214 



question will also be quite at home, and under such 

 conditions the Sea Spleen wort [Asplenhim marinum) t 

 especially its plumose form, will make grand specimens, 

 and the true Maidenhair (Adiantum capillus veneris), and its 

 varieties imbricatum, daphnites, and Cornubiense (a small 

 Farleyense-like variety) will do well. These, however, 

 perish if frozen, since, despite the fact that they are natives, 

 they are only found on our warmest coasts, and within the 

 influence of the western sea breezes. Winter sun need 

 not be avoided, as the ferns will bear and be the better for 

 all the light they can get, and, above all, let it not be 

 forgotten that the watering-can is a vital factor in fern life, 

 sleeping or awaking. C T D 



BRITISH AND EXOTIC PERNS. 



Although so far only one definite alliance is recorded 

 between a British Fern and a tender exotic, in the shape 

 of that very striking success in hybridisation, Polypodium 

 Schneideri x , this one success is amply sufficient to show 

 that a wide field is open for the amplification of fine forms 

 on similar lines. This plant is due to a cross effected 

 between a variety of Polypodium vulgare and the normal 

 form of P. aureum. The former is in itself one of the most 

 remarkable varieties of a normally simple pinnate species, 

 and was found wild many years ago in Cornwall, for 

 which reason it is known as P. v. cornubiense, while on 

 account of its very elegant cutting it is also more 

 generally known as P. v. elegantissimum. It is charac- 

 terised by being polymorphic, i.e. bearing fronds of several 

 distinct types; a small proportion are quite normal, and 

 the rest are of two much divided forms, one tripinnate and 

 foliose, the other tripinnate, and even quadripinnate, the 

 divisions being all very narrow. To add to its peculiarity,, 

 all three types may appear on one and the same frond* 



