24 



THE FERN BULLETIN 



with a dark shining rachis gleaming through the green 

 pinnae. The blade is divided into several pairs of op- 

 posite branches, each of which has six or more pairs of 

 slightly stalked oblong pinnules with finely toothed 

 margins. Fertile and sterile fronds are alike except 1 

 that in the fertile fronds the upper pinnae are changed 

 into spore-bearing organs after the manner of the in- 

 terrupted fern and like that relative shows many ir- 

 regularities of form, obtusilobata forms being not un- 

 common. It is found very commonly in the Eastern 

 States and in some parts of the Northwest. It may be 

 looked for in half-shaded swamps and if cultivated 

 must have an abundance of water if it is to achieve 

 the grace and distinction associated in our minds with 

 royalty. 



New Hartford,, N. Y. 



RARE FORMS OF FERNWORTS — XXI. 



ANOTHER FORM OF THE CHRISTMAS FERN. 



Given a species common enough and the varieties 

 or forms of it that may be found will depend a good 

 deal upon the energy and persistence of the one mak- 

 ing the search. Even without special search odd forms 

 occasionally turn up and this is the case with the one 

 under discussion for which the name lanceolatitm is 

 proposed. It was found at Fairfield, Conn., by E. H. 

 Eames nearly ten years ago. Several specimens were 

 collected but a subsequent trip for more failed to lo- 

 cate the specimens if indeed, they had not reverted to 

 the type. 



The form lanceolatum is characterized by the lack of 

 the ear-like pinnule at the base of each pinna and is the 

 only form thus far reported which makes this depart- 

 ure from the normal. Toward the base of each pinna 



