A SPLENI U M. 



547 



light and delicate appearance. For several years it was thought that this 

 variety was barren, but latterly several batches of young seedlings partaking 

 of the distinctive characters peculiar to the parent have been raised by various 

 cultivators. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 130. 



A. F.-f. capitatum — cap-it-a'-tum (having a head), Moore. 



This variety, originally found in a wild state at Ilfracombe, Devonshire, 

 is distinguished from most others by its large size as well as by the peculiar 

 form of its pinnae (leaflets). Its fronds, ljft. to 2ft. long and fully Gin. 

 broad, are furnished with pinnae rather distantly set, broadest at the base, 

 tapering somewhat irregularly and much narrowed at their extremity. Three 

 or four full-sized pinnules (leafits) situated at the extremity of the pinnae 

 form a terminal tuft. The upper half of the frond is more irregular and 

 more deeply laciniated. A distinctive character of this variety is the claret- 

 red colour of the stalks, which are very stiff. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, 

 ii., p. 120. 



A. F.-f. Clarissimum — Cla-ris'-sim-uni (named iD compliment to 

 Clara, his wife, by Col. Jones). 

 This remarkable Fern, which ranks as one of the most distinct and 

 beautiful forms of A. Filix-foemina, and which was found wild in North 

 Devon, has been the means of illustrating a newly -discovered mode of 

 reproduction called " Apospory," by which means any Ferns partaking of 

 this character are propagated without the help of the spore. This singular 

 phenomenon, which affects several varieties of the Lady Fern, was first 

 observed by Mr. Gr. B. Wollaston, then by Mr. C. T. Druery, Mr. Mapplebeck, 

 and Col. Jones ; it is fully described and illustrated at page 141 of the 

 present work. 



The fronds of A. F.-f. Clarissimum, fully 2ft. long, 1ft. broad, and of 

 an elegant arching habit, are of a very light green colour and as finely 

 divided (Fig. 94) as those of A. F.-f. plumosum. Until now this variety 

 has failed to produce spores, though peculiar growths taking the place of the 

 sori are produced in abundance : these, however, have never been found to 

 contain any well-developed ordinary spores. Consequently, this variety is 

 increased exclusively by means of its pinnae (leaflets) being, in autumn, when 



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