THE FERN BULLETIN 



73 



known the fern has produced but one marked variety 

 on this side of the Atlantic — or possibly it would be 

 well to say Pacific since it comes from Vancouver Is- 

 land off the coast of British Columbia. This single 

 form, however, according- to Mr. C. T. Druery who 

 recorded its finding, has quite surpassed similar finds 

 from the Old World. In the illustration herewith, 

 which shows a pair of pinnae about natural size from 

 near the middle of the frond it will be noticed that the 

 serrations which form its clistive feature are not uni- 

 form throughout the pinnae but are bunched together 

 at a short distance back of the tip, a striking depart- 

 ure from the slender scythe-shaped pinnae of typical 



Pinnae of Blechnum spicant bipinnatum. 



plants. Although recorded as one of numerous bi- 

 pinnate forms that have appeared from time to time, 

 it may be questioned whether this should be closed 

 with the ordinary forms to which the name bipinnatum 

 is given. The peculiar broadened outer half of the pin- 

 nae ought to entitle it to another name perhaps pcctina- 

 tum. There are, however, too many finds of this type 

 known in Europe to make it safe for one on this side of 

 the world to venture a new name. Perhaps when this 

 falls under Mr. Druery's eye he may be kind enough 

 to enlighten us as to its right to a separate name. 

 Among the many excellent illustrations of the forms 

 of this fern in Mr. Druery's recent "'British Ferns and 

 their Varieties," we find no forms that very closely ap- 



