THE FERX BULLETIN 



121 



seems never to have been put on record. Ferreting out 

 the name of this species might prove an interesting task 

 to some student of foreign ferns. 



Black Spleenwort in America. — An interesting- 

 note, in connection with the recent finding of a Him-< 

 alayan fern (Aspleniitm alternants) in the United 

 States and the suggestion that another American 

 species (A. Glennicl) may prove to be identical with 

 the Old World A. exiguwm, is found in a recent publi- 

 cation from the United States National Herbarium, 

 wherein William R. Maxon expresses the opinion that 

 the recently described Asplenia m Andrewsii is in re- 

 ality a form of the European black spleenwort (A. 

 Otdiantum-nigrum ) . He says "If we admit the various 

 rorms distinguished by Milde, Luerrsen, Christ, a^.- 

 others as constituting but a single highly variable 

 species, there seems to be no logical ground for re- 

 garding A. Andrewsii as other than a geographical 

 phase of A. Adicmtufn-nigrum." When one comes to 

 consider the matter it is astonishing to discover how 

 many spleenworts are common to both sides of the 

 world. If we admit the identity of Glenniei and exi- 

 guwm the list includes besides, alternans, ruta-muraria, 

 septentrioncrle, trielwmanes, viride, Mix-foemina and 

 thelypteroides. It may be noted also, that Asplenia in 

 fontanum and A. marinum have been reported from 

 America upon what have heretofore been considered in- 

 sufficient grounds. Possibly their claims may yet be 

 considered valid. 



Crested Ferns. — The natural venation of ferns is 

 arranged after a forking pattern and in consequence 

 one of the commonest forms of variation is that in 

 which the pinnules pinnae or fronds fork at the tip. 

 When, as is most frequently the case, the parts divide 



