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APPENDIX. 
APOSPORY IN FERNS. 
Appendix. On the Newly-discovered Phenomenon of Apospory 
in Ferns. [Reprinted, by permission, from the Linnean 
Society’s Journal — Botany, vol. xxi.] Observations on a 
Singular Mode of Development in the Lady Fern (Athyrium 
Filix-foemina). By Charles T. Druery. Communicated by 
Dr. J. Murie, F.L.S. (Read June 19, 1884.) 
THE reproduction of the Filices by their spores results from 
sexual action taking place upon the under surface of the 
prothallus to which the spore gives rise. So far, 1 believe, 
no development of the perfect prothallus has been observed 
without the agency of the spore, and the following record of 
such a case therefore deserves special notice. 
Some years ago, a very distinct and beautiful form of 
Athyrium Filix-foemina was found wild by Mr. Moule, in North 
Devon, from whose possession it passed into that of Col. Jones, 
of Clifton. Many attempts were made at the time to propagate 
it from what were assumed to be spores, always, however, 
without success ; and at length it was taken for granted that 
the peculiar growths produced by this Fern in the p'ace of sori 
were merely abortive spore-cases, and that the plants, like 
some other abnormal forms, lacked the special vigour necessary 
for the formation of perfect reproductive spores. All further 
attempts at raising it were consequently abandoned ; and only 
two divisions of the plant exist.* In the autumn of 1883 I 
discovered upon another Athyrium (A. f. f., var. plumosum 
divaricatum), numerous proliferous bulbils, occupying the place 
of sori on the back of the fronds, and, reporting this to Mr. 
G. B. Wollaston, he was led to re-examine A. f. f. Clarissima — 
as the Fern in question had been named by Col. Jones — and 
came to the conclusion that these so far barren excrescences 
might be viviparous growths of a kindred nature, and capable 
of reproducing the parent form by direct bud-development. A 
portion of a frond was consequently sent to me, and upon 
examining it under the microscope 1 found that there were very 
material structural differences between the unmistakable bulbils 
of A. f. f. divaricatum and the singular growths upon A. f. f. 
Clarissima, the former being solitary, bud-like growths, seated 
•It is, of course, open to question whether the excrescences formed 
prior to 1S83 were of exactly the same nature. Col. Jones inclines to the 
belief that they approached more nearly the character of sori, and did not 
in previous years present the same appearance as now described. 
