76 
REPORT ON BOTANY, MDCCCXLl : 
doubly pinnate, decreasing towards the upper part ; the shape 
of the pinnse and pinnate divisions, holds a middle rank 
between the shape of these parts in its progenitors. The 
white powder of G. distans is scattered about at the base of 
the fronds and the pinnse, where they are attached to the foot 
stalk, and the yellow powder of G. chrysophylla, but rather 
paler, is seen on other parts. M. Bernhardi considers these 
forms as real hybrids ; he recommends particular attention 
to the fructification of the fern in these species of Gymno- 
gramma ; he thinks, that if his assertion respecting the male 
fructifying parts of these plants should be confirmed, the 
phenomenon may be more readily explained, than if other 
parts are regarded as anthers. M. B. rejects the opinion too 
hastily, that the species of ferns, of which such intermediate 
forms haye been observed, may be modifications of the same 
species ; indeed, these species are very similar, and the ferns 
are by no means so constant in their forms as the author 
thinks ; on the contrary, they change very frequently, and 
much more so than other plants. It is often the case, that we 
see long and short, pointed and blunt pinnae, on one and the 
same frond of the larger Polypodiacece. I have characterized 
two kinds of Ceropteris in the list of the ferns of the Boy a! 
Botanical Garden at Berlin (Filicum Species in Horto. B. Bot. 
Berolin. Cultae. Berol. 1841), which have been considered as 
hybrids, i. e., C. Martensii, alleged to be a hybrid of 0. ca~ 
lomelanos and C. chrysophylla, and C. Massoni, a hybrid of 
C. distans and C. chrysophylla, which Bernhardi has men- 
tioned. A Ceropteris is also described, which is an inter- 
mediate form between C. calomelanos and C. distans. The 
genus Ceropteris has its peculiar characteristics, not only in 
the singular hairs which secrete wax, but also in the distri- 
bution of the thecae, which, like those of the Gymnogramma, 
are regularly placed in lines. 
The author, in expressing his opinion respecting the anthers 
of the fern, says, they have generally been erroneously de- 
scribed, as the thickened ends of the leaf-nerves were mistaken 
for them, and this had probably been done for the sake of 
convenience, SprengeFs drawings having been followed without 
468 
