NEW FORMS OF FERNS. 



By Charles T. Druery, F. L. S. 



The editorial note appended to my short article in the April 

 issue of The Bulletin rather takes my breath away, as I never 

 imagined that an answer to my query could "depend somewhat 

 upon whether we admire ferns for pure leaves or whether we 

 collect them for study." No true fern lover in either case would 

 knowingly destroy one of Nature's own novelties in the way I 

 described by denuding it repeatedly of its fronds for herbarium 

 purposes in situ, when by removing and cultivating it he could 

 also, in either case, not only gratify his own special taste more 

 fully, but could afford much gratification to a host of other fern 

 lovers of either class. That "students of ferns know that many 

 fern forms are due to varying conditions of soil, light, moisture, 

 etc., and are inclined to pay very little attention to them" I ac- 

 cept at once, ranking myself with them ; but advanced students 

 also know that many forms are not demonstrably due to such 

 influences, and amongst these forms are all those which claim 

 so much attention in this side of the ocean. The former are, 

 as the editor puts it, "variants," the latter true varieties, and 

 so far as they are of Nature's own shaping, i. e., wild finds, as 

 distinct from improved selected types from the spores, they have 

 at least as much right to recognition in fern literature as the 

 normals. Hence it is to be regretted that a unique form of the 

 Christmas fern (Polystichnm acrostichoides) should exist in 

 the possession of a member of the Fern Chapter for ten years, 

 and, yet, never be described. What have the other members 

 done that such interesting data to some of them should be with- 

 held? 



The reference to seven-toed kittens and two-headed rabbits, 

 as fair parallels to the finest fern varieties in the mind of the 

 average student, is a poor compliment to the student who would 

 certainly benefit by a better acquaintance with the plumose sec- 

 tion of varieties at any rate. With the many botanists stated to 

 exist in the States who "prefer a wild rose to all the gardeners' 

 irmny-petalled creations" I have more sympathy, but here comes 

 in the old botanical mistake embodied in the term "garden forms" 



