108 
THE FERN FAMILIES OP BRITAIN. 
be constantly suppressed, the single crown will not only pro- 
duce fronds of a much bolder character and greater beauty, 
but, in time, a trunk is formed, each year’s growth springing 
slightly above that of the previous year, the result eventually 
being a magnificently tasselled Tree Fern, well deserving, in 
this guise, the royal title bestowed upon it. The spores of 
this Fern germinate freely, and hence, fine as the plant is, it 
ranks among the easiest to procure, though it is rarely done 
justice to in the way indicated above. It is produced from 
the spores apogamously (technical, but we can’t help it this 
time), i.e., by simple buds forming under the prothallus, 
instead of through the usual generative process. Its offspring 
are remarkably constant, but not invariably so, as it has 
yielded 
L. p.>m. crist. angustata (crested, narrow), a less robust 
form, with very much narrower fronds, in which all the pinnae 
are joined together. As the fronds are very long, and only 
2in. to 2|in. wide, it is peculiarly distinct and striking. 
Jm. p.-m. crispa (crisped). A remarkably pretty, dwarf, and 
densely compressed form, growing 6in. to 9in. high only. 
L. p.-m, crispa cristata (crested) (7). The same, neatly 
crested at all tips. 
Im, p.-m, crispa cristata angustata (narrow) (16). Precisely 
the same sport as X. p.-m. cristata angustata, occurring in 
conjunction with the dwarfed and crispy variation. A 
singular example of several types of variation conjoined. 
li. p.-m. crispa gracilis (slender). In this we have tbe 
crisped character modified in a very singular way, the pinnules 
being bent back and the pinnae curved forward and sharply 
pointed. Most remarkable sport. 
L. p.-m, polydactyla (many-fingered). Wills. A splendid 
flat-crested form, running L. p.-m. cristata very close for first 
place, as does also 
L. p,-m. polydactyla, Mapplebeck, as fine a form, with 
branchy crests. 
Ii. p.-m. polydactyla, Dadds (11). This has somewhat 
thinner fronds than usual, with flat, spreading crests at frond 
tips and pinnse; elegant and distinct. 
