APOSPORY IN FERNS. 
219 
and was much struck by the fact that, in place of sori for which 
I was searching, the under surface of the pinnae was studded 
profusely with minute nodules, surrounded, shuttlecock fashion, 
by scales. Applying a lens, I found the central excrescence to 
be rounded and of a brilliant green, while the scales were of a 
symmetrical lanceolate shape and beautifully reticulated. (Vide 
Fig 3.) 
My immediate impression was that they were bulbils, which, 
however, I could hardly credit, as to my knowledge no fern, 
British or exotic, had been known to produce bulbils on the under 
side of the fronds, and in the place of the sori. Determined, 
however, to try the question practically, I laid down several 
pinnse, under side uppermost on sandy soil, the result being 
that on October 3 1st I was able to report to Mr. G. B. Wollaston 
that their bulbil character was established, since in one case a 
frond with three pinnae had arisen, and in many cases the 
circinate form had been assumed by less developed ones. In 
reply to this announcement. Mr. Wollaston informed me that 
my discovery of this form of proliferousness had been anticipated, 
though upon another form of Athyrium, and only a few weeks 
previously; since on September 6th he had seen a plant of 
A. F.-f. plumosum elegans in the possession of Mr. Carhonell, of 
Usk, upon wdiich similar bulbils had just been discovered by his 
gardener, Mr. Cropper. Mr. Wollaston, however, added that, 
so far, no signs of development into plants had been visible, and 
that to the best of his belief I was the first to raise plants. 
Colonel Jones, however, on a subsequent visit reported that 
minute fronds had appeared, as in my case. I may add that in 
the following spring Mr. Wollaston, myself, and, I believe, 
others, had succeeded in raising plants. On pushing my 
enquiries further I elicited the fact that presumed bulbils had been 
dis overed by Mr. Stewartson on another plumose form, and 
also many years previously by Mr. Lowe upon the Axminster 
