237 



which he does without stint, the Athyriums in their many 

 varieties, the plumose Polystichums, and above all the 

 gracillimums. And his is the touch of a magic hand, plants 

 grow with him with a growth that makes one sad and envious. 

 He spares no pains over the spores, a disappointing and yet 

 fascinating work ; he overcomes failure and sows again in 

 hope — if he has not been, he hopes to be blessed with 

 success — and he is certain to succeed ; there is through him 

 a big future for British ferns. 



(Rev.) E. H. Hawkins. 

 Stroud, Glos. 



[Extracted from the Linnean Society's Journal — Botany, 



vol. xxxiv.] 



On the Production of Apospory by Environment in Athy- 

 rium Filix-foemina, var. anco-glomeratum , an appa- 

 rently barren Fern. By F. W. Stansfield, M.B. 

 (Communicated by C. T. Drtjery, F.L.S.) 



[Read 2nd February, 1899.] 



The form of lady-fern which is the subject of the present 

 paper is of such a remarkable character that it will be well 

 to give its history ; and fortunately this can be done in very 

 few words. Its pedigree commences with A. Filix-foemina, 

 var. acrocladon, an extremely ramose, or, as fern-fanciers 

 would say, a ramosissimum form, which was found wild in 

 Yorkshire in 1860 by Mr. C. Monkman. Until about 1S77 

 acrocladon was supposed to be a barren fern, and was pro- 

 pagated only by division. In 1877 my brother and I 

 noticed spores upon a plant of it, and these were carefully 

 collected and sown. From this sowing there resulted, 

 in the following year, a fair crop of plants, of which about 



