1876. ] 
ADIANTUM LUDDEMANNIANUM. 
93 
the days of Linnaeus to a distinct and ■well-known West Indian species, further 
states that it is supposed to be a hybrid between Adiantim cuneatum and A. 
Moritzianum. To us it appears much more probable that it is a sport from 
Adiantum Oapillus-Yeneris—of which, indeed, A. Aloritzianum is a mere form 
—which has, somehow or other, caught the infection of producing crested instead 
of normal leaves. It is a remarkable fact that new variegated sports, even of 
distinct species, do occur where many variegated plants are cultivated, and that 
new crested forms of ferns spring up where crested varieties are grown. The 
explanation of this peculiarity is wanting, but the fact remains, and it may be 
that the subject of our notice has originated in some such way. We certainly 
see in it no trace of A. cuneatum. 
Adiantum Luddbmannianum. 
Specimens of this very remarkable plant were obtained by Messrs. Veitch and 
Sons, of Chelsea, from M. Liiddemann, and these were by them exhibited under 
the name of Adiantum Luddemannianum.^ which, as that of A. cristatum is pre¬ 
occupied, we gladly adopt, since it is but reasonable that a plant which originated 
with M. Liiddemann should bear his name. It is a very free-growing, eyergreen 
fern, attaining something like a foot in height, the fronds numerous, with the 
bare blackish-purple stipes more or less ramose, and the pinnae collected at the 
end of each division of the rachis into large sessile, conglomerate, bunchy tassels or 
crested heads, the usual flat lamina and distinct stalked normal pinnules being 
