VARIEGATED AND CRESTED FERNS. 



process, as the plant is provided with numerous slender rhizomes, by means of 

 which it could be propagated in any quantity. Still, with a view to ascertaining 

 to what extent this naturally -crested exotic Fern would reproduce itself, several 

 sowings from spores gathered on well-crested fronds were made during two 

 successive seasons, and the results perfectly justified the assertion made that it 

 is self-reproducing, for among the thousands of young plants obtained from 

 these several batches of seedlings, no variation of any importance was 

 observable. 



The dwarf crested form of Dooclia aspera, called multifida, is another 

 striking instance of constancy of reproduction in this section of Ferns, for 

 the pretty tasselled character of its short, hard fronds, and their peculiar 

 bronzy-red tint, are characters which in every instance are reproduced true 

 among seedlings raised from spores gathered from the crested plants. Crested 

 forms of Nephrodium molh are of garden origin, and they reproduce themselves 

 freely from seedlings ; while the New Caledonian crested form of N Bichardsi, 

 called multijidum, was, about 1878, introduced into Europe, where it was rapidly 

 propagated by means of its own spores. In the latter case the seedlings 

 are found to have a tendency to variation, but in that respect they only share 

 the character of their parent, which is extremely variable, the fronds on the 

 same plant being sometimes heavily crested, and at other times simply forked. 

 It follows that even in this instance the report of thorough reproduction of the 

 parental characters in exotic crested Ferns is perfectly in accordance with the 

 theory expounded above, but which does not refer to British Ferns. 



On account of the elegance given to the fronds of most of the crested 

 varieties by the weight of their terminal tassels, the majority of these are well 

 adapted for growing in suspended baskets, in which position they prove 

 eminently decorative. We therefore append a list of most of the known exotic 

 crested kinds, i either of garden origin or introduced in already crested 

 form. As regards British Ferns, however, the variations in forms of such 

 species as Asplenium Filix-foemina, Nephrodium Filix-mas, Aspidium acideatum 

 angulare, and Scolopendrium vidgare, are so numerous that their complete 

 description in this part of the book would be justly considered out of place, 

 and we feel compelled to limit ourselves to simply indicating their existence in 

 the following list, reserving, such descriptions till later on, when each genus will 

 be treated separately and in detail. In this list the species and varieties 



