— II — 



us, the fronds grow very tall and have all the pinnae of the fertile 

 frond fertile and close appressed to the rachis ; which is a correct 

 condensed description of A. lomaroides. The specimens are very- 

 stiff and difficult to press on account of the peculiar position of 

 the pinnae mentioned by Jenman, which makes it necessary to 

 twist them around in order to make them lie in a plane with the 

 rachis. — Fro?n Revisio?i of the Bermuda Ferns, by B. D. Gilbert, 

 in Bulletin of Torrey Botanical Club for December. 



THE TURKEY-FOOT FERN. 



A PROMINENT student of ferns sends us the following query: 

 " Can any of your readers tell what species is meant by 

 Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, in his charming novel, ' Hugh 

 Wynne' (p. 43, vol. 1), when he speaks of 'Turkey-foot ferns' as 

 growing plentifully, 125 years ago. in the neighborhood of Phila- 

 delphia? I have looked in Pursh, Eaton. Bigelow, Torrey and 

 all the modern botanies, but can find no such designation Per- 

 haps it was a local name not known in New York or New Eng- 

 land. I do not recall whether the fern grew in woods or in the 

 open, but know that it did not grow on rocks. So it would seem 

 as if the name was more appropriate for some species of Phegop- 

 ter/s, or possibly Onoclea, than for any of the larger and longer 

 ferns. If the species can be traced, it will add another interest- 

 ing idiomatic name to the list already known." 



In the hope of getting some light on the subject, a note was 

 addressed to Dr. Mitchell, who replied as follows: 



" Dear Sir — No botanist can help us. I believe that the fern 

 was what used to be called the Imperial fern — probably 'Turkey- 

 foot' was local. It was in common use when I was a boy. The com- 

 mon name has obvious meaning, and should be preserved. 



Yours truly, Weir Mitchell." 



Can any of our readers add further information ? Until there 

 is more definite knowledge upon the subject, we can only guess 

 at the species meant. That the fern grew abundantly might in- 

 dicate Onoclea, but scarcely Phegopteris, the latter being too re- 

 tiring to attract special notice from any save botanists. Dr. 

 Mitchell's allusion to the "Imperial fern" suggests that Turkey- 

 foot is another name for Osmunda regalis. If the plant was 

 named from its resemblance to a turkey's foot, the bracken may 

 have been meant. However, there is often no accounting for the 

 origin of common names, and a solution of this problem will be 

 gladly received. 



