—86— 



source. The cattle and horses, pent up and immovable 

 in these floating barns, for many days in succession, are 

 turned loose, and find holiday pasture in this rich range." 



NEPHRODIUM BOOTTII OR NEPHRODIUM 

 SPINULOSUM X CRISTATUM 



By A. B. Klugh. 



The plant generally referred to as Nephr odium Boottii 

 has been supposed to be a hybrid between N. spinulosum 

 and N. cristatum, and has been described as a sub-species 

 of N. spinulosum and also of N. cristatum. 



As it occurs in Ontario, appearances are certainly in 

 favor of its being a hybrid. It never occurs in any 

 abundance, most usually in a single plant; it is decidedly 

 rare ; it is exactly intermediate between its possible par- 

 ents ; and as far as my personal observations have gone, 

 it always grows within a few feet of its possible parents. 



The object of this note is not to declare that this fern 

 is a hybrid, but to acquire information on the following 

 points : Does this fern occur abundantly anywhere ? 

 Does it ever occur where both or either of its possible 

 parents are absent? 



Anyone in a position to answer these queries will 

 greatly oblige me by doing so, and also by sending a 

 specimen. The specimen is required because I have had 

 so many supposed N. boottii submitted to me which were 

 merely forms of the extremely variable N. spinulosum. 

 These forms might be responsible for statements to the 

 effect that N. boottii was common in a certain locality, 

 and that it occurred away from either N. spinulosum or 

 N. cristatum. 



I shall be pleased to refund postage on specimens, or 

 to give exchange in Pteridophyta, Graminae, Carex or 

 Aster. 



Macdonald Institute, Guelph, Out. 



