102 



Cornish find, namely, three forms of frond on the same 

 plant, (i) the normal form or type; (2) an intermediate 

 and much divided, very beautiful form ; and (3) the 

 absolutely best or ne plus ultra form of frond, while all 

 three forms may appear as parts of one and the same 

 frond. This last is finely divided to begin with ; then 

 it develops a long tongue at the tips of the principal 

 segments. On the under surface the normal sporangia 

 are usually very few, the rest being replaced by small 

 green papillae amongst which nestle a few bulbils which 

 develop presently into little plants. To see this fine 

 form makes one cease to wonder at the enthusiasm of 

 the pteridologist, and the affectionate care he bestows 

 upon his pets. Nor was this all. One of the fraternity 

 conceived the idea of effecting a cross between P. v. 

 elegantissimum and P. v. bifido-mutifidum, and the cross 

 having been obtained shows both parents, in exactly four 

 forms of frond upon one and the same plant. The 

 Gardening World gave an illustration of some fronds of this 

 plant in connection with the Conference on Hybridisation 

 held some years ago. The apical pinna of each 

 frond of P. v. microsiachya grows out into a long tail. 

 P. v. ramosum Hillman has two or four laminae on the 

 same foot-stalk and is singular enough in its way. 

 Altogether Mr. Druery grows about three dozen forms of 

 P. vulgar e % 



The only exotic we noted in the living state was 

 Asplenium Hemionitis cvistatum, which Mr. Druery picked 

 up when in the Azores during the first half hour of a 

 ramble. There seems no end to the possible variations of 

 'Scolopendrium vulgare, the Hartstongue. 5. v. cvispum 

 fimbv latum Stansfieldi is a fimbriated, heavily crested and 

 aposporous form of great beauty, and it continues to grow 

 at the margins and apex, forming very deep and sharp 

 fringes. Mr. Druery has discovered apospory in five 



