﻿24 



THE FERN BULLETIN 



to Mr. Eaton's memory from the pen of his former 

 associate, R. G. Leavitt. 



Polypodium aureum Mandianum. — At the re- 

 cent flower show in Chicago a much divided form of 

 the common golden polypody (Polypodium aureum) 

 was shown under the name of Polypodium aureum 

 Mandaianum. The form is named for the originator. 

 AY. A. Man da, who claims it to be a sporeling from 

 Polypodium aureum glaucum. The glaucum in this 

 combination is apparently the trade name for what 

 scientists know as Polypodium aureum areolatum H. 

 B. K., or if you choose Phcbodium aureum areolatum. 

 The new form, then, is properly named P. aureum 

 areolatum Mandaianum or P. aureum f. Mandaianum. 

 As the study of fern forms is receiving increased at- 

 tention, it is very desirable that the new forms orig- 

 inated be placed on record under their proper names. 

 Considered from the purely decorative view-point, the 

 new form is a very handsome plant. 



Fern Mycorhizas. — There is a growing list of 

 plants known to botanists in which the older parts of 

 the root are inhabited by threads of fungi which act 

 like root hairs in securing food materials for the plant. 

 Such associations are known as mycorhizas and are 

 quite common among the heaths, conifers, orchids and 

 maiw others. Among the true ferns, however, at least 

 among the Polypodiaceae. mycorhizas have until re- 

 cently been unknown, though it is possible that they 

 will be found to be not uncommon when the roots are 

 more extensively studied. At present the only mem- 

 ber of the Polypodiaceae known to -have mycorhizas 

 is the boulder fern { Dicksonia pilosiuscula) , although 

 a species of Cyathea has been reported in a rather in- 

 definite way as possessing them. 



