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THE FERX BULLETIN 



into two equal branches, the form is spoken of as a 

 forked form, but when the forking is multiplied it is 

 called crested. In the early numbers of this magazine 

 particularly volumes IV and V, thirty-seven different 

 species are recorded as having forking fronds. So far 

 as we are aware no attempt was made to give these 

 forms scientific names, but with crested forms the case 

 is somewhat different since the division of the frond is 

 more complicated and often results in specimens of con- 

 siderable attractiveness. Of these latter, several have 

 been given distinctive names. Since several of these 

 names are not self-explanatory the whole list for the 1 

 American ferns may be given. Among the Ncphro- 

 diums a crested form of N.cristatum is known as f. puf- 

 fcrac, and a similar occurrence in N. marginalc is f. 

 Daren portii. Maxon gave the name cristata to a form 

 of Dicksonia, Trelease named a crested form of Pcllaca 

 atropurca, f. cristata, and A. A. Eatdh gave the name 

 of ramosa to a partly forked, partly cristate form of 

 JVoodzvardia rad icons, or W. spinulosa as recent fern 

 lists have it. Eaton also named Polystichum muni- 

 tum f. / label 'latum and the editor of this magazine has 

 named a similar form of the ebony fern Asplenium 

 ebeneum f. furcatuni. Our two commonest species 

 Polypodium vulgatre and Athyrium iilix-foemina have 

 of course, long had named crested forms. Clarence 

 Lown, an early American student of ferns gave the 

 name cri statu in to a form of P. vulgarc, though ac- 

 cording to Gilbert this is properly bifid o-multifidum. A 

 crested form, however, is known in England and bears 

 the name of cristatum. Our very common Christmas 

 fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) appears never to 

 have had named a crested variety though several such 

 forms have been reported. The only advantage to be 

 gained by giving a name to these forms, is that it 



