
28 BRITISH FERNS 
which we deal in detail, have given really astounding results. These 
three are Ше beautiful Todea-like section of Soft Shield Ferns 
(Polystichum), known as the Jones and Fox plumosums, the mar- 
vellous crested and non-crested “ superbum ” section of the writer's 
Lady Ferns (Athyrium filix femina), and last, but by no means least, 
the extraordinary batch of Hard Shield Ferns (P. aculeatum) raised 
Jointly by Mr. C. B. Green of Acton and the writer, and known as 
the “ gracillimum " and “ plumosum ” section of that species. As no 
greater encouragement to the amateur Fern cultivator can be given 
than such records as these, we make no apology for giving them in 
detail, especially as such extraordinary departures from the normal 
in one or two strides 
possess also great in- 
terest for the evolu- 
tionary biologist. Like 
all cases of the kind, 
we must begin witha 
wild “sport,” a purely 
natural one, and in the 
Jones and Fox case a 
find of this description 
was discovered in 1875 
in 5. Devon by Mr. J. 
Moley (P. ang. decom- 
positum splendens), in 
which the normally 
bi-pinnate, or twice- 
divided Fern, was 
modified into a tri- 
pinnate, ог thrice - 
divided ones) Col 
Jones and Dr. Fox 
sowed spores of this, 
which sowing resulted . 
in a batch of Ferns 
with fronds so much 
divided, and with such 
overlapping, heaped- 
up moss- like foliage, 
as to constitute а 
perfectly new section, 
rivalling even the New 
л Е ; 5 Zealand Тойга superba 
Fig. 9. Polystichum angulare, var. plumosum densum in beauty. So unex- 
(Jones and Fox). : 
с ted was this, that 
1. Normal # f L ЛИН n pec ; › 
гта] form of species. 2 Па find, South Devon. БОШ tie racers wee 
3. Frond of offspring. 4. Pinna of imbricatum, raised 
from bulbil of densum. forced to doubt the 




