Fronds coriaceous, lanceolate to ovate in outline, 

 pinnate or twice pinnate below. Veins obscure, common- 

 ly twice forked. Indusium formed of the slightly mem- 

 branaceous, incurved margin of the pinna. 



The differences are given in detail below. The differ- 

 ence in shape and color of pinnae largely disappears 

 when the specimens are dried, the rather thicker broad 

 leaf form rolling its margins much more than the other 

 unless unusual pressure is used, and the blue-green be- 

 coming much more nearly leaf green. In making examin- 

 ations for the following notes both living and dried 

 plants have been used. For convenience of reference 

 the two forms will be designated as the long leaf (1. 1.) 

 and the broad leaf (b. 1.) forms. 



