82 



EOTAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Teleologically considered, there is, in the variability of unaccom- 

 modated species arising from generation, a struggle to produce a 

 new form suited to the altered conditions ; and hence it follows 

 that the dying out of species and the origination of new forms 

 are links of the same conditions, just as when an individual dies 

 to perfect and mature the seeds from which it arises with new 

 life in a numerous offspring. 



XV. Note on Adiantum Farleyense. By Thomas Mooee, F.L.S., 

 Chelsea Botanic Garden. 



In the Eeport of the exhibition held at South Kensington, on the 

 29th of July last, will be found a brief notice of this fine novelty, 

 in the following terms : — " A magnificent vigorous-growing fern, 

 with the fronds of the size and form of those of A. trapeziforme, 

 but pendent, and the large pinnules deeply crenato-lobate. One 

 of the most beautiful of the Adiantums." A subsequent examina- 

 tion of specimens of the plant, shows that these hasty memoranda 

 are by no means too laudatory. 



Viewed in the mass, as seen on the occasion of the show in 

 question, the affinity of this Adiantum appeared to be with A. tra- 

 peziforme as mentioned above ; but the fertile fronds, which are, 

 it seems, but sparingly produced, bear a much closer resemblance 

 to A. tenerum. It appears, however, to be distinct from both, and 

 may be characterized and described as follows : — 



A. Farleyense : fronds supra-decompound ; pinnules chartaceo- 

 membranaceous, slightly glaucous beneath, rhomboid ; the terminal 

 ones cuneate at the base, those of the sterile fronds large (1-1| inch), 

 dilatato-rhomboid ; the posterior margins recurvo-falcate, the anterior 

 deeply lobate ; the lobes dichotomously inciso-laciniate, with blunt 

 entire (without serratures) segments, those of the fertile fronds smaller, 

 rhomboid-oblong, slightly lobed ; sori approximate, terminal on the 

 lobes, oblong ; indusium entire ; stipes and rachides glossy ebeneous. 



Stipes 12-15 inches long, black, shining, terete, with a shallow groove in 

 front. Fronds of pendent habit, everywhere smooth, quadripinnate 

 or decompound, of a bright light-green colour, somewhat glaucous 

 beneath ; the sterile more abundant than the fertile, densely leafy, 

 their lamina about 20 inches long by 24 inches broad ; the fertile 

 with the pinnules smaller and less crowded. Pinnules chartaceo- 

 membranaceous, petiolate, the terminal ones more or less cuneate at 

 the base, articulated ; the fertile about f inch long, rhomboid- oblong, 

 divided into shallow lobes along the anterior soriferous margins ; the 



