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THE FLORIST. 
THE NOMENCLATURE OF FERNS. 
Since the Ferns have attained the prominent rank they now hold in 
public estimation, the want of some uniform and consistent catalogue of 
the species, and especially a ready means of ascertaining the somewhat 
overabundant synonyms which occur in their nomenclature, has been 
strongly felt. The published information existing on the subject is 
scattered through various books, many of them costly, and inaccessible 
to the majority of readers ; and even those publications that are 
devoted entirely to the Ferns are, as it were, but mere fragments, 
compared with the subject itself, which has really become an extensive 
one. This applies no less to the Ferns as a whole, in a scientific point 
of view, than to those which are introduced to our gardens and more or 
less known to cultivators. 
This want is now in a fair way of being supplied. The “ Index 
Filicum,”* of which the first part is now before us,‘has indeed been 
projected for the express purpose of making good this acknowledged 
deficiency in botanical literature ; and the author, Mr. Moore, who is 
also the author of some of our best books on British Ferns, may be 
expected to render the present both useful in its plan and trustworthy 
in its character, as indeed the portion now lying before us gives 
sufficient indication. 
The prefixed announcement states that the book is to be a catalogue 
of Ferns of convenient bulk and moderate price—as complete withal as 
a diligent research in the publications accessible to him has enabled the 
author to make it. It is to comprise a synopsis of the genera of Ferns, 
with an explanation of their peculiar characters; and the catalogue 
itself is to afford the following particulars :—(I) References to the 
most useful publications, where the plants are classified or described; 
(2) an enumeration of their synonyms ; (3) references to figures; and 
(4) a summary of their known habitats, illustrating their geographical 
range. 
This first part introduces the subject by a very carefully studied 
analytical sketch of the larger sectional groups into which the whole 
family is divided; and here we observe that while the nature of the 
fructification and venation hold a prominent position, more importance 
than usual is given to the nature and condition of the receptacle. We 
have no doubt Mr. Moore is right in relying a good deal on the characters 
afforded by this latter part, to which such marked attention has not 
hitherto been paid. This portion of the work is followed by descriptions 
of the genera, which will form an introduction to the enumeration 
of the species. 
We are glad to take the earliest opportunity to indicate the existence 
of this work, as well as most strongly to recommend it to all those who 
desire to follow a consistent and reasonable Fern nomenclature, for it is 
* Indkx Filicum, a Synopsis, with Characters, of the Genera, and an 
Enumeration of the Species of Ferns, with Synonyms, References, ^c. By 
Thomas Moore, F.L.S., F.H.S., Author of the “Handbook of British Ferns,’* 
“The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland Nature-Printed;” Curator of the 
Chelsea Botanic Garden. London : Pamplin, Frith-street, Soho-square. 
