50 



THE KERN BULLETIN 



a direct inversion of the facts, and performs that dis- 

 agreeable operation known as "damning- with faint 

 praise" so far as the fern is concerned. 



Abnormal Lvcoi'ODiUMS. — We are indebted to 

 Mr. (1. \Y. Martin for a fine series of specimens illus- 

 trating the phases of variation that occur in the form, 

 of Lycopodium alopecuroides f. adpressum known as 

 polyclavatum. In this there are from two to half a 

 dozen or more spikelets 'borne on a common stem in 

 place of t he single fruiting cones of the form adpres- 

 sum. It is apparently only a fasciated form, such as 

 often occur in the flowers of Angiosperms, but is of 

 special interest here, since similar phenomena are so 

 rare in the fernworts. There does not seem to be a 

 single recorded instance of fascination in other forms 

 of Lycopodium though those which normally bear a 

 three or four-branched fruiting cluster ought to be 

 good subjects for exhibiting the abnormality. Mr. 

 Martin's specimens come from Metuchen, X. J., and 

 thus extend the recorded range of the form. Since 

 the first plants were found on Staten Island, New 

 York, they have been reported from Hartsville, South 

 Carolina, and Sanford, Florida. Doubtless it may be 

 found at other points if a careful search is made. 



INDEX TO RFCENT LITERATURE. 



Aners, Mrs. G. B. Fern Notes from New York. 

 Fern Bulletin, Ja., 1911. 



Benedict, R. C. A New Antrophium from Luzon. 

 illust. American Fern Journal, Ap., 1011. — An- 

 trophium WilMamsi described from the Philippines. 



Blake, *S. F. Pteridophyte Notes from Massa- 

 chusetts. Rhodora, Ja., 1011. 



