

279 



POLYDACTYLISM IN POLYSTICHUMS. 



(Concluded from March Gazette.) 



Another polydactylous form of a different type is 

 Wollaston's North Somerset find. The previously men- 

 tioned forms when in their best character, although the 

 pinnae are fingered, have the apices of the fronds undivided. 

 It is true that, in the young state, the fronds frequently 

 carry large ramulose heads, but this is merely the exuber- 

 ance of youth and, as maturity is reached, the apices of the 

 fronds usually become single and pointed. Wollaston's 

 form, however, always carries a crested head in whatever 

 stage of life, and is really as much a cristatum as a poly- 

 dactylum. It is distinguished by the sharply pointed tips 

 cf the fingers and of the ultimate divisions of the apical 

 crest and is also much more thorough in its polydactylism 

 than any of the others. I suspect that this is one of the 

 parents of Mr. Edwards's P. ang. lineare cristatum. Mr. 

 Wills also found a polydactylous form which, however, is 

 irregular and not worth growing. The same may be said 

 of a find of my own made in 1914 — probably the most 

 recent find in this section. 



F. W. S. 



THE TENDER CONSCIENCE. 



A TRAGIC INCIDENT IN A NORTHERN FERN NURSERY. 



Quarters for filmy ferns were being arranged on scientific 

 lines. A hot water pipe was led through a tank of cold 

 water at the bottom of a close glazed inner frame about 

 40 ft. long, with a view to the production of a saturated 

 atmosphere, so that the foliage would be perpetually " dewy 

 with nature's teardrops," "a consummation devoutlj 

 be wished " in filmv fern culture. 



