THE FERN BULLETIN 



VOL. X. JANUARY, 1902. NO. 1. 



A NEW FORM OF ASPLENIUM EBENOIDES. 1 



By C. E. Waters, Ph. D. NU^ V ° \ . 



The recent discovery of an unusual form of Asplenii^My^^ 

 ebenoides brings up once again the question of the hybridity 

 of this species. The latest paper on the subject of which I have 

 any knowledge is one written by Mr. Maxon (Botanical Gazette, 

 p. 410, 1900), in which he gives a history of the discussion, and 

 then presents certain arguments in favor of the theory of 

 hybridity. It has been of great assistance to me in the prepara- 

 tion of this paper. 



As early as 1862 it was suggested by Berkeley that the fern 

 might be a hybrid between Camptosorus and Asplenium 

 ebeneum. Since that time nearly everyone who has written on 

 the subject has held the same view. Professor Eaton and Mr. 

 Redfield considered it a hybrid, and Professor Coulter in 1882 

 said that "the burden of testimony all seems to be in favor of 

 ,that idea." One very important point bearing on the question 

 was brought out most clearly by Mr. Davenport. He regarded it 

 as "probably the best example of a fern hybrid that we have, the 

 infrequency of its occurrence, the presence always of Camp- 

 tosorus and Asplenium ebeneum, and the few plants found in the 

 recorded stations, all going to favor the hypothesis of hybridiza- 

 tion." 



Mr. Maxon lays stress on its wide distribution in isolated 

 localities where, as a rule, but one or two plants are found. The 

 only place in which it has been found at all abundantly is at 

 Havana, Hale county, Alabama, where it occurs at all stages of 

 growth from prothalli to fully-matured plants. "They might 

 arise from wind-blown spores, but in this event is it not a singular 

 coincidence that the fortunate spore happens on each occasion to 

 settle between plants of Asplenium platyneuron and Camp- 

 tosorus f" 



