Pteridologist /the British Pteridological Society.

Volume 2 Part 1 1990.

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THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Officers and Committee for 1990
« President: Dr B.A. Thomas

President Emeritus: J.W. Dyce
Vice-Presidents: J.A. Crabbe, Dr R.E. Holttum, A.C. Jermy, R. Kaye, G. Tonge
Honorary General Secretary A.R. Busby, ‘Croziers’,
16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD
(Tel: Coventry 715690)

Assistant Secretary (Membership); and Miss A.M. Paul,
Editor of the Bulletin: Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Treasurer: Dr N.J. Hards,
184 Abingdon Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 9BP

Meetings Secretary: A.C. Pigott,
43 Molewood Road, Hertford, Herts. SG14 3AQ

Editor of the Fern Gazette: J.A. Crabbe

Material for duiblication should be sent to J.A. Crabbe,

1 Magdalen Road, London, SW18 3NW

Editor of the Pteridologist: M.H. Rickard, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes,
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2HP

assisted by J.W. Dyce

Committee: P.J. Acock, P. Barnes, J.H. Bouckley, J.M. Camus, C.R. Fraser-Jenkins,

J.M. Ide, Mrs M. Nimmo-Smith, N. Timm, Dr T.G. Walker, J.R. Woodhams

Fern Distribution Recorder: A.J. Worland, 102 Queens Close, Harston,

Cambs., CB2 50.N

Spore Exchange Organiser: Mrs M. Nimmo-Smith, 201 Chesterton Road,

Cambridge, CB4 1AH

Plant Exchange Organiser: Mrs R. Hibbs, 30 London Road,

Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3BW

Archivist: N.A. Hall, 15 Mostyn Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire, SK7 5HL

Booksales Organiser: J.W. Dyce, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex, |G10 1LT

Trustees of Greenfield Fund: A.R. Busby, Dr N.J. Hards, Dr B.A. Thomas

hisytoichibl ene Se SOCIETY was founded in 1891 and today continues as a Joe

its publications and available literature. Sh laps tia erie incr gi cites field

es oe peer dom sear fete Sai scheme and fern book sa seagapee
a Se : a a and seit is ne aan

Sims The Fern ons publishes -— chiefly of specialist interest on size pteri ology

ecw besiege S more general appeal, and the Bulletin, Society busi and meetings

rhe interested in ferns and fern-alli RIPTION RATES (due on
st am ry ated Yea are Full sng (ipacbees 1G Boneat ee nag

up) ‘Majestic’ x ),)

*ridolo cc ie P.J. Acock, ©
Sees jok shctei details can be obtained.

MISSOURI BOTANICAL

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) JUL 1
FERNS ON THE MENU 24 1990
BRIDGET GRAHAM piesa taniite

Polpey, Par, Cornwall PL24 2TW

What is man? A question debated variously by theologians, philosophers, biologists,
anthropologists, and also chemists, who have assured us that we are a sophisticated
system of compatible chemicals. Again, there is another group who teach we are co-
ordinated electrical impulses. Some would have us believe that we are the sum total
of what we eat. Are vegetarians less aggressive than carnivores? What is the link between
fast food and the increase in mugging? How do we relate to the image of the ferocious
pre-historic tribes, the contents of whose stomachs appear to have been largely seeds
and berries? At what fearful and agonising cost did experiment and experience discover
the edible from the deadly, the delicious from the colic-inducing vegetation which grew
on their territory?

Obviously the major successes, such as grains, fruits, roots and green vegetables were
recognised and subsequently cultivated. They remain the staple diet of twentieth century
mankind. Others have slipped into oblivion, appreciated only by the less sophisticated
and less accessible countries, and by a small number of gourmets. Among the forgotten
sources of nutrition are the ferns.

At the present time the media has focused the spotlight of publicity on every possible
aspect of diet. The bewildered and unsettled British public might turn gratefully to ‘greens’
which have no preservatives, and are raised without cruelty or exploitation. Moreover,
they have behind them venerable, historical records of great antiquity over most of the
globe.

There is only one overall requirement on the part of the home-caterer to introduce ferns
into the family menu, that is initiative. Initiative to collect your raw product, initiative
to serve it as an appetising dish, and initiative with which to inspire confidence among
those assembled for the mea

For those who believe there is more nourishment in food eaten raw, eis Encyclopaedia
of Ferns (Jones, 1987) lists five species from which to choose. They ar

Drynaria rigidula - grown and eaten in Celebes

Cerapteris thalictroides

Diplazium esculentum.

This last fern is especially enjoyed in the Philippines. Such dignified names would be
impressive on any menu, but a warning might be added in ‘Small print that whereas
the young croziers are crisp, as they mature, they develop a exture. Chewing
the cud is a prolonged operation. Few people today have the time to linger over meals.
The careful cook might play safe by serving them softened up. Either way the impact
would be sensational.

Equisetum arvense is listed among the fern allies that are said to taste of asparagus,
if lightly boiled or steamed. The preparation is simple. The best results are from the
young fiddieheads, which are washed, and then all the scales and hairs removed. Either
steamed or boiled, the water should be salted, the fiddleheads can be either whole,
or sliced like runner beans. The time given is from 30 to 60 minutes, until they are
“soft enough to eat’. The conscientious cook will not leave this to chance, but taste
for texture at intervals, since the time-range is considerable. That would depend, of
course, on the toughness of the ferns, and whether they were boiled or steamed, and
whether intended to be served as asparagus or spinach. Melted butter might be a good
accompaniment. Perhaps there is a recipe book available in the U.S.A.? A pamphlet

2 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

“a Wa ee 4 = A Al gutes dD = a : le A [3 mr

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of New Brunswick. One dish is made with stir-fried chicken. | assume, therefore, it
has the stamp of official approval.

The nourishment stored in ferns is for the benefit of the plant, but it is in a form of
starch digestible by man, very rich in carbohydrates. Although modern diets reduce the
intake of starch to a minimun, it is, after all, a principle source of energy, and is necessary
to maintain a reasonable standard of health in man, animals and vegetables.

It was predictable that prehistoric man should have discovered that the tree-ferns offered
a source of food. With primitive axes or knives, slices were shaved off the caudex, skilled
work for the hunter-gatherers who wandered through the primaeval forests.

The Encyclopaedia lists the tree-ferns still included in the diet of the less sophisticated
peoples today.

Cyathea spinulosa parts of India
. medullaris New Zealand
C. canaliculata Madagascar
C. contaminans New Guinea and the Philippines
C. australis Australia
C. viellardii New Caledonia
Cibotium chamissoi Hawaii
Dicksonia antarctica Australia

In the parts of New Guinea where cannibalism is still the norm, several species of
ferns are believed to be eaten in the mountainous districts. The Encyclopaedia is careful
to point out that “details are lacking’, but we do know that it is the upper part of the
trunk that is collected, and either boiled or roasted. The same procedure must be followed
for the meat course. Whether the ferns are cooked separately, or braised in the pot
around the joint of flesh from some four or two-legged game must remain a matter
of conjecture for me, at least until | hear a traveller's tale from some intrepid explorer.

Species of Angiopteris and Marattia were popular with a number of ethnic groups. The
large, fleshy stems of A. evicta were roasted and eaten as a vegetable in the Pacific
Islands. The Maoris cultivated Marattia salicina around their villages. In many tropical
countries the rhizomes of Blechnum indicum were collected where it grew abundantly
in swamps. The aborigines of Australia prepared it by roasting. In general, this seems
to be a more popular method than boiling, and would, | imagine, be more tasty. Several
familiar species are still part of the diet of isolated peoples. In North America, Dryopteris
campyloptera is cooked by the Indians. In Alaska, the Eskimos supplement their diet
of whale blubber with boiled rhizomes of D. carthusiana. The rhizomes of several other
ferns are recorded as edible, mostly strange to Europeans, but among the familiar is
Polypodium vulgare. Some carry a word of caution. Drynaria quercifolia is collected only
in times of famine. Food for thought there. Nephrolepis cordifolia has little fleshy tubers

Plants and man must both adapt to long droughts in Australia. Marsilea
drummondii flourishes in the rainy season, but as the ground dries out so does the
fern, leaving a mass of hard, woody sporocarps at the base of the withered fronds.
These are picked by the thrifty aborigines, ground into a yellowish flour, and then baked
into cakes. There is a note here, to the effect that the natives found them “good fare”,

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 3

but that white men forced to live on them were “poorly nourished”.

Nor were ferns ignored in Europe, although the taste for them is localised. In Norway
Dryopteris filix-mas is cooked and served from choice, not merely because of its
anthelmintic properties. A few species of ferns can be used as an alternative to tea.
In California the favourites are Pellaea ornothopus and P. murconata, which is aromatic.
Our native Blechnum spicant is another. More popular in Europe is Dryopteris
fragrans, but the most generally preferred across the globe is Adiantum capillus-
veneris. As members who have read Ferns in Medicine (Graham, 1989) may remember,
maidenhair is well endowed with medicinal properties. Two pots, at least, of this valuable
fern should be in every household. Should you feel bold enough to make an intoxicating
drink, try fermenting the starchy caudex of one of the Angiopteris species, or, if you
brew your own beer, experiment by using bracken instead of hops; it is claimed that
the flavour is distinctive.

Pteridium aquilinum, (P. esculentum), along with the wolf and the snake, had a bad
name long before the media focussed its insensitive curiosity in that direction. T.V. nature
programmes have presented the wolf and the snake in a more kindly light, but the
bracken has incurred a very bad press. In spite of being known to contain carcinoginous
properties it is still eaten in several countries. In New Zealand the bracken is first soaked,
and then pounded until a starchy powder is obtained. The end product is like arrowroot,
and the Maoris make it up into a dough, and bake into something like bread.

Bracken is also included in the diet of the Filippinos, but whereas in these two countries
mashed bracken might be a necessity, it is not in Japan and the N. American continent.
| have no statistics of the incidence of cancer in Kpoiinss country, but | have read that
it is abnormally high in Japan. !h

(see opposite page 8), one by a firm called McCain, and the other, Belle of Maine. |
think they are Canadian products, but Fiddleheads is not specific. Most likely they contain
the Shuttlecock/Ostrich feather fern. It would be no harm to open a tin, IF they are
on sale over here, and inspect the contents.

My closest encounter with bracken was sharp, painful and harmless. | cut my finger
very badly indeed, by pect i trying to break a tall trond. The blood poured out in such

, which

quantity tl iat |
of a passing semearitan whe came to see what was going on. The wound healed by
first intention, and was exceptionally healthy. | have no first-hand experience of tasting
bracken, but an authentic second-hand account. An eminent entymologist who is a close
friend told me that he and his wife once ate bracken during the Second World War.
He described it as ‘not very nice’, and said that it left him with a dry mouth and slightly
sore throat for a few days. His wife was more emphatic; she said it was horrible, her
throat was very sore, and that she felt sick. Both were very thirsty and both agreed
they would not repeat the experiment. BUT, neither had any lasting effects, and both
are in good health fifty years later.

Stella Maris Turk (Turk, 1989), whom | know personally to be well qualified to voice
her views, wrote of the extreme danger to man or beast coming into contact with bracken.
She quoted Poisonous Plants in Britain, and their effects on Animals and Man, published
by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food as having stated that some toxic qualities
persist in the fern,.even after cutting and drying. Her advice is to avoid it at all costs,
and control it by an annual cull before the spores ripen in early June.

Dr Elizabeth Sheffield of the University of Manchester replied to Mrs Turk (Sheffield,
1990). She confirmed that Matteuccia hoch ema is edible, a agreed that bracken
was dangerous, but that the tests of the Ostrich f to be free of g

In a letter, Dr W. Trotter (Trotter, 1990) quotes the evidence of Dr Antice Evans of the
University College of North Wales in 1965, that various animals known to feed on bracken

4 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

developed an abnormally high incidence of tumours, including leukaemias. Researchers
in other countries agreed with this, while yet again pointing to the high rate of stomac
cancers in Japan among those who enjoy the young shoots as a delicacy. Dr Trotter
writes that there is plenty of bracken in his own garden, and ponders that his wife
and gardener both died of cancer, and that both handled bracken regularly for winter
mulching. He does point out how variable is the vulnerability of species, animal, vegetable
and human, to carcinogens and suggests the same method of limiting the risk of infection
as Mrs Turk, that is by cutting down the bracken before the ripening of the spores.
He adds that the reapers have been advised to wear masks as they set about their
hazardous work. He also admits that he has not yet eradicated Pteridium from his own
garden.

| cannot think that a plant which covers such great areas of land, in so many continents,
can be lethal to man and beast. At least, the danger cannot be compared to aerosols,
toxic waste, pollution by chemicals and sewage, or the felling of the tropical forests.
If these precious trees are decimated, it is an invitation to plants, such as bracken,
to take over. Man has never mastered his environment, but it should not be beyond
him to work out an ecological balance of live and let live. The answer to the world’s
problems must lie in the search for a viable constant, wherein the scales are held in
a perfect equilibrium. It is the vision of Being, benign and timeless. Today men seem
aggrieved to discover that nature is not slanted to make their lives cosy and free of
risk.

| hope | have stirred the enterprise and curiosity of even the most conservative members
to seek new epicurean delights. If | could choose but one such experience, it would
be to join a party of plant-hunters in the high Himalaya, where Moonwort is cooked
on the open camp fires, to listen to the Sherpa’s tales, and from them learn a little
more about the imponderables of Life. The atmosphere would be propitious to the sighting
of an Abominable Snowman.

There is much evidence today on the importance of widening our horizons, scarcely
less on a healthy diet. Here is an opportunity for the British Pteridological Society to
become a trend-setter. Ancient peoples have fed on ferns over the millennia and survived.
It remains for us to endorse or reject their customs.

Bon appétit - at the consumer’s RISK!

References:

GRAHAM, B. 1989. Ferns in Medicine, sar ames in Vol. 1, Part 6.

JONES, D.L. 1987. Encyclopaedia of Ferns,

Gia an E. 1990. Some Food. Home eal Vol. 2, Part 1.

990. Lett The Garden, January 1990
TURK, S.M. (Mes pceeen, p nites iaseg Vol. 1, Part 6.

NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Please send articles, notes and reviews for publication to the Editor (address inside front
cover). Material should ideally be typed and not longer than 2500 words, or the equivalent
of 4 sides in print. Please follow the style of this issue.

The deadline for copy is the 31st of December each year.

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 5

THE BPS SPORE EXCHANGE

MARGARET NIMMO-SMITH
201 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1AH

The title SPORE EXCHANGE is misleading. Although it may h b i II y COr ceived
as a scheme for exchanging spores (and also for exchanging plants, a plan which has
only recently become operational), in practice it is a spore distribution service. The spores
are donated by about 30 different people but over 100 people request spores. There
is, however, an important difference between our Spore Exchange and the seed
distributions offered by sister organisations such as the Alpine Garden Society, Hardy
Plant Society, etc. These schemes operate in early winter with a finite date for applications
each year and at the end of the season they dispose of all surplus seed. The Spore
Exchange, on the other hand, operates throughout the whole year, the spores being
held as a spore bank, although the main bulk of requests are received in the early
spring after the publication of the new list. Spores are also received throughout the
year, not just in the autumn, and are kept for 2 to 3 years if they are of tropical origin
and 3 to 4 years if they are British native species or cultivars. Fresh spores are despatched
whenever possible, but not all items are received every year. Spores requested from
Botanic Garden seed lists are often a year old by the time they reach members. However
many spores are only available through these sources, and the Society is extremely
grateful for the opportunity to try items not available otherwise, being regarded as a
worthy recipient of scientific material.

The Exchange was started in 1972 by David Russell. Richard Cartwright took over shortly
afterwards and built it up to its present size until he retired from the job three years
ago. It is now probably the largest list of spores on offer in the world. This vast list
is only made possible by the small body of members who give most generously. About
15 British members contribute regularly. Otherwise, spores are received from half a
dozen European botanic gardens (none British) and from overseas members living in
Europe, America, South Africa and Australia. The Australians are particularly generous
with very large quantities coming from Mike Young at Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens
and, this year, from Roy and Yvonne Kalmo who hove taken over the running of the
S. Australia Fern Society Spore List. h lly sought, particularly
of anything new, rare or unusual. If members are seeking particular ferns not listed,
it is sometimes possible to acquire them by diligent search. A recent development with
the encouragement of the National council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens
(NCCPG) has been the establishment of National Collections of ferns in Britain. Collection
holders are making use of the Spore Exchange and in future it is hoped they will be
a good reliable source of supply. Another possible source are er Dena to the
wild, but unless the spores are

Please could our members ec are fe going on such trips remember the Spore Exchange.
Any surplus will be gratefully received and it would also be possible to operate a scheme
to monitor the results of trying to raise new introductions.

The most requested ferns are small hardy species, especially woodsias. Adiantum
monochlamys and A. renforme are also current favourites. There also seems to be a
steady interest in ferns for the alpine house, such as Cheilanthes. Other foregin species
likely to be hardy are popular, as are good varieties of British natives, and there is
a steady demand for tree-ferns from both overseas and British members, especially the
uncommon kinds.

The spores arrive in a variety of different packaging materials - from tiny plastic capsules
of pure spores to large ‘botanical envelopes’ made from scrap exercise paper, (interesting
reading, no doubt, if one had the time!), containing whole fronds. It really doesn’t matter

how they come provided the packages don’t leak en route. One member has sent beautiful

6 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

clean spores in tobacco paper which is actually quite a good material to handle. Overall
the best packaging is the ‘botanical envelope’ which has the versatility of being made
to any size and out of any paper, although a reasonable quality writing or airmail paper
is optimal. (If any member would like to learn how to construct these envelopes please
write to the Spore Exchange Organiser).

Spores are repackaged for distribution into glassine self-seal envelopes which are
convenient to use but have one major drawback. Tiny amounts of spores can be lost
by adhering to the self seal gum. However, it is hoped that this problem has been overcome
by enclosing them in a slip of airmail paper inside the self-seal envelope. Recipients
should cut the tops off the envelopes they receive before sowing, rather than opening
the self-seal and loosing the spores to the gum.

Luckily, unlike the equivalent amount of seed which would require a large filing cabinet,
the spores can be stored in six 4”. by 12” boxes. Many spores remain viable for a
considerable period of time; refridgeration should prolong their life. Some spores are
of such short viability that they are not included on the list. Matt Busby sends out Osmunda
spores, when fresh, directly to members. This service could be extended to other species
where viability is a problem, but it would need definite offers from donors. This year,
Todea barbara has been sent as fresh green spores from overseas for immediate sowing.

Each autumn the major task is to compile the new list. This is now done with the
help of a computer. The list is sent to two experts to check the names for spelling,
synonyms and authenticity. The naming of plants, whether ferns or not, always causes
problems and disputes. However, it is very important that the spore list should, as far
as possible, have the correct up-to-date names as it is seen by all major fern growers
and many botanists. Last year, for the first time, the botanical authorities for the names
used on the list were available to members. However, ferns seem to be particularly
prone to name changes which confuse the amateur who has only just come to grips
with one name when confronted with a quite different one. There is one item on the
list which has appeared under a different name each time for the past three years!
This list is produced primarily to encourage people to grow ferns. It is hoped that more
information could be made available to members on synonyms and name changes in
a handy form. Richard Rush’s Guide to Hardy Ferns is very useful in this respect, but
a similar guide to tropical and sub-tropical species is needed. Another problem is that
taxonomic lumpers are at work - taxa that are at least horticulturally distinct may be
submerged into one loose species. This is a great pity from the gardeners’ point of
view and in such cases perhaps some kind of distinct name could be retained.

Peter Barnes wrote in the Pteridologist (The Horticultural Nomenclature of Ferns,
Pteridologist, Volume 1, Part 5, 1988) proposing a new system of names for British
fern cultivars to bring them into line with the International Code of Nomenclature for
Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). If implemented, this would bring a totally new look to the
list. The Plant Finder, published by the Hardy Plant Society, has already partially adopted
this system, but its application appears somewhat arbitrary. It is noted that Chris Philip
and Tony Lord, the editors of The Plant Finder, hope that the BPS will follow suit.

However, when all this is said and done, what the recipient requires is that the spores
should be accurately named. Unfortunately, this cannot be guaranteed, as the reliability
of the names is only as good as the donor’s knowledge; the spores are received in
good faith that they are what they purport to be. It is to be hoped that the majority
of spores have been correctly identified, although even the most august institutions
have been known to be in error and mistakes may occur in this way and be per petuated.
It is interesting to receive feedback on this subject, from members who have grown
spores which turn out to be incorrectly named.

Three further problems for the grower are whether he or she is actually receiving any

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 7

spores within the packets, contamination with other spores and whether the spores
are viable. In an ideal world only packets which contained fresh pure spores would
be sent out, but in practice it is often necessary to send out packets containing mostly
dross in the hope that spores are present. Although this may be extremely frustrating
for the grower, most people would probably prefer a small chance of success to none
at all. Also, there is the excitement of exotic interlopers. Contamination is an ever-present
hazard, which may occur when they are first collected, repackaged or, of course, most
likely when finally sown. Viability is dependent on several factors, including storage
and the natural life of the spores, and has already been mentioned. It should also, perhaps,
be mentioned that, when raising fern cultivars from spores, only a proportion are likely
to resemble the parent plant, and great care should be taken to select only the best
forms. For instance, sporelings raised from Polystichum setiferum ‘Plumosum Bevis’
may yield only the straight species, but may also produce something exciting. In either
case, they should not be called ‘Bevis’.

| would like to thank all the members who have given me such tremendous help and
encouragement over the past three years. | have found this very rewarding work,
particularly as | have corresponded with many interesting overseas members for whom,
often, the Spore Exchange is their main link with the Society.

Finally, WHERE NOW? | would like to know what members would like - greater variety,
less variety but better quality, more new rarities, more good old cultivars, fresher spores,
more information on synonyms, hardiness and cultivation requirements of the items
on the list. | would like to develop the side of sending out very fresh spores, such as
the osmundas, but would need definite sources of donors. | am also intending to build
up a data bank of information about the spores, including synonyms, some indication
of hardiness and country of origin. | am always very pleased to correspond with members
about any aspect of running the Spore Exchange and, of course, welcome the receipt
of correctly named spores at any time.

(This article is based on a paper read at the BPS autumn meeting, 1989).

SHORTER NOTE

The Past and the Future
In the Weekend Telegraph for Saturday 20 January 1990 the following paragraph appears
in an article by Stephen Lacey -
“The polystichum called P. heart seneagtorag ‘Bevis’ is namie it ex Kg
and fern-lovers boast of it as if it were a Rolls-Royce. “The Jones's hav his ues ®
Bevis” they say. ‘How on earth are we te to keep up?” Its storia cost 1 1 doe
Part of his information is very much past history - the fern is now known to be NOT
Polystichum aculeatum but P. setiferum and the variety name is ‘Plumosum Bevis’. Looking
into the future, it is possible that one day a plant of ‘Bevis progeny’ may set you back
£150, but, at present, the only ones likely to attract that price are two exceedingly -
repeat exceedingly - rare variations which are possessed only by less than four or five
dedicated fern growers. Completely barren and more than obstinate in the production
of side crowns, it is most unlikely that they will ever become nurserymen’s stock for
sale.

| wish | could get £150 each for my many other ‘Bevis progeny’ plants! | could, indeed,
be quite well off!

JW DYCE

8 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

FIDDLEHEAD FOOD?

E SHEFFIELD, Department of Cell and Structural Biology, Williamson Building,
University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL

In case any ex-dinner guest of mine became alarmed at the news that “... ““fiddleheads”
contain high concentrations of carcinogenic agents”, | felt | should write and clarify
points raised in the last issue of the Pteridologist. |n her article on bracken (Pteridologist
1, 6, 267), Stella Maris Turk made reference to people in Japan, America and Canada
eating “this dangerous plant”. While! Id quite agree that bract houldb nsidered
dangerous, and have heard of Americans and Canadians eating it, the “fiddleheads”
(see photograph opposite) more commonly consumed, and indeed considered by some
to be quite a delicacy, are the young fronds of Matteuccia struthiopteris (see phtograph
opposite). This plant is usually referred to as the “edible fiddlehead” (or “Ostrich fern”)
and its fronds have been tested and pronounced free from carcinogens. Indeed, a thriving
industry is based on the harvesting, canning and freezing of Matteuccia fiddleheads
(low in both calories and salt!) in Canada (see photographs opposite). The fern grows
throughout much of the northern hemisphere, and can be cultivated in Britain. It is
an attractive plant, with a strong “shuttlecock’’-shaped growth habit impossible to confuse
with the solitary fronds of bracken, and although | must admit to being rather unimpressed
by its flavour, | would hate to deter future dinner guests from sampling this member
of my collection.

References:

VON ADERKAS, P. 1984. Economic history of Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, the edible
fiddiehead. Economic Botany 38; 14-23.

The Fiddlehead. A pamphlet containing recipes such as “‘fiddlehead pizza” and ‘‘stir-fried chicken
with fresh fiddleheads”, produced by the Food and Nutrition Branch, New Brunswick
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

IN SEARCH OF THE ORIGINAL ‘“VICTORIAE’
NICK SCHRODER
2 The Dell, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1UG

In his article in the 1980 BPS Bulletin, Jimmy Dyce pieces together some of the history
behind what is perhaps the most remarkable variation ever encountered in our native
species - Athyrium filix femina ‘Victoriae’, Queen of the Lady Ferns. The early part
of the story, dating from its discovery near Loch Lomond in 1861, is now well-known.
Equally well-known is the failure, in the progeny from this find, ever to achieve the
Stature, symmetry and degree of secondary crossing of the pinnules exhibited in offsets
of the original plant. Having been frequently disappointed by the results of purchasing
A.ff. Victoriae’ plants as “selected Sporelings” or “from a good original” on offer from
several sources | set out to fill some of the gaps in the more recent history of the
original stock.

My search clearly had to start at Buchanan Castle itself (see photograph on p. 9), close
to the site in Drymen of the original discovery, and where part of the plant is known
to have remained for many years. Presumably Druery, who wrote of a visit to Loch
Lomond shortly before the turn of the century, had been of the same mind. My first
view of the Castle, which has fallen into ruin and is now almost as much a home
to the local vegetation and wildlife as the woodland surrounding it, was a set-back.
Worse still was the realisation that a small estate of modern bungalows built within
i Castle grounds and bearing the street name “Castle Gardens” had recently been
built upon the site of the old walled garden which housed the original ‘Victoriae’.

Preridologist 2, 1 (1990) Bi

An open packet of frozen fiddieheads A tin of fiddleheads (Matteucia struthiopteris)

(Matteucia struthiopteris)

‘Fiddiehead fern” Matteucia struthropteris Fiidleheads of Matteucia struthiopteris
in cultivation in Manchester

9 i Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

wh

Athyrium filix-femina ‘Victoriae’. Close up showing secondary crossing of pinnules.

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 9

However, | had the good fortune to meet the local officer of the Nature Conservancy
Council who, having read the 1980 article, had himself taken up the search for what
has locally become known as the Buchanan Fern. John Mitchell, whose assistance is
gratefully acknowledged, related his success in locating three such plants in the Drymen
area in one of the local Naturalist journals, although a fourth (subsequent) find in a
nearby village cast doubt on the originality of the first three finds.

The subsequent find therefore appeared to be the most promising lead and my first
opportunity to inspect this plant occurred in January 1989. Clearly this was not the
best time of year to study a Lady Fern, especially when the plant had been “tidied
up” for the winter. Yet this inspection did allow a close examination of the crown mass
which was to prove impossible later in the year when the fronds were fully unfurled.
All told, some sixteen large crowns were present in a mass the size of a dinner plate.

Buchanan Castle as it is today.

Furthermore, from the diameter of the remaining frond bases it was evident that each
frond had been substantial.

A second visit in late summer removed all doubt - this was not merely a seedling from
the original. The fronds reached 3ft 9ins from crown to tassel tip, and the three dimensional
quality of each frond made for a superb display. The secondary crossing of the pinnules
or “‘percruciate’’ character was also very evident. (See photographs opposite).

The proud owner of this magnificant specimen recounted the history of his plant, the
scarcity of which he had been unaware of until now. In 1956 his father, having been
widowed, moved from Drymen to live with his sister in nearby Killearn and the plant
was transferred to the son’s garden in a hamlet not far from Killearn where it stands
today. For its earlier history there are two equally probable theories to explain how
the family may have come to grow this plant.

The first goes back to John Mason, of Mason’s Nursery at Drymen who, in the late
1920's had obtained a piece of the original find and had grown this in order to raise
sporelings for sale. Several seedlings found in the Drymen area undoubtedly are from
this source. The present owner's father, however, was a keen plantsman and was a

10 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

good friend of Mason through the local volunteer fire service - such local brigades were
common at the time, and both men served in Drymen. Through this friendship a piece
of the original was possibly passed on in the mid ’30s.

The second, and more simple, theory stems from the fact that the present owner’s father
was a professional waller and worked on the Buchanan Estate. The work would necessarily
have brought him into regular contact with the walled garden and stone built fernery.
As a fellow member of staff, contact with the Head Gardener would also have been
on a regular basis.

Whichever theory is correct must remain a mystery, although one thing is certain -
we are indebted to the present owner's family for the part they have played in preserving
this living piece of pteridological history, which must count as the most substantial clump
of the original ‘Victoriae’ known to exist, although it is possible that similar discoveries

will hopefully be used by our would-be hybridisers in their quest for new departures
in fern variation.

References:
DYCE, tales Athyrium filix-femina ‘Victoriae’. The British Pteridological Society Bulletin 2,

oe MASON, J.B. 1981. The Buchanan Fern. Forth Naturalist and Historian, Volume
, 97-101.

BOOK REVIEW

SOMERSE T FERNS: A FIELD GUIDE by Pat Hill-Cottingham. Aspects of Somerset,
Natural History Series No. 1. 84 pp. 1989. Somerset Archaeological & Natural

desciga wa Taunton Castle, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4AD. Price £2.50 (£3.00
incl. p.p.

This attractive little book attempts to give you all you want to know on ferns (no
clubmossess or horsetails) growing in Somerset. Details of the species include descriptions

Somerset. There is the usual introduction to ferns and how to recognise them, one
dichotomous (often trichotomous) key, one multi-access key, and a glossary.

BARRY A. THOMAS

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 11

THE MAN WHO DIED COLLECTING WOODSIA - A brief
account of the life of William Williams the ‘Botanical Guide’
(1805-1861)

DEWI JONES
Bod Orwel, Ffordd Llanllyfni, Penygroes, Gwynedd, LL54 6LY

As mountaineering gained popularity during the first half of the 19th century the saga
which has evolved from that ‘golden age’ appear in such books as Edward Whymper’s
‘Scrambles Among the Alps’ and John Tyndall's ‘Hours of Excersise in the Alps’. From
literature such as this we learn of the vital role that local guides played in early
mountaineering and botanical expeditions. Not only did the visiting climbers and botanists
benefit from the locals’ intimate knowledge of their native mountains and valleys, but
it was fashionable in those days to hire a guide.

There were many guides operating in Snowdonia during this period, and although they
never attained the same level of publicity as that of the romanticized Alpinists, they
form an important chapter in the history of the mountainous region known as Eryri.

One of the busiest guides of this period was William Williams of the Royal Victoria
Hotel, Llanberis, a man who was known locally as ‘Will Boots’. In addition to the normal
services provided by guides in conducting visitors to the summit of Snowdon, Williams
was also a specialist. He was familiar with the localities of the rare plants of the district,
with a particular interest in the rarer ferns, and occasionally ascended Snowdon three
times in one day; his clients mounted on sturdy ponies while he walked.

William Williams was born in the parish of Llanfwrog, Denbighshire, in 1805 and entered
service as a groom when 13 years old. He worked for M. Turner, Abbots Bromley,
Staffordshire for 4 years, and then in the White Lion, Rhuthun, and also the Black Lion,
Mold as a driver. He later moved to Bangor, working in the Liverpool Arms and the
Penrhyn Arms. During his stay in Bangor he attended school for 6 months, the fees
being paid by himself. This was the only course of formal education he ever received.
He came to live in Llanberis in 1832 and worked at the Dolbadarn Hotel before moving
to the Royal Victoria where he gained reputation as the ‘Botanical Guide’.

There is no evidence to show how or when he first became interested in botany, and
according to one source, another local guide, his first interests were crystals and insects.
It is almost certain that Williams’ knowledge of plants was restricted to the rarities,
and that he profited from this knowledge during the fern collecting era.

He was known to many of the leading botanists of the day, and it is certain that he
benefited from his acquaintance with Charles Cardale Babington (1808-1895) who later
became Professor of Botany at Cambridge. Babington was a regular visitor to Snowdonia,
missing no opportunity to see in their natural habitats the plants about which he taught.

When Edward Newman (1801-1876) published his classic book ‘A History of British
Ferns’ we see from a passage on page 77 in the 1854 edition that he also was acquainted
with Williams. “William Williams, an active and intelligent Snowdon Guide is but too
well acquainted with the Snowdonian station of both the Woodsias: | don’t think he
would willingly exterminate them, but he is subject to such constant solicitations from
botanical tourists to be conducted to the localities...” - further proof of the demand
on Williams’ services during the Victorian fern craze. William Pamplin (1806-1899) was
another friend of Williams; born in Chelsea, he came to live in Llandderfel, Merionethshire,
where he tried to establish the North Wales Central Botanic Gardens. Pamplin spoke
of Williams with respect and praise, but this is not the case with all the botanists who
came in contact with him. In an article on the plants of Snowdon by John Barton of
Cambridge which was written in April 1857, the author accuses Williams of deliberately

12 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

of Clogwyn y Garnedd. “We had little doubt”, says Barton, “that he was engaged in
a-search after some rare plants, as he had the reputation of being well acquainted

to us with a magnificent specimen of Aspidium lonchitis which he had just obtained
from the heights above.” During the conversation which followed Williams agreed to
accompany them to where the Woodsia was to be found, but Barton was still not satisfied.

growing in too exposed a situation, so as to prevent all possibility of their being detected.
Another piece of information which he volunteered with equal satisfaction to himself

other writers on ferns for the localities of rare species.” Williams then led the party
to the summit of Crib y Ddisgl, along the ridge to Bwich Coch, and down through Cwmglas
Mawr to the Llanberis Pass, seeing su h plants as Saussurea alpina, Polystichum lonchitis,
Lloydia serotina, Asplenium viride and Cystopteris fragilis on the way, but not more
Woodsias. ‘Williams’ intention evidently was to lure us from the spot,’” moans Barton,
and he concludes his article by Stating “! would give my humble advice to all future

Pamplin, on the other hand, speaks highly of him in a letter written in Llandderfel in
January 1858, in which we get an account of Williams leading a botanical ramble into
the mountains. The party left the Rectory at Llanberis at 9 in the morning and walked

© are favoured with the above List from the Visitors Book of Mr William Williams,
Guide to Snowdon from Llanberis.”

In The Gardener's Chronicle of July 11th 1863, Mr John Field mentions a rumour that
Williams had planted Irish specimens of the rare Trichomanes speciosum in the Snowdon
district. Most probably we will never know if this is true, or if any of the introduced

enthusiasts during visits to Snowdonia. (At a later date Herbert Stansfield also reputedly
introduced T. speciosum into wild localities in North Wales (Hawkins, 1928)).

wdonia, and he regarded the rarer ferns with a distinct possessiveness, and would

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 13

only show the localities to those whom he trusted. He was quite an original character
with a flair for gaining publicity and wore a fur cap bearing the words “‘Botanist Guide”
in bold letters. The following lines which were sent for publication to the North Wales
Chronicle a short time after his death, is said to be the guide’s own work.

William Williams, guide to Snowdon,
Anxious that all those who ‘bode in
England, Scotland, or old Ireland,

Should place their feet upon much higher land
Than ever was in those parts seen

By young or old that e’er have been,
Gives notice, that if here they'll ride,

He, with much pleasure as their guide,
Will show them quarries, lakes, and mines,
Snowdon, and the place he finds,

Plants that nowhere else abound,

And which by him alone are found:
Waterfalls with various actions,

Minerals, ores, and pertifactions;

The house where Margaret Evan died,

St. Perry’s well and all beside:

Anglers too, who with a boat

Can be supplied and when emg

Will find at once by askin

The places where the best a swim;

In fact to him, no place is new,

Within the range of Snowdon view
Excepting one, which he declares

To bring folks to he never dares,

Not being on the best of terms

With him who owns these hot concerns, -
“The Devil's Kitchen”, it is named,

And by some tourists is much famed;

‘Tis here, we're told, the king satanic
Allures his own by means botanic,

But there are guides who know it true,

Its inmost parts and master too,

And folks who wish to go with these,

Can walk the road with greatest ease;

To guide elsewhere, ‘midst many millions,
There's none so good as William Williams.

At 10 a.m. on the morning of June 13th, 1861, Williams set out from the village of
Llanberis to conduct a lady and gentlemen to the summit of Snowdon, and then down
to Beddgelert. During the course of the ascent Williams left the couple to go and collect
plants and rejoined them later on. After reaching the summit he left them again, this
time to collect specimens of Woodsia alpina for his clients. On this occasion he failed
to return. Meanwhile his clients, who were waiting for him in one of the summit huts,
decided to continue their journey guideless down to Beddgelert. Word soon got around
about Williams’ disappearance and subsequently a search party was organized. His body
was later found at the foot of a precipice on Clogwyn y Garnedd and, according to
a report in one of the local newspapers, the accident occurred as a result of a broken
rope.

14 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

He was buried at Nant Peris on the 16th of June 1861, and his tombstone is marked
with the following inscription.

UNDERNEATH
LIE THE REMAINS OF
WILLIAM WILLIAMS

UPWARD OF TWENTY FIVE
YEARS BOTANICAL GUIDE AT
THE ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL

WHO WAS KILLED BY A FALL
FROM CLOGWYN Y GARNEDD
JUNE 13 1861, WHILST PURSUING
HIS FAVOURITE VOCATION

This Tombstone was erected to
his memory by a few friends

References:
The following publications are referred to in this account or have been consulted in
its preparation.

Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald. June 22 1861.
Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald. April 1 1910.
DESMOND, R. 1977. Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists &c. London.
HASKETT SMITH, W.P. 1895. Climbing in the British Isles. Vol 11.
HAWKINS, E.H. 1928. Tribute to H. Stansfield. Br. Fern. Gaz. 5:220-221.
HUMPHREYS, H. (pub.) Guide to the Summit of Snowdon. Caernarfon, n.d.
JENKINS, D.E. 1899. Bedagelert, It's Facts Fairies & Folklore. Porthmadog.
JONES, D. 1988. Old Guides and Woodsias. Pteridologist, Vol. 1, Part 5.
Morning Chronicle. June 20, 1861.
NEWMAN, E. 1854. A History of British Ferns. London.
North Wales Chronicle. June 22, 1861.
North Wales Chronicle. June 29, 1861.

ist. 185

lin.
WILLIAMS, J. Lloyd. 1945. Atgofion Tri Chwarter Canrif. Cyf. 1V. London.

BOOK REVIEW

HENRY POTTER'S FIELD GUIDE TO THE HYBRID FERNS OF THE NORTH EAST
by Frank and Libby Thorne. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Vermont 0509 1,
USA. $14.95 (p & p $2.50).

This book, more than any other | have read for a long time, illustrates how an enthusiastic
amateur can do so much by discovering and describing fern hybrids. Written as a tribute
to Henry Potter by two friends and fellow amateur pteridologists, the book gives
descriptions, key factors in hybrid identification and photographs of the 21 hybrids in
northern New England and eastern New York. Henry Potter (1891-1986) was a Verne”
farmer who studied his local natural history for most of his life and spent many or,
later studying fern hybrids, especially of Dryopteris. The book is said to have been written
to complete his work and his wish to publish a field guide. The way it is written will
ensure its usefulness in field identification and in the herbarium. The book is clearly
pias to anyone interested in the American ferns but it should also, hopefully, stimulate
other. i

ers to search for hybrids as thoroughly as Henry Potter did. B.A. THOMAS

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 15

POLYSTICHUM SETIFERUM ‘DIVISILOBUM BLAND’

JW DYCE
46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT

Although this fern is named ‘Divisilobum Bland’ it is, in fact, a true plumoso-divisilobum.
It was a wild find, made about 1910 by J H Bland of Tobarcooran, Carmoney, Co Antrim,
on Carmoney Hill a few miles from Belfast. About 1914 the finder sent the fern to
a Mr Bensted of Detling, near Maidstone in Kent. Mr J E Austin of West Court, Detling
acquired it from Mr Bensted and in 1920 a plant was sent by Mr Austin to Dr F W
Stansfield who named it Polystichum angulare (now setiferum) ‘Divisilobum Bland’.

It is not only the best divisilobum ever found wild but is, undoubtedly, the finest pure
divisilobe i in cultivation, notwithstanding the number of other beautiful forms found wild,

It is in every way superior to
(of Jones’ Nature Prints fame, - see Pteridologist, Vol 1 part 6, pp. 262-264) thought
could hardly be surpassed.

Be PLS ‘i Zoltenly tS

sae an le
“< +

*

r Ee
SZ,

4
SEZ

m

yang

ary

¢

Fig. 1. Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum Bland’
(Reproduced from the British Fern Gazette Vol. VI, 1930).

In the lower half of the frond the lower pinnules are very long, overlapping and finely
dissected. They are quadripinnate even in the half-mature stage and can even be
quinquepinnate when well-developed. The ultimate segments are spiny and very slender,
giving the fronds and the plant a very open and airy appearance. The pinnules in the
upper half of the frond are tripinnate only and much shorter. The variety is a go

grower, is fertile and produces spores freely, as well as bulbils. Right from its early

have had very wet summers. In addition, my plant has been very loathe to develop
side crowns.

16 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)
My plant of ‘Divisilobum Bland’ was received in 1950 from P Greenfield who wrote
me as follows - ‘My few Blands were raised from bulbils the first year after the Doctor
(Dr F W Stansfield, his father-in-law) gave me the plant - wherein | was lucky, but
| have never had an offset from a crown”. | was lucky in that the plant | received from

eh
. Samoele pinnae Reet tirelve

ig. 2. Sample pinnae from twelve different plants.

Fig.
All first generation Progeny of P. setiferum ‘Divisilobum Bland’.

4s

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) iy

Greenfield in 1950 showed a small offset the same year and | was able to detach it
from the parent two years later and grow it on successfully. In due course it was presented
to another fern grower. | have never had another offset since.

In most years myBland produces a large crop of bulbils and in wet summers these develop
into tiny plantlets. When this happens, hopefully | peg down some of the fronds on
to fine compost and, for a time, they seem to do well, but eventually the young plants
die off, confirming the experience of the early growers. Very rarely, a few reach the
stage when | can plant them out separately but they have only survived successfully
when grown on to a good size in a wardian case.

| have never seriously attempted to grow this fern from spores. Looking back through
my old records | note that | made a sowing in 1952 which successfully produced a
host of tiny plants. These were planted on but following records do not mention them
and | presume they were given away - or, more likely, died! | still have only the one
plant, growing as strongly as ever, a fern to be greatly admired. In addition, | am lavishing
much attention on a 1988 bulbil which has lived through the 1989 drought and, with
luck, may become my number two plant.

When | submitted this article to our Editor for his approval he promptly wrote back,
telling me that he had made a successful sowing some years ago from Bland spores
which he had received from me. He sent me twelve fronds from the plants he raised,
ranging from exceedingly plumose varieties to some with very simple development in
the pinnules. | was most interested in them and depict some of them here. They are
the first progeny of Bland | have seen or known about (see Fig. 2). Compared with the
parent (see Fig. 1), the progeny demonstrate excellently the wide range of form, including
some plants with their division much more elaborated. This can be expected when sowing
spores from a good variety which has already diverged greatly from the species form.

At present, all my ferns, including my plant of Bland, are being moved to our Editor's
garden - sadly, | am getting too old to look after them properly. Any members, interested
in P. setiferum ‘Divisilobum Bland’ and wishing to “try their hand” with its spores, can
probably obtain some from Martin Rickard this summer and, with some luck and proper
attention, achieve results similar to his.

EQUISETUM X FONT-QUERI IN ANGLESEY

R.H. ROBERTS
51 Belmont Road, Bangor, Gwynedd

Equisetum x font-queri Rothm., the hybrid between E. palustre L. and E. telmateia Ehrh.,
was first noticed in July 1989, during a visit to the small area of dunes at Traeth Lligwy
on the east coast of Anglesey, v.-c. 52. This was formerly an attractive place with plants
such as Sanguisorba minor, Galium verum, Anacamptis pyramidalis, an abundance of
Rosa pimpinellifolia and much Equisetum. However, increasing public pressure over the
past thirty years and especially the construction of two large car-parks, one at each
end of the bay, has resulted in the destruction of a large part of the dunes.

The hybrid was found on the stable dunes furthest from the shore, where it forms a
dense and continuous stand for over 65 metres along the dunes and extends for 25
metres inland under the fringe of Grey Sallows which border the dunes at this spot.
The plant was conspicuous by the large size of its shoots, many of them over 90 cm
tall, and their pencil-thick stems (cf. Page, 1982) with very pale, succulent-looking
internodes. These features, as well as the presence of cones on some of the shoots,
indicated that it might be the hybrid between E. palustre and E. telmateia. Material
sent to Edinburgh was confirmed as this hybrid by Dr. C.N. Page, who commented that

18 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

it had all the features of the previous finds except for the somewhat longer branches
(frequently more than 20 cm long) giving the shoots a bushier appearance and often
an overall outline closer to that of E. telmateia.

robust branches, the broader white margins to the teeth of the branch sheaths, as well
as to those of the sheaths of the main shoots, and in the monomorphic habit of the
shoots themselves.

When the colony was first found, many of the cones had already been lost, but examination
of those still intact showed that most of the spores are abortive, being small, deformed
and colourless, the few larger ones having “rudimentary though inoperative elators”
as Dr. Page remarked.

Unlike the Worcestershire colony (Roberts & Page, 1979) which has neither parent in
the immediate vicinity, the Traeth Lligwy hybrid has E. palustre growing within a few
metres of it on the lower-lying, wetter sandy soil close to the stream, Afon Lligwy,
which here enters the sea, while E. telmateia occurs in abundance about 250 metres

species. Moreover, the size of the colony indicates that it has been established here
for a considerable time.

The ability of E. x font-queri to occupy a wide range of habitats from roadside banks
and ditches to all gradations of adjacent moorland on the Isle of Skye has already been

| am grateful to Dr. C.N. Page for reading the note in manuscript and making some
helpful comments. Also to Mrs. M.R. Davies for her help in the field.
References:

oe C.N., 1973. Two hybrids in Equisetum new to the British flora. Watsonia 9: 229-237.
AGE, C.N., 1982. The Ferns of Britain and Ireland. Cambridge.

1:72.
aptey ons on a colony of Equisetum x font-queri. Pteridologist 1:
spre E1958 The county of Anglesey: soils and agriculture. H.M.S.O. London. ee
ERTS, RH. & P AGE, C.N., 1979. A second British record for Equisetum x font-queri and its
addition to the English flora. Fern Gaz. 12: 61-62.

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 19

BULBILS ON POLPODIUM

MARTIN H. RICKARD
The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2HP.

At one of Fibrex Nursery’s shows in London during 1989 our member, Stuart Williams,
noticed bulbils on Polypodium vulgare agg. ‘Elegantissimum’. Knowing my interest in
polypodiums Hazel Key of Fibrex Nurseries drew my attention to this and showed me
some plants covered with bulbils.

The bulbils are produced direct from the sorus and take the place of the sporangia -
a phenomenon known as apospory. Each sorus produces a tuft of several young fronds,
all simple, exactly like the first leaf of a polypod sporophyte when produced via the
normal sexual process. Virtually every sorus is given over, at least in part, to these
aposporus growths with primary leaves at all stages of development.

| had never heard of bulbiferous polypods and therefore excitedly made inquiries to
some of our more knowledgeable members, but they too had never heard of anything
like it in polypodium

| was left to wonder why plants at Fibrex should have behaved so unusually; surely,
if it happened in 1989 it must have happened before? Sure enough, a search of that
unsurpassed mine of all information pteridological, The British Fern Gazette revealed
several references to bulbils on P. vulgare agg. ‘Elegantissimum’.

In 1915 no less an authority than C T Druery commented:

the fern eae pes be a is additionally interesting as a producer of dorsal bulbils on
the more dissected fronds under favourable cultural conditions, but our own attempts to
raise from them aan so a failed. These bulbils appear in conjunction with the spore heaps,
a rare but not unique phenomenon’ (The British Fern Gazette, Vol.3, p9, 1915).

Later, in 1971, Druery again wrote on this subject:

---Soral bulbils have been recorded as occurring on aencpanry great veneris ‘Daphnites’
whi

find. In all these cases sd bulbils are seated on the soral sites, and are usually accompanied
_ sporangia grading from imperfect and aborted ones to perfect ones with a full “eaarinatiy
logist,
1988). In the case of the polypodium, such bulbils occur r only on the most highly developed
fronds, and on pinnules of extr ste fine cutting, the terminals of which run out into ~~
inch long lingual extensions, pointing, | think, to aposporal tendencies. The sori are mass
and consist of filamentous proc ae some of which Sig eal out sa pag while ches
form perfect sporangia of normal golden agen ari Mig then, do appear those
massive cellular pelivele which are found on hye in time one bulb gets the
thao bc and a little plant of several ol Loran is , edened Unfortunately, neither
y leisure nor my training permit me to investigate properly transitional stages whi ch must
as fie in cases like these,... (The British Fern Gazette, Vol. 3, p196-197, 1917).

This quote suggests that Druery might have = plants from his bulbils. More recently,
in 1934, Paul Kestner, a Swiss member ;

..Viz. a vulgare binetiptectecnnind which some bulbils in the sori instead of sporangia

(so does ‘Cornubiense’ but t lesser extent). | try every year to grow ferns from these
bulbils, vies so far wea pe ober . | shall be glad to know if anyone has had success
in this direction’. (The British Fern Gazette, Vol. 6 p299, 1934).

It is interesting here that Herr Kestner found bulbils on ‘Trichomanoides’ and
‘Cornubiense’. Unfortunately, due to confusion in nomenclature within this group it is
difficult to kinowe which varieties he meant but it is possible that either of these
varieties, common law ‘Cornubiense’, and what we today call ‘Trichomanoides’ could
produce bulbils as well as ‘Elegantissimum’.

20 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

| believe that bulbils on ‘Elegantissimum’ have been seen only rarely because the plant
needs to be grown in optimum conditions under glass - rarely available to growers
these days. In future, however, it might be worth growing some of these plants under
protected conditions in the hope that bulbils will be produced in sufficient quantity to
allow some success in their propagation.

To date Fibrex Nursery have pegged out several fronds on a heated mist bench and
| await with great interest the outcome of their experiment.

SHORTER NOTE
An idea for growing Polypodiums

Polypodium australe, the Southern Polypody, is scarce in the British Isles. It is largely
confined to limestone rocks and walls in the south and west. In Europe it is much
more common, particularly in the Mediterranean region and on the Iberian peninsula
where the summers are hot and dry and limestone is common. P.australe obviously
thrives in such situations, enduring the hottest months in a dormant state, not flushing
its new fronds until August or September.

Transferred to the garden this character of summer dormancy is a nuisance. At a time
when most garden plants are at their peak P.australe and its cultivars can look a Mess,
with only old dying fronds or, at best, a bare patch of soil.

In — garden where | grow quite a lot of polypodiums, this phenomenon is a big problem.
Entire beds are non-events for the three best summer months. One way of counteracting
the problem on a small scale is to plant clumps of polypods as isolated patches. This
| have done with some success but recently in the garden of Robert Bolton of Birdbrook,
Essex, | came across a more novel way of growing these fascinating plants.

Here Polypods have been planted as a strip around the edge of an island bed. This
strip is only about 1 foot (30 cm) wide. The centre of the bed has been filled with
other plants of choice. The beauty of this design is that in summer the bare edges
of the bed containing the polypods is inconspicuous, while at other times there is 4
handsome fringe of beautiful green fronds - right through the middle of winter, of course.

Another advantage of this scheme is that polypods are well able to withstand the exposure
inevitable at the edge of the bed.

Having seen Robert Bolton’s garden | have tried out the same idea. So far | am encouraged
that it will be a success. Time will tell!

Footnote: If any member would like to see Robert Bolton’s border for themselves please
contact Robert Bolton at any reasonable time (Daytime: Ridgewell 246, evenings OF
weekends: Ridgewell 258).

MARTIN H RICKARD

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 21

GROPING AFTER FERNS IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY

E. CHARLES NELSON
National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Republic of Ireland

Ferns do not have an especially prominent place in early manuscript herbals which
were essentially encyclopaedias of medicinal plants rather than regional floras or field
guides. Those ferns believed to be efficacious were f g the flowering
plants, mosses, Tungt and ‘cher simples, _ very. tow of the surviving hand- -painted
mediaeval h e lity displayed by Ms. Egerton
2020, now in the British Library, London - Blunt & Raphael (1979) reproduced the
wonderful Viola odorata (violet) and Vitis vinifera (vine) by the anonymous artist who
worked in Padua about 1400. The meticulous portrayal of violet and vine by the master
of Egerton 2020 contrasts starkly with the work, one century later about 1500, of another
anonymous Italian who illustrated a herbal now in the University of Vermont (580.9
M31-45.716) - in Blunt & Raphael (1979) some folios are reproduced including that
which shows ‘polipodio’. At least it is possible to agree that the object is a fern, of
the genus Polypodium, but this particular portrait has none of the lucidity of the earlier
artist's work. | contrast these two merely as exemplars of the chaotic state of European
botanical art during the mediaeval period: just as today there were highlights and nadirs;
plants were not usually depicted accurately, and a substantial proportion of the portraits
were entirely ficticious.

There is, however, one illustrated mediaeval herbal which seems to contradict those
general remarks. It is a fifteenth century botanico-medicinal manuscript preserved today
in the Royal Library, Albert |, Brussels, and coldly labelled Codex Bruxellensis IV. 1024
(Opsomer 1980, 1984)

The text of Codex Bruxellensis IV. 1024 is a compilation mainly derived from Matthaeus
Platerius’s De simplici medicina (otherwise known as Circa instans); for convenience
the manuscript can be called Livre des simples medecines. It is brilliantly illuminated;
whereas the text is the work of a single scribe, the 457 miniatures (almost every page

contemporary scenes, each one more or less relevant to the paragraphs that it illustrates:
there is a townscape with two chimney-sweeps, one wearing a straw boater, his green
tunic covering an ample stomach (f.90r); a glass-maker with a shield over his eyes (f.205r)
blows a globe; a man smelting copper in a furnace (f.116r) is assisted by two others
working bellows; a housewife with a broom swats huge spiders (f.200r) as her daughter
and the cat play around her feet. There are groups of animals in some of the miniatures:
the elephant (f.184r) is amazing; on its back is a castle, secured by two buckled leather
Straps, in which stand two knights in full armour holding scarlet lances. Elsewhere
there are lions: one (f.147v) emerging from a dark forest frightens a man; another
wonderful lion (f.123r) firmly restrains a most efficacious ‘“Leontopodium’ (Alchemilla
Sp.) with his paws, as the text declaims:

Leontopodium is a herb called pié de lion (lion’s foot)... It grows in open fields
and near ditches..., a married man who is unable to have intercourse with his
wife should gather this plant which has 7 branches when the moon is waning,
he should cook it in water and wash the whole of his body in it. On the first
night he should make a fumigation of aristolochia in front of his bedroom, then
go in to his wife, and he will do his duty.

Three hundred and ninety-four botanical miniatures add to the glory of Codex Bruxellensis
IV. 1024 which has been published in facsimile (Opsomer 1980) with an accompanying
volume of essays that explain the herbal’s origins, and a complete English translation
of the quaint text (Opsomer 1984). William Stearn has contributed an essay on mediaeval

22 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

plant names and illustrations, in which he accepts that the mixture of vignettes, and
ficticious and real plant portraits indicates the work of several artists. Some of the plants
are indeed superbly portrayed - Hyoscyamus niger (henbane, f.105r), Geum urbanum
(wood avens, f.96v), Anthemis cotula (stinking chamomile, f.62v), Cichorum intybus
(cichory, f.183v), Agrostemma githago (corncockle, f.96r), and Euphrasia sp. (eyebright,
f.82v) are a few of the best. The ficticious portraits are crudely imaginative.

One of the company of artists who painted the miniatures evidently lived in a city with
crumbling walls. He was a most observant person, noticing and painting the gaping
cracks between the bricks and stones - the chimney-sweeps (f.90r) are seen against
a background of well maintained houses, whereas the furnace for one coppersmith is
in a very rickety building (f.78r). What is most obvious in this particular artist’s work
is his portrayal of the plants of the decadent city. He saw that there were ferns rooted
in the crumbling mortar, and faithfully portrayed them in these habitats - Adiantum
ruta.muraria (f.44r - the editors of the facsimile dubbed this portrait ‘ficticious’ because
it accompanies the text about ‘Capellis veneris’ but it is surely an accurate representation
of wall rue), Asplenium adiantum-nigrum (f.65v - a trifle crude and supposed to be
Ceterach officinarum), Asplenium trichomanes (f.169r) and a thoroughly accurate Phyllitis
scolopendrium (f.192v). Are these, perhaps, the earliest portraits of ferns in their natural
habitats? He also depicted ivy tumbling over a doorway, with its stems creeping through

who loved walls but by another who was meticulous in his use of living plants as templates
and who, to illustrate ‘polipode’, gathered not a species of Polypodium but a fine specimen
of the lemon-scented fern.

The original text accompanying the miniatures is in Latin, and the archaic script is not
pony 3 decipher, but the helpful translation (Opsomer 1984) allows us to savour the
mediaeval herbalists’ lore. Thus of ‘polipode’, we may learn that it cures ‘gripes’.

- Crush it and cook it, Or Cook its powder with scented spices and use it... (to)
make polypody pancakes with flour and eggs and eat them. They loosen the belly
sufficiently, sometimes too much

Scolopende’ (hart’s tongue fern) was also cooked, this time in water and wine, and
given in a drink to relieve pain in the spleen and ‘to clear the liver passage’.
If you can find some in a sunny place, make pancakes of it with flour and give
it for nine days at the most. It is very good because this plant makes one urinate
very well,
Melted the her balist wrote, grows ‘against walls, in wells and damp places’, and the
Mustration is startling - a maidenhair spleenwort with crowded pinnae distinctly ‘attached

-- Crush the entire plant with leek leaves, 8 grains of pepper and 8 of coriander
with some good wine, and give to drink. First of all, the patient must take a bath.
Some advice to get rid of almost any manifestation of pains in the neck, methinks,
but | have not tried it even ona pteridomaniac.
pssacheagas fern-fanciers impaled on barbed wire fences or hawthorn bushes should
ommit to memory the invaluable receipt inscribed under ‘Filex’ (not illustrated, but

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 23

identified by the editors as Polypodium vulgare).

Here is a wonderful means of extracting arrows, thorns and other things embedded
in the flesh or in the body. Mix together fennel and fern root, add a sufficient
quantity of honey, boil all these together in an iron saucepan until the mixture
takes on the consistency of a plaster, and apply this, it is wonderfully effective.

No advice is given on what to do while you wait for the miraculous plaster to cook,
but remember to pack an iron saucepan, fennel and honey in your vasculum when
next out fern-hunting.

As an example of fifteenth century European botanical illustration and of mediaeval
medico-botanical treatises, Codex Bruxellensis IV. 1024 is of outstanding importance.
The quaint cures regaled in it are entrancing, but the work of the artist who drew ferns
growing on walls is probably the most fascinating aspect of this masterpiece. He - and
| use that pronoun deliberately - was no unworldly recluse, and his impish sense of
humour is very evident. To illustrate grain froissie (f.100r) he created a vignette in which
a man is using a pestle and mortar; behind him stands a naked woman who has covered
his eyes with her hands; the modern editor suggests that the lady has just surprised
the miller, playfully quipping ‘““Guess who?” Even more illuminating is the scene in a
dairy (f.30v): a rotund milk-maid churns as a cat steals the cream: there is a man, his
face mostly hidden, outside the dairy but so determined to play that he has stretched
both arms through the window and is groping the maiden - there can be no other
interpretation!

And thereby, dear readers, my title. What modern flora gives us such a wonderous
insight into pteridophyte ecology and the lust for life?

References
BLUNT, W. & RAPHAEL, S. (1979). The yee pesbirt Francis eee Londo
malate C. (EDITOR). 1980, 1984. e des les medecines. Codex tedianais IV.1024.

A 15th-century French herbal. a Se hate tter, tiers ifacsimile with introduction, translation

and commentaries by Carmélia Opsomer, Enid Roberts sch William T. Stearn. 2 volumes:

vor 1 (facsimile) 432 pp.; vol 2 (English hag pela iaid 294 p
asic M. H. 1989. Two spleenworts new to Brit I bsp. pachyrachis
nd Asplenium Ehseda aca andes, iin Pteridologist 1(6): 244-248.

BOOK NOTES

For the attention of holders of Volume 5 of Ferns: British and Exotic by E J
Lowe purchased from BPS Booksales

| have found among my books in BPS Booksales some loose pages, 139-142 together
with two colour plates - LI - Diplazium thelypteroides and LI| - Diplazium pubescens
belonging to Volume 5. This small section must have been loose and dropped out without
being noticed before the book was sold. Please check your copies and | will be happy
to send the pages to the member who lacks them, along with my apologies.

New acquisition

BPS Booksales announce that the following book is now available - C J Goudey, A
Handbook of Ferns for Australia and New Zealand. 1988, Lothian Publishing, Melbourne,
Australia. £9.95. Send orders to: J W Dyce, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex 1G10 1LT.
( 9).

This book was reviewed in Pteridologist, Vol. 1, Part 6, 198
J W DYCE

24 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

SENSIBLE CONSERVATION

JW DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT

The following extract is from an article by Robin Page which appeared in the Weekly
Telegraph on Saturday 29 July 1989 -

“Sadly there is a growing belief in the
conservation - people with PhDs gained from years of studying the rear left leg of some

years have alarmed me with their tunnel vision, closed minds and lack of common sense

and practical experience.”
| make no excuse for extracting the above paragraph from its context because it has
a strong application, in the world of ferns, to the collecting of varieties - repeat VARIETIES,
from the wild. | hasten to add that the criticism does NOT apply to ALL conservationists.
| know many whose thinking is clear and logical, and who appreciate that wild varieties
of any plant, be it daisy, fern or heather, etc., are very different from wild species.
Unfortunately, they seem to belong to the silent kind of conservationist, and the ones
who do the shouting and make all the protests are those with closed minds on the
Subject, who will not take the trouble to find out the facts about fern variation in the
wild, - in other words, the kind so well described in my above extract from Robin Page's
article in the Weekly Telegraph. If we listened to them our gardens today would be
very much the poorer.

A large number of our wild plants, and not only British wild plants, have contributed
many first-rate varieties which have been conserved, | repeat conserved, by their removal
into gardens where they give pleasure to many - “conserved” in the wild they would
have disappeared from our ken long ago. Very few varieties have the stamina to live
long in the wild “jungle” in competition with the stronger-growing normal species forms.
It is a fact - which | shall go on to demonstrate - that they seem to be incapable,
with a few exceptions, of reproducing themselves in the conditions prevailing in the
wild and remain “‘one-offs” until they disappear sooner or later. Yet, in the protected
conditions of cultivation they flourish and readily reproduce themselves.

| shall now confine the rest of this article specifically to ferns, the plants with which
|! am most familiar. Several of the fern varieties we grow today are now well into their
second century of life, and over the years have reproduced themselves generously, not
only in their own form but in vastly improved forms, for it is a recognised fact that
a fern plant which has mutated and broken away from the normal species form can
elaborate the difference even more in its progeny, and this can be continued through
Several generations to finish up with superb plants which bear little resemblance to
the simpler outlines of the original break. How very much our gardens would have lost
during the past 150 years if our ancestors had been ‘‘conservation-minded”!

| will give some examples to illustrate the point | am trying to make, all of them first-
rate plants well-known in the fern world and widely grown.

In 1861, in Stirlingshire in Scotland, a fine variety of the Lady Fern, named Athyrium
filix-femina ‘Victoriae’, was found by a student named Cosh growing by the roadside
near Buchanan Castle. It was a most remarkable plant and quite unique in the way
it differed from the species shape. (See photographs opp. p 9). It was a fully-grown
plant, upwards of 36 inches (90cm plus) high with a few crowns which the finder
distributed, one of them going to the gardens of Buchanan Castle. Here the fern prospered,
was propagated and distributed widely. That original clone is still with us today - | ac -a
part of it. Unfortunately, none of its very numerous progeny quite approaches the origins!
IN quality, but it is very widely grown, not just in Britain.

A well-grown Lady Fern will produce annually well upwards of 1,000,000,000 yer
thousand million) spores. (See my article in the Bulletin, Vol 2 No 5, 1983, pp 247

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

at

p . 0 hg" G

yfipsaoyy ap ued 105 Aq pasies - (dnoiB Wnwiyyi9e15) Wwnsajnas WwnyoNsdAjog (9
Asenig Wwnsown|d, Wnsajnas WNYyosAjog (q

(9 pue (q jo JuaJed ‘ siAag WNsOWN|dg, WNsajes WNYINsAjOg (e

1 “614

26 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

248.) The normal species, in the wild, will spore-propagate like weeds, even in the most
unlikely habitats, but ‘Victoriae’, a fully-grown fertile plant which, over its years in the
wild, must have scattered trillions of spores, never succeeeded in establishing any progeny
in the wild. Yet, in cultivation, it is one of the easiest of ferns to grow from spores.
After its discovery many of the fern hunters of the day, including C T Druery, closely
searched the area for miles around for any sign of a fern resembling ‘Victoriae’ - not
only did they find none but, strangely enough, not even a normal plant of the Lady
Fern could be found. Had ‘Victoriae’ itself been left in situ, would it still be there today,
almost 130 years later? Your guess is as good as mine! Conservation for that fern meant
getting it out of the wild into the protective conditions of a garden. Those of us who
know the fern and grow it, and we are many, realise that our gardens would be very
much the poorer without it.

| can cite many such examples demonstrating the ephemeral life of good fern varieties
in the wild, all similar to the ‘Victoriae’ story. | shall restrict myself to two, both o
them, like ‘Victoriae’, unique finds.

In 1876 a farm worker named Bevis noticed, in a Dorsetshire lane, a fern which seemed
very different from the surrounding plants. Knowing that a well-known fern collector,
Dr Wills, lived near by, he dug up the plant and presented it to the Doctor who immediately
recognised it as one of the finest fern varieties he had ever seen. At the time it was
thought to be a variety of Polystichum aculeatum because of its aculeatum-like dark
glossy pinnules but now it is | \tob tif is named P. setiferum ‘Plumosum
Bevis’. For 30 years the fern was thought to be completely sterile but was generous
in its production of side crowns which were distributed widely among fern growers.
Finally, spores were found but they consisted of single sporangia which could only be
seen with the aid of a magnifying glass. Sowings of the spores produced sensational
results and | illustrate here fronds from the parent and some of its progeny (see Fig.
1). Again, as a fully-grown plant in the wild it had not reproduced itself in any way
and, if it had not been found by an observant man who knew what to do with it, it
'$ most unlikely that it would be alive today in the wild over 110 years later, and another

t id! i ble conservation

L hm
mt

p wo ppeared in the history of fern variation. Again,
saved an unique fern from oblivion.

yitaltya

My third example is another find which has been repeated only once, again a fertile
fern which must have scattered innumerable spores in its vicinity in the wild without
any of them surviving to grow into ferns. Yet, in cultivation it has given us a large
selection of good forms, similar to the parent, from its spores. It was a Lady Fern, originally
found over 130 years ago in 1857 in Ireland by Mrs Frizell and named Athyrium filix-
femina ‘Frizelliae’ (see Fig. 2). Fronds depicted here show the remarkable way the pinnae
are curled up on themselves to resemble small green shells. Without having seen this
fern no one could conceive of any fern adopting this shape, and again our gardens
would have been much poorer if Mrs Frizell had been a “conservationist” and left the
plant in the wild to linger on - for how many years?

One wonders how many other unique fern variations have had their little day in the
wild and faded away before some observant individual could stumble across them and
conserve them for posterity. Yet, the conservationists, with muddled thinking, would bees
us leave them to perish. First-rate finds continue to be made today by enthusiasts In
our Society and some day another unique variety of another unimagined shape will
be found - but not if conservationists of the wrong kind have their way.

| finish with the statement that nothing | have written here should be taken as referring
to normal fern species, particularly the rare ones.

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 27

ea, ere
“hy na es otteg

ig. 2 Athyrium filix femina ‘Frizelliae’ and progeny b), c) and d). :
iy A. filtering ‘Frizelliae, original e. b) A filix-femina ‘Frizelliae Ramosum,
c) A. filix-femina ‘Frizelliae Multifidum’, ) A. filix-femina Picadas Cristatum

ae as gp neaiide in the Jones Nature Prints and reprinted in British Ferns and their Varieties by
-T. Druery.

28 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

SOILS AND SOIL ANIMALS IN THE AGE OF FERNS

TREVOR G. PIEARCE
Division of Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster, Bailrigg, Lancaster,
LA1 4YQ

Today, many large decomposer animals such as earthworms, woodlice and millipedes
are found mainly in moist but not waterlogged, non-acidic soils containing nutritious
plant remains. In these soils decay is rapid, the animals playing an important part in
breaking down plant debris, and earthworms, in particular, in mixing the fragments with
underlying soil. Fossils of some major groups of large decomposers are scarce or absent
in deposits dating from the time when pteridophytes were dominant land plants, but
the distribution of these animals today suggests that they may nevertheless have been
present in ancient soils, assuming that early land plants provided an adequate source
of food.

ca : is ° Pen eo ee ts coataile

Pp tally, I y of a variety of modern fe
to woodlice and earthworms was assessed. The common grey slater, Oniscus asellus,
readily consumed most dead pteridophyte materials, especially when the plants were
rapidly decaying. Earthworms quickly burrowed into and consumed soils containing dead
fern and horsetail fragments, and the lobworm, Lumbricus terrestris, rapidly dragged
pieces down into the soil, especially when decomposition was underway. Asplenium
scolopendrium, Dryopteris dilatata and Athyrium filix-femina were especially palatable,
Equisetum arvense and E. palustre very or moderately palatable, while Polystichum
aculeatum was least preferred by the animals, probably because of its tough, spiky nature.
The generally high acceptability of these modern pteridophytes to large soil animals
is not surprising in view of the speed with which dead fern and horsetail fragments
disappear in the field.

If we assume that some, at least, of the ancient pteridophytes were as palatable to
soil animals as these modern ones, then it seems reasonable to suggest that large
decomposers and well-humified soils may have been common in the “Age of Ferns”
in moist but not waterlogged areas on base-rich rocks. Because of the rapid rate of
decgmposition in such soils fossilisation would have been rare, so that only peaty soils
formed in the wetter regions have survived in abundance as fossils. However, further
investigations are clearly needed into the acceptability of a wider range of pteridophytes
to decomposers, and also into the kinds of soils and soil animals to be found under
living pteridophyte vegetation.

food ae is a summary of one of the papers read at the BPS Indoor Meeting in October

THE LAND QUILLWORT IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
PATIENCE RY,
Tamarisk Cottage, Albecq, Catel, Guernsey

In 1860 George Wolsey added the Land Quillwort (Isoetes histrix) to the British Flore.
when he discovered it on Guernsey. It also occurs on Alderney where it is very scarce.
It is unknown in the other Channel Islands, but is locally plentiful in Cornwall. Elsewhere
in Europe it is recorded from the west coast of France to the Mediterranean, as far
east as Turkey. This small flowerless plant grows flat on the ground; its narrow —
green leaves arise from the base, and usually curl in a clockwise direction.

Nine populations of Isoetes histrix have been found near the sea on the north and west
coasts of Guernsey and its immediate offshore islands. They occur in peaty soil on slightly
Sloping ground, either with underlying granite or more rarely in very short turf on ae

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 29

soil. In both cases the ground is very wet in winter, and the plants die down when
the land dries out, usually by the end of May. Most of the populations are close enough
to the sea to get wind-blown spray.

During 1988 the estimated numbers of /soetes histrix found in the Bailiwick of Guernsey,
which includes Alderney’s 30 or so plants, was 10,700. The largest concentration of
plants is in an area of 17 metres x 1.5 metres, which is in a secluded part of a headland
little used by people.

Plants associated with /soetes histrix vary slightly according to the habitat, but moss
is always present, usually together with Chamaemelum nobile and Plantago coronopus.
In one lowlying site subject to flooding in winter, with a slightly different association
of plants, the leaves of the /soetes histrix can sometimes be 8-10 cm long.

The following plants are among some of the most common found growing with /soetes
histrix.

HABITAT SITE 1 | SITE 2 SITE 3 SITE 4

ASSOCIATED SPECIES

Aira praecox O
Anagallis arvensis O O
Anthoxanthum odoratum O

Armeria maritima O O
Carex flacca
Chamaemelum nobile
Erodium maritimum 0
Festuca rubra

Juncus articulatus
Luzula campestris
Ornithopus perpusillus
|__Plantago coronopus O
Poa annua
tanunculus flammula
Scilla autumnalis O
Trifolium ith dioid 0
| _T. pratensis
| _T. repens

O|;O

O'O

o|o

eae
L

O|}O

——

e}te)

O|}O

Acrocladium cuspidatum O
Campylopus sp 0
Ceratodon purpureus
Eurhynchium | O z
Hypnum if O

eudoscl purum O

O|}O

SITE 1 Lowlying, subject to flooding in winter
SITE 2 Damp peaty ground

SITE 3 Very short turf, mainly moss.

SITE 4 Drier patch, nearer rocks.

30 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

DID THE DANES SHARPEN THEIR SWORDS AT EMBO?

HEATHER McHAFFIE
180 Granton Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1AH

An unusual colony of Equisetum hyemale (Dutch Rush) was discovered by R.E.C. Ferreira
growing in an uncommon habitat on calcareous sand-dunes near the village of Embo
in Sutherland in the north-east of Scotland. The shoots throughout this colony are more
Slender and prostrate than the typical British form which is much thicker and more
upright. This decumbent form is unusual and seems to be a genetically adapted sand
dune ecotype. It is not known from anywhere else in Britain other than at this site.
Page (1988: 118-119) noted the resemblence of plants at this site alone to Danish material
which grows in similar habitats in Denmark.

fragments, but it also seems possible that this could be an ancient introduction. A reference

ear
UIGLIVET

p g OT Spec
aS to Its introduction. He referred to a battle at Embo in 1259 between the Earl of

area which allows for many possible introductions. This, therefore, raises the possibility
that the plant could have been thus introduced directly by this route from Denmark.

for use in scouring and polishing (Page 1988:24). It was used like sandpaper and one

Coast it is perhaps helpful to imagine that the E. hyemale may have been freshly gathered
shortly before leaving Denmark and had not been in transit long enough to have lost
the ability to grow. This may account for its absence from the west where there are
other suitable habitats.

A further possible use of this horsetail arises from an account in the appendix of Pennant’s

Another use of horsetails was for Staunching wounds. Equisetum arvense was the usual
Species used for this purpose but E. hyemale may have bee dint ice especially

at a battle site such as Embo. We will probably never know exactly how the plant was
Introduced. We can

Species.

Without a detailed
Colony and D

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 31

or eight hundred years. Any human Danish influence became incorporated into the local
community, but this horsetail population seems to have retained its distinctive features.

References:

PAGE, C.N. 1988. Ferns Their Habitats in the British and Irish Landscape. New Naturalist Series,
London: Collins.

PAGE, C.N. and BARKER, M.A. 1985. Ecology and geography of hybridisation in British and Irish
horsetails. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 86B, 265-272.

PENNANT, T. 1774. A Tour of Scotland, 1769. Warrington: Eyres.

BOOK REVIEW

COLOUR IDENTIFICATION GUIDE TO THE GRASSES, SEDGES, RUSHES AND
FERNS OF THE BRITISH ISLES AND N.-W. EUROPE by Francis Rose, 1989,
240 pp., 62 colour plates. Viking, London, ISBN 0-670-80688-9. Prices £35.

As the title says this book covers north-western Europe as well as Britain. In fact this
means very little extra: Marsilea quadrifolia (illustrated) and Diphasiastrum complanatum,
although D. tristachyum should also have been included as it is in Denmark at least.
The author omits Norway and Sweden which one might have expected to be included.

There is some general chat about fern structures and life-cycle, and keys to the main
groups (usually families) and then to species. Some larger genera (Asplenium, Dryopteris
and Equisetum are keyed out separately; close segregates may not feature in the keys
but their diagnostic features are referred to in the text. Thumbnail sketches showing
frond shape are given appropriately in the margins throughout the keys and make them
easier to use. The main text is interspersed with 12 very fine plates of the majority
of species, drawn mostly by Lura Mason. Unfortunately the excellence of the colour
as seen on the originals has not been achieved by the printer and on the whole the
plates are too yellow. For the most part they are accurately drawn although | believe
the two filmy ferns have been mixed up: that labelled Hymenophyllum wilsonii has the
broader and more yellow frond of tunbrig Ibeit with perpendi indusia of wilsonit.
Polypodium is illustrated by one species only - said to be vulgare but looks more like
interjectum. This is a case where all three species could have been illustrated with
good effect.

The text itself is adequate and emphasises diagnostic characters in upper case. Hybrids
are for the most part omitted, although well-known ones like Equisetum x moorei and
Asplenium x alternifolium are mentioned. The nomenclature is mixed, following neither
one nor other of the standard works. Thelypteris thelypteroides has been resurrected
incorrectly and a new name coined for Dryopteris submontana: D. villarii subsp. montana,
a typographical error, | suspect, but very misleading. Francis Rose admits in the
Introduction to not following standard English names and to creating suitable names
for non-British species. He had forgotten that the standard vernacular name given in
Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act for the protected species Equisetum
ramosissimum is ‘branched horsetail’ which is a more acceptable name than Rose’s
‘Boston horsetail’.

As the name of this book indicates ferns are only part of what the author and his artists
are portraying; they are less than one sixth of the book - approximately £1 per page.
| could argue that some of the colour illustrations are indeed worth that and if the
book was priced £12 1am sure many fern enthusiasts would buy it. It is not, unfortunately,
but if you consider you are getting some 200 pages on these other fascinating groups,
you really cannot quibble. | make no apology for saying this to the readers of the
Pteridologist. ff you are garden-minded just look at the variation and attraction of many
of the plants illustrated here and their potential for landscaping. If you are a botanist,
| need say no more: you will want this book.

CLIVE JERMY

32 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

POLYSTICHUM SETIFERUM ‘LINEARE HIRONDELLE’

wa, W. DYCE
46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT

Lineare or Linearum is a kind of variation which can be found in several fern species.
It is characterised by extreme narrowness in the pinnules but, unfortunately, is closely
associated with depauperation in the fronds (see Fig. 1), which makes the majority of
such varieties worthless. When this article was submitted to our Editor he sent it back
with some suggestions - he usually does! - along with the pressed frond (Fig. 1). It
was received from our member, Bridget Graham of Par in Cornwall, and is from a plant
found in 1988 by Gillian Mathews. It represents a very typical form of /ineare in
Polystichum setiferum with very characteristic deficiencies. However, a few varieties
do retain sufficient control to keep the fault, more or less, at bay and such plants have
to be looked at very closely to discern any irregularity.

In the 1860/70s J Moly, living at Hawkchurch in Devon, was a very prominent and
successful fern hunter in the West Country. Among the many good varieties found by
him was Polystichum setiferum ‘Lineare Hirondelle’ which was considered by him to

a rare plant is propagated and spread around among other growers, the better are its
chances of survival. Shortly before his death Moly disposed of his fern collection to
W.B. Cranfield, our Society's president from 1920 until his death in 1947 - and another

selected for Wisley (after his death) did not include any of the superb renowned varieties
which had been acquired by him. Also, no provision was made for the collectors in

odd years which have elapsed since the collection was destroyed, | still “see red
when | think of that wanton senseless destruction.

: will be seen from the part-frond in Figure 2 that ‘Hirondelle’ was a very graceful
ern, fully justifying Moly‘s high regard for it. The name is the French for swallow and

_ . well-chosen, for the Pairs of opposite pinnules do closely resemble swallows
ight.

Some years ago our Editor, Martin Rickard, founda lineare variety of Polystichum setiferum
in Moly’s old hunting grounds. (Bulletin, 1980, p.78). A crown from this plant was

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 33

{
Why;
SBN

7?7-

Ki

pe
eae f ? “bie
Ee Sn

Fig. 1 Bridget Graham's Polystichum setiferum (Lineare group) ‘Caruggatt’.

Fig. 2 P. setiferum ‘Lineare Hirondelle’.

: : , from

Fig. 3 P. setiferum (Hirondelle group) ‘Chardstock’, a) pinna from J.W. Dyce’s plant, b) pinna tro
M.H. Rickard’s plant.

34 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

| acquired it and the memory of it had faded. A phone call to Martin answered my
question and memory flooded back. The pinnae shown here (Fig. 3, a and b) are from
my plant and Martin's respectively. The slight differences result from differing growing
conditions. To our knowledge this is. the nearest approach to ‘Hirondelle’ we have in
cultivation today.

Really good specimens of lineare are far from common in P. setiferum and | know of
only one other, now deceased, which used to grow in the fern border in the Oxford
Botanic Garden - and it was noticeably depauperate with many missing parts. Martin's
plant is not completely regular throughout but it is a definite acquisition to our collections,
although not up to the ‘Hirondelle’ Standard. A look at the pinnae (Fig. 3a and 3b) shows

to bulge beyond the margins of the narrow pinnules, emphasising their serrations. This
character can also be seen quite clearly in the ‘Hirondelle’ illustration.

SHORTER NOTE

Athyrium filix-femina (Setigero-percristatum group) ‘Majestic’

This new sport appeared in my fern garden three years ago. | feel it is really an exciting
development of the Lady Fern which might be named Athyrium filix-femina (Setigero-
Percristatum group) ‘Majestic’. ‘Majestic’ because it appeared not far from a small group
of A. filix-femina ‘Setigerum Corymbiferum’ which, however, does not exceed 30 inches
(75 cm) in height, whereas my new variety reaches 43 inches (107 cm) by 8 inches

not produced Sori. | lifted the original clump recently and transferred it to another bed,
after dividing it into the four crowns it had formed. The stipes and rachis are reddish
in colour, contrasting nicely with the rich green pinnae.

No other setigerous Sporelings have appeared in my garden so far.

Athyrium filix-femj (S

igero-percristatum group) ‘Majestic’ - mid section of frond.

: REGINALD KAYE

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 35

THE GENUS DICKSONIAIN GARDENS INTHE BRITISH ISLES

MARTIN RICKARD
The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2HP

In the British Isles tree-ferns are only reliably hardy in the sheltered parts of South
West England, West Scotland and around the coast of Ireland. In these areas many
gardens boast specimens with huge brown fibrous trunks 3 metres (10 feet) or more
high and 30cm (1 foot) or more in diameter. In most of these gardens the ferns are
referred to as Dicksonia antarctica; however, very often, the English name is given as
either Australian or New Zealand tree-fern, presumably indicating the origin of each
plant. Unfortunately, this is immediately an impossible contradiction in names. D.
antarctica does not grow wild in New Zealand, it is an Australian species. Therefore,
if ‘New Zealand tree-fern’ really was imported from New Zealand it has to be either
D. fibrosa, D. lanata, D. squarrosa or one of several Cyathea species, but certainly not
D. antarctica.

L o4 he ; ! cliei , iy inatan

D. lanata does not form an erect t p p
Its leaves are broad and lax, rather similar in outline to Dryopteris dilatata. For a superb
colour photograph of this species see Firth, 1986. D. lanata does grow out-of-doors
in Britain and can be seen at Inverewe in Scotland.

D. squarrosa can also be easily eliminated because it has a black narrow trunk, 10-
15 cm in diameter (4-6 inches), often bearing lateral buds. Leaves are quite distinct
with a rough, reddish brown stipe. This can be seen at Trebah and Trengwainton in
Cornwall.

Finally, cyatheas can also be easily ruled out, as species grown out-of-doors in Britain
have broad leaves with scaley stipes and non-marginal sori quite different from any
hardy Dicksonia, and Cyathea spp. with trunks are very rare out-of-doors in the British
Isles.

We are therefore left with the probability that as sometimes suggested ‘New Zealand
tree-fern’ of British gardens is D. fibrosa. Certainly this species is known to be superficially
very similar to D. antarctica, so much so that some authorities want to treat them as
sub-species or varieties of the same species. What, therefore, is the situation in British
gardens? Are the tree-ferns we see D. antarctica or D. fibrosa?

Unfortunately, very few, if any, books give a reliable means of distinguishing between
the two species. The European Garden Flora, Walters et. al. (1986) could have been
more helpful and the dichotomous key separating the two species is of little help except
with very mature specimens.

The trail of trying to sort out these two species started to clear for me when, during
a visit to Savill Gardens in 1987, | saw mature labelled specimens of both species growing
side by side in the Temperate House. With permission from John Bond, Keeper of the
Gardens, | picked a pinna from each specimen and kept them for reference. Apart from
the pinna of D. antarctica being much the larger | could not, however, really put my
finger on any key difference between the two samples.

Since Spring 1986 | have been growing a dicksonia in my garden. This fern was given
to me as a young trunkless specimen by gardeners at Glendurgan in Cornwall. It has
thrived but as it was slow to produce a trunk | actively searched all possible sources
for a specimen with a trunk at least two feet tall, as such a plant would reputedly
be hardier. In this | drew a blank as most outside populations had suffered badly in
the winter of 1986/87. Fortunately, one of our British Pteridological Society members,
Christopher Fraser-Jenkins, took up my quest during a tour of south-west Ireland. At
one garden, Kells House by the shores of Dingle Bay, he was successful and very kindly

Pinnae from broadest part of fruitin

at Leinthall Starkes. a) D. fibr

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

, S
Se
oct py?

—> frond base

. m4 n
? in cultivatio
g fronds of two species of Dicksonia. Both plants i
osa. b) D. antarctica.

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 37

collected a magnificent specimen of Dicksonia with a trunk two feet nine inches tall
(c 80 cm). (Fortunately, he drives a Volkswagon camper - it would not have gone in
a normal vehicle; with leaves and roots the whole package was 10 feet long}).

This Kells House specimen was safely installed in my garden alongside the Glendurgan
plant. Both have thrived, each producing sporing fronds 5 feet 9 inches (173 cm) long.
However, a year later, once acclimatised, | realised that the two plants are very different.
The Glendurgan plant has narrow leaves and narrow pinnae which do not, or only rarely,
overlap, while the Kells House plant has broader leaves with pinnae overlapping so
that alternate pinnae are almost touching.

Comparison of pinnae detached from the two specimens (see illustration) with New
Zealand fern floras (eg Dobbie and Crookes, 1952) and books of pressed ferns make
it clear that the narrower pinna is D. fibrosa. The broader specimen similarly matches
with D. antarctica in Australian literature (e.g. Bailey, 1892), as well as with the Savill
Gardens’ plant of this species.
In the light of the above it is clear that both D. antarctica and D. fibrosa are grown
in gardens in the British Isles. At the moment | can only say that D. fibrosa is grown
at Glendurgan, but | suspect many other Cornish specimens will turn out to be D. fibrosa
and hence so will many young plants bought in nurseries. Conversely, are all Irish
specimens D. antartica? | doubt it, but at present it does seem that there is a better
chance of finding D. antarctica in Ireland.
Suggested features for separating D. fibrosa and D. antarctica:
Dicksonia fibrosa Dicksonia antarctica
Frond: Narrow Broad, particularly in the
third quarter from the base.
Ratio, length: breadth

(approx.)
(based on fronds 173cm
long) 6:1 4y,:1
Pinnae: Narrow, usually not Broad, often strongly
overlapping overlapping so that alternate
pinnae almost touch
Ratio, length: breadth
(approx) 4y,:1 a4
Pinnules: Pinnules longest at base of Pinnules usually longest in
pinna, particularly middle part of pinna.

acroscopic ones
The reliability of these characters has not been fully evaluated in the field. Any comments
on their usefulness would be gratefully received.
Acknowledgemen f
| would annie like to thank Dr Patrick J. Brownsey of the National Museum o
New Zealand for many constructive comments on the draft of this article.

References

BAILEY F.M. 1892 Lithograms of the Ferns of Queensland, Brisbane ae
DOBBIE H.B. & CROOKES M. 1952. New Zealand Ferns. Whitcomb and Tombs. Auck! —_—
FIRTH S, FIRTH M & FIRTH E. 1986. Ferns of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton. ae an
WALTERS S. M. et al. 1986. The European Garden Flora Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press.

38 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

GROWING THE KILLARNEY FERN

ALISON RUTHERFORD
Moniaive, 19 South King Street, Helensburgh, Dunbarton GB4 PU7

‘In the spring of 1843 | received a small portion of rhizome some five or six inches long,

which | placed in a bell-jar about fifteen inches diameter. In December 1846 it quite filled

the glass, and in that month | removed it into a case 3 feet 10 inches by 2 feet 6 inches,

and 3 feet 4 inches in height - ... the plant now (3 August 1852) nearly fills this case’.

- Letter to Nathaniel Ward from Robert Callwell of Dublin. Quoted in Ward’s On the growth

of plants in closely glazed cases, 2nd ed.
The Killarney Fern (Trichomanes speciosum) is not easy to grow and, like many plants,
it can, for no apparent reason, begin to sicken. It is also not easy to find out what
it likes; being so rare and with its localities closely guarded secrets, you cannot visit
it in the wild and inspect the rocks, humidity and light levels to check if you have got
these right, and it is, of course, heavily protected by law. It may reach its northernmost
point in Argyll and, from what | have heard travellers say, it is more common in France
and Spain. It obviously enjoys an oceanic climate, but from descriptions of it in cultivation
it has been grown in a wide variety of humidity and light levels. The Victorians commented
on how it did not spore in cases but often grew more luxuriantly due to the congenial
atmosphere.

| noticed what looked like the beginnings of fertility on one frond on my plants in December
1988, tiny dots at the vein ends, which gradually swelled and darkened. Over the next
few months further fronds followed while the earlier ones looked as if tiny cigars grew
on them. By April 1989 it seemed that almost all the fronds of one clone were fertile.
The bristles resulting from the development of the sporangia are not easy to see.

| have grown Trichomanes since about 1963 when Reginald Kaye sent me a bit (originating
from the Chelsea Physic Garden) and about a year later | got a large sheet of trimmings
from the filmy fern house at Glasgow Botanic Gardens, which was very different from
Reg’s. His is slower to increase, more prone to sudden collapses and has narrow upswept
fronds; the Glasgow plant (origin unknown but we like to think it might have come
from Arran or Loch Fyne-side) is very fast growing, more robust and almost foliose.
A year or two ago | acquired a very small dense form originating in the old Liverpool
Botanic Gardens (now no longer existing); this did poorly but when put in a carboy
as shot away and become more like Reg’s which could be var. andrewsii of Newman.
Both the Glasgow plant and Kaye's have kept their characters in a wide variety of
conditions. (See photographs opposite page 40).

My first case had no earth-box. A handyman ran it up from red cedar and plate-glass,
shaped like a giant pencil-box, the roof being the lid. A life-boat buoyancy tank (you
would be surprised at the things for sale in Scotland's first container nursery!) made
@ good but rather deep earth-box. The same man made my second case, an oak-framed
one with sliding doors at the front and a lift-off lid-roof. This allowed space for a proper
bed of compost and lumps of rock and, being much larger, allowed the ferns to grow
without touching the glass. The first case was passed on to Anne Ashberry who runs
@ miniature plant nursery in Essex
The ferns did Particular!
gable end nearest to the light but shielded from the glare by the curtains. They increased

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 39

coast, till one day a visitor said | should seal the top. The lid consisted of a wine glass
broken at the top of the stem, set right way up in the neck of the carboy, by no means
a tight fit. What possessed me to listen to this advice | do not know. | had to be away
for two weeks and returned to a disaster. The seal had been too much for three large
earthworms that | did not know lived in the bottle; their deaths made gasses and the
ferns were very sick. | had to wash them along with the rocks and begin again. It took
many years for them to recover.

| moved out of town to a cottage which had a generous space in the bend half-way
up the stairs, with a large skylight over it. This north light with glimpses of the morning
sun pleased the Trichomanes in the carboy and the frond size increased to about 8
inches (21 cm) with little watering and again with a broken wine glass seal. The fronds
were constantly beaded with moisture from the enclosed humidity and were a source
of interest to visitors walking upstairs. The main colonies | moved into a real wardian
case, or perhaps it should be called a warrington, being a hybrid aquarium/plant case.
This was set at the top of the stairs and got a little more light than the bottle. | missed
having the fern so close to my bedside, as having it visible from my pillow made me
aware of how true Dr Ward’s views on encouraging invalids must have been by giving
them a few ferns under a dome or a mini-case at their bedsides. | think any fern lovers
forced to be prone for a few weeks would enjoy such a sight. The only other fern |
tried with it was the Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum) which lived nine years before
it died. This fern was one recommended by Victorian authors as a companion plant
for the Killarney Fern.

When | moved back into Helensburgh about eight years ago the fronds were starting
to touch the glass of the warrington case but | had a wonderful replacement to hand.
The cottage had a vast sash-window in the (north-facing) kitchen and | had a reproduction
window-case made of galvanised steel to fit over the lower half and all the plants did
well due to overhead light. The kitchen gets morning sun but only in heat-waves do
| need to protect the ferns with a yellow-green net window-curtain. They “om able
to tolerate mobile gas heaters though these are not used much. They do not mind the
glass being cleaned with Windowlene, but if the case had to be repainted | would move
them back into the oak-framed case. They are a lot less sensitive than Leptopteris which
expires at a puff of gas and cannot bear tobacco smoke or household chemicals - |
know, | lost a couple!

| do not think the Killarney Fern is much bothered about composts as long as they
are well-drained, damp-retentive and acidic, and the same applies to the rocks. | crock
the base well with broken clay pots, hump side up, then add a layer of sphagnum moss
or fibrous peat to stop the compost working down. Pieces of charcoal and sandstone
are mixed with the compost, more or less as recommended in Kaye's Hardy Ferns. |
think this fern prefers to creep over rocks rather than soil; at least in my experience
it does, so initially | tie the rhizomes with sewing-thread on to chunks of sandstone
gathered from the coast. These have been left a good many months in the garden in
case they are impregnated with anything, such as salt spray, which would upset the
fern roots.

Until | read Chris Page’s book The Ferns of Britain and Ireland | did not know that
the Killarney Fern liked acid conditions. The sandstones of the Clyde area vary a lot
in their pH, which may explain the odd sudden die-back here and there. This happened
a year after my plants had been settled in their new house. Slowly the tips of the fronds
went brown and crisp and | thought possibly the rhizomes were sick and would ne

to be started up again with fresh rocks and compost. When | tried to lift a large portion
of the Glasgow plant up it was as firmly attached to the rocks as Ivy to a wall, So
they were only given a few new rocks and a top-dressing. The dead parts were cut

40 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

off and they seemed to improve very rapidly. A problem the books say nothing about
is some rocks exude salts such as you find on old clay pots and the Killarney Fern
dislikes meeting them. But getting stuck-down rhizomes off rocks to put in fresh ones
is not easy as they stick hard and are brittle. | do not syringe the ferns; usually when
the rocks are dry | use an atomiser set at “jet as the rock surfaces become almost
waterproof. In high summer, if the whole case looks dry they get a house-plant can
of tepid water (acid and lead-enriched!) all over. The Killarney Fern does dislike being
in stagnant water so | encourage the rhizomes to go along the upper surfaces of the
rocks where they do best. | have noticed that rhizomes creeping too low do a lot less
well.

Someone, on seeing my fern cases, once said it was very obvious | was a true pteridophile

- | had got my priorities right; ferns first, house long way behind!

References:

KAYE, REGINALD, 1968. Hardy Ferns, Faber, London.

PAGE, C.N., 1982. The Ferns of Britain and Ireland, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

eer N.B., 1852. On the growth of plants in closely glazed cases, second edition, Van Voorst,
ondon.

BRITISH FILMY-FERN GAM ETOPHYTES

F J RUMSEY & E SHEFFIELD

Department of Cell & Structural Biology, University of Manchester, Oxford Road,
Manchester, M13 9PL

DR FARRAR

Department of Botany, lowa State University, Ames, lowa 50011, USA

The Hymenophyllaceae are known as the filmy ferns because their membraneous leaves,
but for the veins, are only a single cell thick. While predominantly tropical, there are
three species in the British flora. Trichomanes speciosum, the Killarney fern, is a

common in western Britain and lreland, but always a treat to find clinging to rock faces
and bases of trees alongside fast-flowing streams and deeply shaded gorge habitats.

Hymenophyllum Species illustrate another special character of many filmy ferns, that

of growing in the manner of bryophytes; their threadlike rhizomes twine over rock oF

peculiar among f
In both genera, t
of 10 to 100 cm2

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 40 i

Close up of frond of Trichomanes speciosum. Plant originally from Chelsa Physic Garden
i ta by Allan Mc G. Stirling).

Plant originally from Glasgow Botanic

2. Trichomanes speciosum growing in Wardian Case.
ae (Photograph by Allan Mc G. Stirling).

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

‘Otyx 6 ‘GEez~ } (6) eewwab payoeieg (6 gy
‘Ovz* ‘(46) s9;1WiWab UO aUjJ0q (6) eWWaNd (a
‘00Z* ‘(46 *6°9) suajimwab Bulieag jUawe|!4 (p
‘OZZX ‘ploziys pue juaweyly (9

“ppx ‘!elep ‘yqeH (q

qeH (e

OLTX ‘Biplusyjue jo j1e}9q (Pp

‘Gex ‘e1uoBaydie Buidojanap pue elpriayjuy (9
‘Spx ‘alAyudojawiey (q

‘ayAydoiods pue (smouie *6'a) sajlAydojawey (e
asuabliqun) winjjAydouawAy *|

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 41

Growing in this manner, gametophytes of the Hymenophyllaceae may persist indefinitely
and independently of the sporophyte generation. In the northeastern United States where
they have been studied extensively (Farrar, 1985), at least one species of Trichomanes
and one of Hymenophyllum exist solely as gametophytes more than 1000 km from
sporophytes of their species. In both these species, gametophytic persistence is further
enhanced by the production of gemmae. These are multicellular vegetative units,
specialised for dehiscence from the parent thallus, with the capacity to establish new
gametophyte colonies.

During the autumn of 1989 we made a concerted effort to discover gametophytes, and
to determine the extent to which the British species of filmy ferns may occur as
independent colonies. We are pleased to report success in finding gametophytes of all
three species, and do so with the hope of encouraging further study of this phenomenon
in Great Britain.

Our first discovery was of gametophytes of Hymenophyllum tunbrigense in North Wales.
These we found growing in dark moist recesses in vertical cliffs which also supported
abundant growth of sporophytes of the species. The g tophytes f d colonies mostly
about 10 cm? and were found to be producing numerous young sporophytes by sexual
reproduction. Also in North Wales we found similar occurrences of gametophytes of
H. wilsonii, again in the vicinity of sporophytes of the species. These, however, were
not producing young sporophytes.

Neither of the British Hy phyllumg phytes h hown evid f reproduction
by gemmae. An earlier study of H. tunbrigense gametophytes also reported an absence
of gemmae (Janczewski and Rostafinski, 1875). Gametophytic gemma production isa
specialised characteristic in ferns and as the British species are among the more primitive
of the genus, we suspect gemma production may indeed be absent from these species.
This may account for our failure to find more extensive gametophyte colonies of these
species and to find them outside the immediate environs of their sporophytes.

On the other hand, gametophytes of Trichomanes speciosum do produce gemmae and
do occur well beyond known occurrences of the sporophyte. We found independent
gametophyte colonies of this species in nine different sites in the Lake District, the
Yorkshire Dales and North Wales, in only two out of which the sporophyte has been
recorded (in both it is now apparently absent). These occurred as wefts or mats of
gametophytes covering up to 100 cm? of rock surface. Generally they occur in deep,
dark, humid grottoes in non-calcareous rock. In North Wales and the Lakes, these rocks
were volcanic; in Yorkshire they were millstone grit. In such habitats the gametophytes
seem to occur where the light intensity is too low for growth of most bryophytes. Indeed,
one has little chance of observing them without the aid of artificial light.

Our rate of success in finding Trichomanes gametophytes was such that we suspect
they may be widespread across Britain and Ireland in habitats similar to those described
above. This is especially significant for this rare and protected species. Though we have
not yet observed gametangia or sporophyte production in the gametoph
observed, the potential should remain for these plants to reproduce sexually and to
restore sporophytes of T. speciosum to areas where they have been extirpated in historic
or prehistoric times. In the meantime it is rewarding to know that T. speciosum probably
still occurs in some abundance throughout its previously recorded range, albeit as the
gametophyte generation alone.

Description of British Filmy Fern Gametophytes
Hymenophyllum

These ae as mats of branched ribbon-like prothalli up to 3cm long and 0.5cm se
(see Figs 1a & b). They can be differentiated from liverworts by being everywhere nee
a single cell in thickness, whereas similar sized liverworts either have a distinct midri

42 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

or are generally more than one cell thick. Hymenophyllum gametophytes are further
distinguished by their male and female gametangia (antheridia and archegonia) which
occur on the undersides, near to the margins of the prothallus and are typical of ferns
and markedly unlike those of bryophytes (see Figs 1c & d). Gametophytes of H. tunbrigense
and H. wilsonii cannot readily be distinguished from one another except by chemical
methods such as enzyme electrophoresis or by the presence of attached young
sporophytes.

Trichomanes

The much branched filamentous mats of Trichomanes are, at first sight, similar both
to some species of green and yellow-green algae, and to the protonemal stage of mosses
(see Figs 2a & b). They differ in the possession of short brown unicellular rhizoids,
gemmae and gemmifers (the specialised cells upon which gemmae are produced) of
the type illustrated in figs 2c - g), all of which are visible with a hand lens. Under
the mi pe they can be diff iated f gae by the fact that Trichomanesfilaments
are regularly divided into cells never more than 3 times longer than broad, with each
cell containing numerous discoid chloroplasts (see Fig. 2c) (Filamentous algae have 1
to 4 very large chloroplasts or, if they have many small chloroplasts, have cells that
are much longer).

The authors would like to thank Clive Jermy, Nigel Brown and the staff of the Nature
Conservancy Council for their help with this study; and would welcome information
on the suspected occurrence of filmy fern gametophytes. It should be stressed that the
law does not permit the collecting or disturbing of Trichomanes gametophytes oF
sporophytes, and specific locations cannot be disclosed except to authorized persons.

References
FARRAR, D.R. 1985. Independent fern gametophytes in the wild. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. 86B: 361-

JANCZEWSKI, E. and J. ROSTAFINSKI. 1875. Sur le prothalle de L’'Hymenophyllum tunbrigense.
em. de la Soc. Nat. des Sci. Nat. et Math. Cherbourg 19: 89-96.

BOOK REVIEW

MOSSES, LICHENS AND FERNS OF NORTHWEST NORTH AMERICA by Dale
H Vitt, Janet E Brown & Robin B Bovey. Pp. 288, 410 colour photographs,
35 b&w illustrations 215 x 128 mm. University of Washington Press, 1988.
US ISBN 0-295-96666-1. Price $1 7-50, paper only.

Only 28 of the 100 species of ferns and fern allies known from northwestern North
America are included in this book. It is therefore clearly not a book for the fern specialist.
In fact, it is a general field guide to the common mosses, liverworts, lichens and ferns
growing in the area.

There are general introductory chapters and keys to species before each systematic
section. 170 mosses are listed (of 900 known in the region), 156 lichens (of 1200)
eine 20 liverworts (of 250) as well as the 28 ferns and fern allies. Overall the book
deals with about 15% of the terrestial green cryptogams of northwestern North America.

Every species included is allocated half a page. Each is illustrated in colour by photographs
about 5cm Square; most are of good quality. A distribution map and indication of ee
preference is given, as well as some general notes on each species that might be relevan
in the field.

cae 'S @ very useful book bound in stiff card of a size to fit easily into most po
it will be of great value to the amateur North American naturalist with a general interes
In Cryptogams.

MARTIN H. RICKARD

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 43

COLLECTING FERN SPORES

A. R. BUSBY
16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry

Collecting fern spores is a relatively straight-forward task as long as a few simple rules
are followed. Normal species usually provide normal spores which, when grown on a
suitable compost and given a little warmth and light, will germinate readily. Most hybrids
produce abortive spores which will not germinate. Hybrid spores are easily recognised,
if they are examined at around 100x magnification they will appear white and somewhat
wizened. Healthy spores have a uniform shape, often round or similar to the segments
of an orange. They will vary in colour according to species: i.e. yellow, black, brown
or green.

Spores of Garden Ferns

Hardy ferns in British gardens usually produce their spores from June onwards. When
the spore cases are ripe they will appear light brown and often show the colour of
the spores inside - Polypodium = yellow, Athryium = black, etc. Another indication that
the spore cases are ready is that the protective scale, the indusium, will have withered
or completely disappeared to give the spore cases room to dehisce. A hand lens, preferably
with a 20x magnification, is useful for checking the condition of the spore cases on
the frond. Remember, if the spore cases have a ragged appearance and/or if there
is lack of spore colour, the spores have probably already dehisced.

In most cases two or three pinnae will provide an ample quantity to sow. Simply place
the pinnae in a paper envelope and keep it somewhere warm and dry for a day or
two. Never use polythene bags as any trapped moisture will delay or even prevent the
spore cases dehiscing. After a day or so give the envelope a few flicks with a finger
to ensure that the spore cases have opened and that a dusty deposit, including the
spores, is in the bottom of the envelope. The pinnae themselves can be discarded. If
there are no spores then the pinnae were either picked too late, and the spores have
gone, or too soon.

Indoor Ferns :
The spores of tender indoor ferns are available almost all the year round, although during
the short days of winter fewer fronds are produced. Nevertheless, the technique for
collecting hardy fern spores applies equally to indoor ferns.

Cleaning Spores ;

do not consider it essential that spores are separated from other sporangial debris
but there is always the possibility a contaminant may be introduced and cleanliness
is going to increase the chances of a successful spore sowing. To clean the spores
brush (I always use an artist’s natural bristle paint brush) them onto a sheet of paper.
| find newspaper excellent for this, but any type of non-shiny paper can be used. Slowly
tip the paper on edge, the heavier sporangial debris will fall off the paper while the
much smaller fern spore will adhere to it. A small quantity of spore may be lost but
what is left will be more than adequate for most needs. Next, carefully fold the newspaper
in two and tap gently, this traps the spores along the crease and they can be brushed
onto a crock saucer. (Not plastic as any static electricity present will render the spores
uncontrollable.) To sow them, gently brush a small quantity onto the surface of the
compost

The Longevity of Fern Spores

The longevity of fern spores is often discussed between growers and involves much

ch genera as Osmunda

have never received any complaints concerning lack of germination. The spores of other

44 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

genera may remain viable for weeks or perhaps even months. | recommend that we
ignore all this and obtain spores as fresh as possible and sow immediately.

Storing Spores

| have one recommendation on this - DON’T! Fern spores are much better off on the
surface of the compost rather than languishing in an envelope. Of course, spore from
the Society’s Spore Exchange have to be stored and because of this the Society cannot
guarantee the viability of the spores that are freely given. (But most grow - Ed.)

The Society’s Spore Exchange Scheme

When collecting fern spores please do not forget our Spore Exchange Scheme. While
collecting one or two pinnae why not press the entire frond between sheets of newspaper?
The surplus spores, carefully named and fully labelled, will be gratefully welcomed by
the Organiser, Margaret Nimmo-Smith. Even our most common species are in demand
by our overseas members.

| wish you every success with your endeavours.

BOOK REVIEW

INDEX HORTENSIS VOLUME 1: PERENNIALS. Compiled and Edited by Piers
Trehane. Pp. 504. 216 x 125mm. Quarterjack Publishing, Wimborne, 1989. ISBN
O 948117 00 1. Price £25 (hardback) from Quarterjack Publishing. Hampreston
Manor, Wimborne, Dorset, or major booksellers.

In reviewing this book | must come clean and admit that |, along with Alison Paul at
the Natural History Museum, was given a sight of the fern sections prior to publication.
Nevertheless, as the overall Style and the vast majority of the input on ferns is the
work of the author alone, | hope | can comment fairly on this book.

with the International Code for the Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). These
are, with suggested alternatives:

Athyrium filix-femina ‘Bornholmiense’ - varietal name now changed to ‘Bornholm’.
Athyrium filix-femina’ ‘Crispum grandiceps Kaye’ - now (Grandiceps group) ‘Kaye's
Crisped’.

Polystichum setiferum’ ‘Broughton Mills’ - now (Congestum group) ‘Broughton Mills’.

One other change in the ICN

g CP is the need for all words in cultivar names to begin
with a capital letter

Despite these minor problems this book will, | believe, be of immense use to all dedicated
gardeners. It will inevitably be compared with the also excellent Plant Finder, but Index
Hortensis differs from that book in not giving a guide to individual nursery’s stock, but

instead a much fuller guide to the nomenclature of garden plants. This includes:
More synonymous names for cultivars and species. :
Usually a fuller list of cultivars and species. Over 20,000 perennial taxa are listed.
Guide to the growth form of many plants and where further information can be
found, including good illustrations.
Authority for the name of all species and some cultivars.
Date of description of all species and some cultivars.

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 45

Index Hortensis is printed clearly on good quality paper and is bound in stout boards
of a size that will slip into most pockets.
Like the Plant Finder, taxa listed have been collected from modern sources. All have
been available through the trade since 1984. Neither Index Hortensis nor the Plant
Finder attempts to include all plants in cultivation. This volume of Index Hortensis contains
perennial plants only; Volumes 2 and 3 will include woody plants and indoor plants,
whereas the Plant Finder includes all these groups in one volume.
At £25 this is not a cheap book but | believe the years of painstaking research that
have gone into its preparation have produced an end product of a quality which justifies
the price.
Footnote:
Most ferns named since 1959, and hence subject to the most controversial part of the
ICNCP, are not in general horticulture. The three name changes suggested here are
the exception. It is hoped to include a full update on fern variety names in the proposed
BPS centenary publication as part of a list of all cultivars introduced over the last hundred
years.
The 1990/91 edition of the Plant Finder will probably have been published by the time
this part of the Pteridologist appears. For the record, however, details of the 1989/
90 edition are as follows:
THE PLANT FINDER by Chris Philip and Tony Lord. Pp. 570, 19 maps. 210 x 145mm.
Hardy Plant Society. 1989/90. ISBN O 861 O 325 O (paper back). Price £8.95 (p & p
extra).
Unlike Index Hortensis the Plant Finder is a guide to which nurseries stock each of the
40000 plants listed.

MARTIN H RICKARD

SHORTER NOTES
Abstracts from the 1989 Fern Gazette
Main articles: :
The history of Diphasiastrum iss/leri in Britain and a review of its taxonomic status by
AC Jermy.
The existence of two types of clubmoss within the Diphasiastrum alpinum group
in Britain is confirmed (i.e. D. alpinum and D. issleri). Due to introgression between
taxa and the likely hybrid origin of D. iss/eri it is proposed here that both D. issleri
and D. alpinum are reduced to subspecies of D. complanatum.
Compression and slingshot megaspore ejection in Selaginella selaginoides, a new
phenomenon in pteridophytes by C N Page.
An aberrant form of Equisetum telmateia from the west of ireland by M R | Westwood.
A new species of Selaginella from Cameroon, West Africa by N Quansah.

New ferns of Madeira by Mary Gibby and J D Lovis.
This fascinating and well illustrated account describes five endemic taxa from
Madeira.

Hymenophyllum maderense - an allopolyploid derived by chromosome duplication
from a hybrid of H. wilsonii and H. tunbrigense - a species which might turn
up in Britain.

46 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

Asplenium trichomanes subsp. maderense.

Ceterach lolegnamense

Polystichum X maderense. A handsome hybrid between P. falcinellum and P.
setiferum, therefore almost certain to be hardy in Britain.

Polystichum falcinellum x ?. A hybrid whose second parent is uncertain.

The ecology and distribution of Pteridophytes of Zomba Mountain, Malawi by A Berrie.
This is a comprehensive fern flora of a mountainous region of central Africa. Since
frosts are known from an altitude of 1500 metres up to the summit at 2085 metres
there is a chance that some species could be hardy. There is a comment that

frost damage to tree-ferns (Cyathea dregei?) has been seen. A candidate for testing
in Cornwall?

Preliminary report of chromosome counts in the genus Azolla by K K Stergianou &
K Fowler.

Short Note:

Dryopteris x fraser-jenkinsii - a correction by Mary Gibby and C J Widen.

Book Reviews:

Pteridophyte flora of Oaxaca, Mexico by JT Mickel and J M Beitel.

Azolla utilization, edited by W H Smith and E Cervantes.

MARTIN H RICKARD

Poirot gets it right? - Not so, Agatha!

The other evening | was idly entertained by one of those delightful films of Agatha
Christie mysteries starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, the Belgian sleuth who, like
Cagney & Lacey and ....... all those others, is always there when there’s a murder.

In EVIL UNDER THE SUN (1982) the scene was set in a rich peoples’ escape hotel
on a tiny, quiet Greek Island (ironically fil Majorca, British lager louts’ new paradise).

Diana Rigg had been strangled on the beach and the culprit, of course, had to be one
of the company.

At the end of the film the great man held us all in suspense as he revealed who the
killer was. Actually, on this occasion he did it rather clumsily, failing to convince the
party until the very last minute when he urgently sought the signature of the one -“
all knew did it: Patrick Redfearn.

Now you begin to see why I’m writing this for the Pteridologist. You see Redfearn
accidentally signed himself by his real name: Felix Ruber as Poirot knew he would,
having worked out that his English pseudonym was simply a translation from the latin
of that well-known criminal’s real name ...... ahem!

This of course reminds us of Rudolf Hess who, on parachuting into Britain during the
last war, announced that his name was Alfred Horn. However, he was right and Agatha
Christie was not. But wouldn't the story have been a bit of a flop if the dastardly best
had called himself Patrick Redcat?

M'lud, | offer as evidence the sacred word of Edmund C. Jaeger in his Source
of biological names and terms:

fel. L. felis=feles, genit, felis, a cat, the prolific one, she that bears young wei:
a to a cat. Ex: Fel-idae (mam.); Fel-ichtys (Pisc.); Feli-opsis (Mam.): ‘=
am.

Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990) 47

felic-L. felix, genit. felicis, fruitful, productive. Ex: Felix (Mam.); Felix-astraea (Coel.);
Felixi-gyra (Coel.) See also fel.

feline-L. felineus, of or belonging to a cat. See fel.
filic-L. filix, genit. filicis, a fern. Ex: filic-ial; filic-inus; filici-form; Filix.
filix-see filic.
Oh, but they should have asked for Dyce advice first!
They'll be talking about Dryopteris felix-mas before long!
JAMES W. MERRYWEATHER

PHOTOGRAPHING FERNS
Part 1. A picture is better than a thousand words.

C N PAGE
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh EH3 5LR

This is the first part of a longer article. Further parts will appear in future issues of
the Pteridologist.

A personal view

| am an amateur at photography. So this is not one of those articles that says everything
technical about photography, but does not, in the end, seem to apply much to the subjects
that you are particularly keen to photograph. Such photographic skills and tips that |
have accumulated, and want to try to pass on, are ones which have been acquired
from using a camera as a means of recording ferns and their habitats, endeavouring
always to achieve the best result possible, and to build upon the experience so-gained.

| have been photographing, or attempting to photograph, ferns and fern allies for more
than a quarter of a century. Most of my techniques and equipment probably reflect
this. Nevertheless, having started as a rank beginner, | have gradually improved and
refined these techniques, and in the process have accumulated a library of both slides
and black and white negatives covering most of the myriad of ferns which | have found
in both temperate and tropical parts of the world. It has been my practice to photograph
ferns, in preference to collecting them, unless there was some good reason for pressing
a frond. | have always approached ferns in this way, long before conservation was a
byword.

When | first began, | found that photographing ferns was not easy. Indeed, ‘who said
it was’ was what | kept saying to myself when, in less than ideal photographic situations,
| found myself hanging by one hand from a tree trying to align a camera on toa particularly
attractive tropical epiphyte, while mosquitos nibbled at my ankles and leeches dropped
on me from the branches above.

Now, so many years later, | still think that ferns are some of the most difficult of enacts

it was my tutor, Dr. T.G. Walker, who undertook the hard work of initiating me into
the mystique of the rites and rituals of photographic film exposure and developing, fern-
frond silhouetting, and darkroom printing, and his patient tuition has certainly stood
me in good stead as a baseline from which to develop this branch of pteridology ever
since.

48 Pteridologist 2, 1 (1990)

The sequence of headings used below (and in subsequent parts of this article) begins
with the plant and its environment rather than with a long check-list of equipment.
What then follows is distinctly a botanist’s approach to photography, rather than a
photographer's approach to botany!

Where are we heading and what are we after?

A photograph of a fern is to me not just a straightforward image of a plant, although
if it is correctly exposed, sharp, and annotated with species, place and date, it is an
important enough achievement. But our aim can be more than that. Photographs of
ferns can also say much about the form, seasonal phase and sequencing, habit and
texture of a plant, as well as its colour, if taken on colour film. Further, if taken in
the plant’s wild habitat (and most of the ones | have shot are) then a photographer
can also show the plant in its wild setting and, possibly, give some indication, be it
even only a marginal glimpse, of where that setting is.

Additionally, it may be possible to include in the photograph some indication of the
conditions under which the fern was growing, perhaps during a shower of rain or after,
perhaps in mist, or fresh with dew. A fern photograph can thus convey not only the
form and setting of the plant with which we are dealing, but can also capture something
of the atmosphere of the setting and climate of that plant too. Thus approached, such
a photograph can technically, | think, say much more than does either a herbarium
specimen or perhaps a thousand words.

Taking and choosing your time

My first piece of advice is: be patient and avoid hasty and ill-considered shots. Unlike
animals, ferns will not run away. So, with such a captive subject, you can afford to
choose your moment with care.

You can also carefully choose your plant or plants. Decide, for any particular species,
what you want to show. A single plant? A trio? A group? (Pairs, alone, seldom give
a Satisfactory result). Or you may wish to show a whole habitat and to supplement
this with a more distant view.

Look for plants in a suitable setting - preferably one characteristic for the species at
the particular site, as well as ones which are photogenically attractive. No fern will
look at its best in a poor setting, and some situations might be more appropriate to
colour than black-and-white work (the latter always requiring a background colour which,
when converted to shades of grey, will not ‘lose’ the fern in question).

Quite often, such settings ‘choose’ themselves. The trick is in seeing them - another
reason for not hurrying. | find that there is a special, little-stated, law of pteridology
that invariably comes into play here. It States that the most photogenic fern is alwayS
to be found ten minutes after you have run out of film. So be prepared for this major
part of the enjoyment.

(To be conti 1. Subs

exposure, filters, choice of films, equipment, printing and reproduction).

t composition,

STOP PRESS

lam pleased to announce that the winner of the competition set in Letter from
Hawaii in the 1989 Pteridologist is Bridget Graham. Congratulations! | hope

it will be possible to publish the winning suggestion in the 1991 Pteridologist.
CHRISTOPHER FRASER -JENKINS

SION he ay pe ee eT eee ee

BRITISH FERNS AND THEIR CULTIVARS
A very comprehensive collection is stocked by:

REGINALD KAYE LTD.
SILVERDALE, LANCASHIRE

CATALOGUE ON REQUEST

FIBREX NURSERIES LTD.
Honeybourne Road, Pebworth, Nr. Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire CV37 8XT
Hardy and tender ferns
Begonias, Gloxinias, Hederas, Hydrangeas, Primroses, Arum Lilies
and Plants for the cool greenhouse

Catalogue on request

MRS J K MARSTON
Specialist Fern Grower
A wide range of hardy and greenhouse ferns, especially Adiantums
Culag, Green lane, Nafferton, Nr. Driffield, East Yorks.
Send 60p for catalogue
‘An Introduction to Fern Growing’ also available, £2.50 inc. postage

a ielaeeleerpeotmeemece eccmeteennemeee

FANCY FRONDS
Specialising in North American and English hardy ferns
Send two International Reply Coupons for Catalogue
Judith |. Jones,
1911 4th Avenue West, Seattle, Washington, 98119, USA

cre een eeeeenemetennnceecernmennenntmrennta

GROW GREAT FERNS
Los Angeles International Fern Society
LAIFS Fern Journal bimonthly, includes fern lesson.
Educational meetings, materials, spore store, books.
Annual dues: $15 domestic, $19 overseas, $24 overseas airmail.
PO Box 90943, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
See ee

The British Pteridological Society

PTERIDOLOGIST

Contents
Volume 2, Part 1, 1990
MAIN ITEMS:
Ferns on the Menu Bridget Graham 1
The BPS Spore Exchange Margaret Nimmo-Smith 5
Fiddlehead Food E Sheffield 8
In Search of the Original ‘Victoriae’ Nick Schroder 8
The Man who died Collecting Woodsia Dewi Jones 11
Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum Bland’ J W Dyce 15
Equisetum X font-queri in Anglesey R H Roberts 17
Bulbils on Polypodium Martin H Rickard 19
Groping after Ferns in the Fifteenth Century E Charles Nelson 21
Sensible Conservation JWDyce 24
Soils and Soil Animals in the Age of Ferns Trevor G Piearce 28
The Land Quillwort in the Channel Islands Patience Ryan 28
Did the Danes Sharpen their swords at Embo? Heather McHaffie 30
Polystichum setiferum ‘Lineare Hirondelle’ JWDyce 32
The Genus Dicksonia in Gardens in the British Isles Martin H Rickard 35
Growing the Killarney Fern Alison Rutherford 38
British Filmy Fern Gametophytes FJ Rumsey, E SheffieldandDR Farrar 40
_ Collecting Fern Spores A R Busby 43
_ Photographing Ferns, Part 1 (to be continued) CNPage 47
SHORTER NOTES:
Notes for Contributors 4
The past and the Future JWDyce 7
An idea for Growing Polypodiums Martin H Rickard 20
Book Notes JWDyce 23
Athyrium filix-femina (S istatum group) ‘Majestic’ | Reginald Kaye 34
Abstracts from 1989 Fern Gazette Martin H Rickard 45°
Poirot gets it right? - Not so, Agatha! James W Merryweather 46
Stop Press Christopher Fraser-Jenkins 48
BOOK REVIEWS: ;
Somerset Ferns: A Field Guide 10
Henry Potter's Guide to the Hybrid Ferns of the North East 4
Colour Identification Guide to the Grasses, a SS and Ferns pe /
Mosses, Lichens and Ferns of Northwest North A pie
Index Hortensis Volume 1: Perennials/Plant Snir “ :
The Pteridologist Volume 1 Part 6 was published on 31 May, 1989

Published by the British Pteridological Society
Printed by METLOC Printers Ld, Loughton, Essex

Cs LS POR Se SRE EY USD PRR Saar FES Sitteeee SO WAM LN a yl awl PO a ED LS SNe ct AED ae ace

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Volume 2 Part 2 1991 3

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BRITISH
PTERIDOLOGICAL
SOCIETY

/ PTERIDOLOGIST |

Edited by
es. MH Rickard es

CENTENARY

1891 ~1991

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Officers and Committee for 1991
President: Dr B.A. Thomas
President Emeritus: J.W. Dyce

Vice-Presidents: J.A. Crabbe, A.C. sai R. Kaye, G. Tonge
Honorary General Secretary Busby, ‘Croziers’,
16 Kirby Corner Road, Bee: cae CV4 8GD
(Tel: Coventry 715690)

Assistant Secretary (Membership); and Miss A.M. Paul,
Editor of the Bulletin: Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Treasurer: Dr N.J. Hards,
184 Abingdon Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 9BP

Meetings Secretary: A.C. Pigott,
43 Molewood Road, Hertford, Herts. SG14 3AQ

Editor of the Fern Gazette: J.A. Crabbe

Material for publication should be sent to Department of Botany

The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.

Editor of the Pteridologist: M.H. Rickard, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes,
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2HP

assisted by J.W. Dyce

Committee: P.J. Acock, P. Barnes, J.H. Bouckley, J.M. Camus, C.R. Fraser-Jenkins,
J.M. Ide, Mrs M. Nimmo- Smith, R.N. Timm, Dr T.G. Walker, J.R. Woodhams

Fern Distribution Recorder: A.J. Worland, Harcam, Mill Road, Barnham Broom,
Norwich, NR9 4DE

Spore Exchange Organiser: Mrs M. Nimmo-Smith, 201 Chesterton Road,
Cambridge, CB4 1AH

Plant Exchange Organiser: Mrs R. Hibbs, 30 London Road,
Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3BW

Archivist: N.A. Hall, 15 Mostyn Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire, SK7 5HL
Booksales Organiser: S.J. Munyard, 234 Harold Road, —
Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 5NG
Trustees of Greenfield Fund: A.R. Busby, Dr N.J. Hards, Dr B.A. Thomas
for fem enthusiasts R proncay SOCETY, was founded in 1691 and today continues mau

was
enthusiasts. It pr
_ Its publications and available literature. it aso SO organises formal talks, informal discuss! Coca —
; » garden visits, plant exchanges, hange ern book sales. The our
Mp which — Secerers, sukcterymen ones botanists, pn are published —
iety’s ji i idolo

matter chi ety of specialist erest on internatio' eee

> general appeal, and the Bulletin Society business and meetings SS
on

nterested in ferns and fern-allies. SUBSCRIPTION RATES (due oS

| Personal Members £12.50, Personal Members not receiving the

Al; Di
PJ wie TUE ner.)

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

PRESIDENT’S LETTER
BARRY A THOMAS

Welcome to our Centenary Voor. | am sure that it wil be a good one for all of us,
as several years of planning a y beginning to Its. We have an excellent
programme of events spanning the year to culminate ‘with ¢ our September Centenary
Celebration meeting and A.G.M. in the Lake District. Come to it so you can see where
it all started one hundred years ago. We will be at the Southport Flower Show as usual,
but, in addition, we have a competitive fern show at Pebworth. The organisers of both
hope that members will make a special effort to exhibit this year so, if you have never
contemplated showing your ferns, try it this year.

For the first time, we will be at the Chelsea Flower Show where we hope to spread
our enthusiasm to some of the many thousands who will visit us there. We have our
own Stand in the Scientific Section and the R.H.S. will also have a major display of
ferns to which many of our members are contributing. Sometime during the year you
should also catch sight of one of our travelling exhibitions “One Hundred Years of Ferns”
as they tour around the British Isles.

GARDEN LIBRARY

Our two special publications are well underway. ‘Ferns of the World’ with its 180
colour photographs will be available at a very cheap price thanks to the generosity of
sO many members who loaned their colour slides. It is expected to be very popular
and a must for you all. “One Hundred Years of British Pteridology” should also be
compulsive reading for those who want to know a little more about our Society and
the history of fern study. Both will be available from B.P.S. Booksales.

The programme is almost complete for our Symposium on the Propagation and Culture
of Pteridophytes and Martin Rickard is taking bookings for the National Tour of Fern
Gardens. Both events offer unparalleled opportunities for our fern-growing enthusiasts.
Make a special effort this year, come to the meetings and enjoy yourself. This is the
only B.P.S. Centenary year that you and | are going to have. Have a good time and
join in because you can't wait for the next one!

SHORTER NOTE
My Interest in Ferns

It began so long ago that | do not now remember when it was, or how it became a
consciously-felt thing: as distinct from the parental interest in natural history, of which
my inheritance was very strong. Perhaps being a Devonian, and in continual contact
with a set of plants about which no one seemed to know much, induced a wish to
find out more about them. They were to a great extent looked on as freely available
for decoration, and yet not much use for this purpose owing to their tiresome habit
of fading almost at once. This may have produced a feeling that there was surely more
we be aan for them, than just this only. But it did not, batt long after, lead to any attempt

which tested tll my early twenties. About 191 3 understanding and opportunity | suddenty
came, together; though even so, | do not recall exactly how. But it has (as a combined
thing) never failed since: and when, in or about 1923, | had a garden of my own, and
still more when about 1925 contact was S$ made with the British Pteridological Society,

“fern fever” b pp incurable; which | am more than contented
it shall be.

Rev. E A ELLIOT
Editor of The British Fern Gazette 1949-1958, Secretary of the Society 1951-58.

50 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

MUSINGS ON ANOTHER MAIDENHAIR MYSTERY
JUDITH JONES, 1911 4th Avenue West, Seattle, WA 981 19, USA

It seems that | cannot leave the subject of Adiantum pedatum and its subspecies alone
as concerns articles written for the BPS (Jones, 1986, 1989). | have lots of unanswered
questions concerning other species that | grow but this stubborn interest in ferreting
out the origins of certain accepted trade names for pedatum “forms” has been plaguing
me for some years.

It seemed that, with the publication of the proper denomination of Adiantum pedatum
subsp. subpumilum for the dwarf five-finger maidenhair, many illegitimate names would
be laid to rest (Wagner and Boydston, 1978). It did deal with the confusion of linking
this dwarf form, sometimes referred to as “Aleutian Island Form” or “aleuticum”, (based
on a rumour of its occurrence there), and set it apart from the recognized subsp. al/euticum,
which is not imbricate although it may have reduced stature in some ecological niches.
Also discounted were epithets such as “minor” and “imbricatum”. It is the last named
form that has continued to distress me. | definitely felt that what | had seen in English
gardens as “imbricatum” was a taller less congested plant than the subsp. subpumilum
(Fig.1) | had been growing in the Pacific Northwest.

For those of you who do not know the history of the dwarf maidenhair it was introduced
into cultivation in the 1950s by a prominent Seattle horticulturist, Dr. Car! English. Rumour
had it that Dr. English had discovered the fern growing wild in the Olympic Mountains
of Washington State. It was believed there was no support for that rumour and it was
reported by Dr. C. Leo Hitchcock, an eminent botanist at the University of Washington
in Seattle, that “Dr. English was only repeating what he had heard about it having
been found on the Olympic Peninsula; he did not collect it there.”

In fact, since the publication of Dr. W.H. Wagner's article in 1978, subpumilum has
been found along the coast of the Olympic Peninsula. It is considered a coastal fern
as the type description is that of a single population found in 1977 on Brooks Peninsula
of northwestern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is important to note that
Dr. English was a close friend of Ed Lobrunner of Victoria, B.C.; a talented alpine
nurseryman well-known for his observant eye and skillful hand at bringing selected
variants of choice native plants into cultivation. If, indeed, the first subpumilum to parent
the 1950s introduced stock did not come from the Olympic Peninsula it might well
have come from Vancouver Island

Ed Alverson, Studying at Oregon State University under Dr. David Wagner, has colle
ppecimens of subsp. subpumilum and subsp. aleuticum from various northwest sites.

Story.

icial
Getting back to my puzzlement with the “imbricatum’”, keep in mind that the er
description of subpumilum states that it comes true from spore. As detailed in my °~

; ; stl
© subpumilum, and a fair mix between those in the intermediate range, with modestly

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 51

Fig. 1 - yas: pedatum — subpumilum (nursery stock).
Fig. 2 - Adiantum latum subsp. subpumilum from Alverson collection, Mystic Cove, Vancouver
island, eo Columbia, reads (2 fronds).

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

m
~ Adiantum pedatum Sporeling from reverted plants selected from an Adian

Fig. 3 ;
Sowing. Very much like English plant material labelled Adiantum pedatum ‘Imbricatum .
Fig. 4 - Adiantum pedatum subsp. pedatum.

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 53

congested pinnules, and those that resemble the more typical pedatum subsp. pedatum
allowing for the usual pinnule variation (Fig.4). It is my surmise that since spore of
subpumilum has been available for over thirty years it seems likely that the English
“imbricatum” arose from a sowing of subpumilum. I'd love to hear from anyone who
has information or conjectures about this very likely probability.

eferences:
JONES, J 1986. Adiantum pedatum: Another variation. ee 1; 96.
JONES, J 1989. New fern variation - USA. Pteridologist, 1
WAGNER, W H Jr & BOYDSTON, K E, 1978. A dwarf catty variety of Maidenhair fern, Canadian
Journ. of Bot. 56: 1726-1729.

SHORTER NOTE
Centenary Fern Show - Pebworth - Saturday 13th July

This Show is the first specialist Fern Show organised by the Society for very many
years, possibly the first this century. Fortunately, the Southport Flower Show continues
to hold fern classes, and will again this year, but for those of us living in the Midlands
or the South it is not always the most convenient site. This one-off chance to exhibit
at Pebworth on the Worcestershire/Warwicxanere borders is, therefore, hopefully going
to tempt many more g, as well as appeal to the Southport
regulars

|, for one, have never shown but this year | intend to have a go. Perhaps it is not
ideal for the blind to lead the blind, but Hazel Key of Fibrex Nurseries, who is organising
the Show for the Society, has passed on a few tips to me. Hazel suggests that if plants
are to be lifted from the garden specially, a simple system is to water abundantly two
days before the Show, then lift and pot up a day before the Show. Also ensure that
pots are clean, and that plants are correctly and neatly labelled. It would be even easier
if you select your ferns now and pot up in soilless potting compost and place in a shady
spot outside; if you don’t forget to water regularly your ferns should be fine for the
Show. An occasional general liquid feed would be helpful. Remember a fern does not
have to be big to be beautiful and the best!

lf for any reason any potential competitor is unable to stage an exhibit on the Friday
night or Saturday morning of the Show, Fibrex Nurseries have kindly offered to do it,
as long as the ferns are delivered to them in a show-ready state during the seven da
before the Show. In this case it would be as well to contact Hazel Key first, either
when returning the Show Schedule, or by phone on (0789) 720788. If you have not
yet had a Show Schedule write off for one now to Fibrex Nurseries, Honeybourne Road,
Pebworth, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8XT.

Because Fibrex Nurseries have ample space to accommodate quite a few caravans, any
member with a touring caravan or tent can stay on site overnight and make the whole
event an enjoyable weekend away.

The Show will be advertised to non-members of the Society and is timed to coincide
with an open day in the village of Pebworth and with the visit of the BPS Centenary
Tour of British Fern Gardens. It should be terrific fun; do enter if you can and help
ensure the success of this project.

| nearly forgot! Another good reason for entering is the chance of more than paying
your way. Over £300 in prize money, divided into 60 different prizes, has been put
up. There is ample opportunity for every entrant to win something. For further information
on any aspect of the Show please contact Hazel Key.

MARTIN RICKARD

54 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

VARIATION IN BLECHNUM SPICANT
J W DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex |G10 1LT.

Blechnum spicant, the Hard Fern, is a very common fern throughout most of Britain.
The Atlas of Ferns in the British Isles shows it to be less than common only in central
Ireland and in the English eastern counties. To quote the Atlas, it is ‘a sub-Atlantic
species widespread throughout wetter parts of the British Isles. It is restricted by lack
of suitable acid sandy substrate in much of lowland agricultural England. Similarly, absent
from the limestone areas of both England and Ireland”. It is very much a lime-hating
fern, but even so can be found on the limestones of the north of England - in hollows
in the accumulation of surface detritus from which all the lime has been leached.

This fern, in the species form, is of very simple construction with two kinds of fronds.
The sterile ones are evergreen, up to about 12 inches (30cm) or more in length, narrow,
lax and outspread; the pinnae are narrow, undivided, dark-green in colour, glossy, hard
and tough in texture. The fertile ones are deciduous, upright and rigid, with smaller
pinnae which become progressively reduced in size towards the frond base where they
become very rounded and widely spaced. The sori are linear.

Although the Hard Fern cannot be regarded as a great variety producer, it has been
fairly generous in the past in giving us some good ones. But it has been sadly neglected,
undeservedly so, | consider. Even in the normal species form it makes a handsome
garden plant with its dark-green glossy foliage and upright rigid fertile fronds. It is overdue
for a ‘come back” and some active spore-sowing by today’s fern growers could achieve
that end. To our knowledge, relatively few varieties remain in cultivation today. One
recent find is a first-rate deeply serrate variety by Martin Rickard. We hope we can
keep this variety which, we are pleased to note, can not only reproduce itself, more
or less, true from its spores but give us other kinds of variation as well.

| am afraid that this review of variation in the Hard Fern must really be an informed
obituary, to some extent, to keep alive in our minds what the fern is capable of in
the production of varieties, so that fern hunters will not pass the species by in the
wild and dismiss it as of no account without giving plants a close scrutiny.

Past records include some first-class forms. As with other variety-producing species,
crested varieties feature largely, some of them quite elaborate, most of them very ordinary.
Pinnae overlapping has produced some good imbricate plants, as has crisping of the
pinnae. Plants with serrated pinnae, as in Martin Rickard’s find, have been recorded
more than once, the finest being ‘Plumosum Airey’. Ramose varieties have turned up
at times in the past - and still do; most of them are very dwarf and most attractive:
Rotundatum’ with the pinnae reduced to rounded lobes is still being found in the “—

Plants with very narrow pinnae, ‘Lineare’, can also be noted in the wild, but they aa
not exciting finds although interesting. An intriguing variety produces spores on t
har £, 4 eee iW refer ee 1 in diceriiecai B S. (Crispo-minutissimum

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trier OT 2° v

group) ‘Hall’.
In the following list of varieties it will be noted that, while | have used the old ea
naming for varieties found and named prior to 1959, | have (reluctantly) conform

to the ruling of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants in the nam! 9
of later finds.

My list of varieties is arranged - with some amendments by Rickard - in spans?
with my Classification of Fern Variation in Britain, published in the Pteridologist, Vol."
part 4, pp.154, 155, 1987. It includes not only varieties which may be obtainable —
from nurseries or from private sources, but possible refinds from the wild by the observa"
hunter. | would add that it is not impossible to find an entirely new variety.

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 55

Cristatum - is the most common variation may to be ROUNE, ranging’ from isla forked
frond tips to more complex division (Fig. 1a). T

but the only one listed in commerce under the name is a » find by Reginald Kaye in
an old garden many years ago. It grows to about 12 inches (30cm) high with the frond
apices neatly crested.

Ramosum - plants with fronds branched two or more times from the base of the blade,
usually narrow, dwarf or fairly dwarf and heavily crested, have been found a few times
in the post-war years. One very good one, found in the Outer Hebrides several years
ago, was given to a nurseryman for safe-keeping but | do not know if it is still alive.
Also existing is a named plant -

Ramo-cristatum - a dwarf form with the branching fronds neatly crested.

An interesting variety in this Group is a brachiate form which we hear nothing about
these days but which seems to have been quite a common find around the beginning
of this century, chiefly in Ireland. It is called -
Trinervium - with the two lowest pinnae considerably elongated in typical brachiate
manner. Druery tells us in Ne, Sritieh Ferns and their Varieties, page 137, Rises

in athe Mountie Mountains | ty our member, W H Phillips. Does this variety of the
Hard Fern still exist in those areas? If it was so common in the Mourne Mountains
area in Phillips’ time it would seem safe to assume it can still be found there.
Perhaps some of our fern-hunting members, exploring the area, can refind this
fern. It would be interesting to have it in cultivation again. ,

Druery also lists a similar variety, named Trinervium Hodgsonae, which he describes
as “extremely distinct’. It was found on Kirkley Moor but | cannot trace this locality
on any of my maps; | assume it is somewhere in the Midlands.

Angustatum - plants with very narrow fronds can at times be found but no named
ones are, to my knowledge, in cultivation today. Druery, in his above-mentioned book,
lists a few, one called -
Linearum - found at Witherslack in Cumbria, with fronds evenly narrow, undivided
and almost strap-like.

Unnamed varieties under the Section names Linearum and Rotundatum are grown by
a few of our members. In the Pteridologist, Vol.1, part 1, 1984, p.43, an inconstant
form is depicted, found by Martin Rickard in Powys, Wales. Unfortunately, the frond
depicted here (Fig.1b) is the best one from the same plant; none of the others are so
neat, but he hopes for better things from its spores.

A word of explanation is called for here. The names Angustatum and Linearum mean
narrow, and the variety mentioned above is indeed a true linearum since its narrow
fronds are undivided and almost strap-like. But there can be confusion in this species
Blechnum spicant, over the names Linearum and Rotundatum because the linearum
description can also be applied to the rotundatum varieties of the fern with their small
rounded pinnae which make the fronds very narrow or linear.

In 1989 | received from our member, C E K Scouller, who lives in the Western Highlands
near Ullapool, two Blechnum fronds, one fertile the other barren, belonging to the
otundatum section, which, to me, were most exciting (Fig.1e). | wrote to Mr Scouller,
asking if he had the plant, but alas! it was about 20 years ago, before he began to
keep records, that the sight of the plant had intrigued him and he collected only the
nds. The fertile one is somewhat irregular but the barren one is nearly perfect

- BUT, were the other barren fronds equally perfect? | have suggested to Mr Scouller
that he tries to refind the fern - who knows, it may be an exception which contradicts
my oft-repeated pessimistic statements about the longevity of fern varieties in the wild;

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

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¢)(Serratum group) ‘North Wales’. d) ‘Concinnum’ - reduced x 2/3. e(Rotundatum group)

~ fertile and sterile frond.

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 57

it may even have reproduced itself in good progeny! It would be an exciting event to
refind this fern.

(NOTE - Fern hunters visiting this part of Scotland, the Loch Naver area, should contact
Mr Scouller for details of the locality - his address is in the Membership | ist published
in the 1990 Bulletin, Vol.4, No.1).

A plant which Druery regarded as one of his best finds was in this section. He called
it -
Concinnum Druery - with regularly rounded pinnae, sharply and evenly toothed.
The barren fronds were less than half-an-inch (1.25cm) wide and 9 inches (23cm)
long. In Druery’s words, they were “like a string of scallop shells”. The fertile
fronds were merely beaded stalks.

In spite of Druery’s strong regard for this fern which was one of his earliest finds (1881)
and helped to fire his enthusiasm for fern variation, | can find no trace of it being depicted
anywhere in his voluminous writings. This is most surprising considering that he was
no mean artist with his line drawings. There is, however, a very small illustration of
it in a plate of line drawings of B. spicant varieties in the British Fern Gazette, Vol.2,
No.14, 1912, p.25.

Druery’s find was made on Exmoor in the West Country and, subsequently in 1909,
an exactly similar variety was found in the Lake District by W Lancaster. This fern Druery
did choose to illustrate in the British Fern Gazette, Vol.1, No.8, 1911, p.174. (Fig. 14d).

Crispatum - plants with dwarf or semi-dwarf fronds, very congested in growth and
with crisped or twisted pinnae and also some turgid brittleness. Druery listed several
varieties but none have survived. Several years ago | found, growing on rocks by a
waterfall in South Wales, a small colony of Hard Fern varieties, all about 6 inches (15cm)
high, with very crisped and overlapping pinnae. | collected one of them, but it never
did well and struggled on for some years before dying. | am sure this variation could
be found, at the least quite frequently, in areas where the fern abounds, if it is looked
for carefully. The only plant of this variety we have today - or did have? - is a very
dwarf find -
(Crispo-minutissimum group) ‘Hall’ - found in the post-war era by Nigel Hall on
one of the North Wales mountains. It is only 2 inches (5cm) in height, very congested,
crisped and fleshy. (See Pteridologist Vol.1, Part 1, 1984, p.43). When found it
had one tiny fertile frond which was in very poor condition, but it provided a few
scrapings which were sown in the hope that some spores still remained. Nothing
came up in the spore pot! A few growers possess, or did possess, this small gem
but | have heard nothing about it for a long time and | hope it still survives. My
plant started behaving strangely several years ago by developing abortive spores
on the barren fronds and then died the following winter.

Dentatum - plants with deeply crenate or serrate fronds are far from common, although
Druery depicts some in his book British Ferns and their Varieties, and there are frequent
recordings of very good serratum finds and bred varieties in the early volumes of the
British Fern Gazette, along with photographic plates - some are reproduced here. Plants
with minor serrations can be found if searched for but the really good ones are very
rare and have the serrations so deep that they become almost or completely bipinnate
and plumose, so much so that they have been called plumosum. | list a few of them
here, not because they still exist - they don’t - but what has been found once, and
more than once, can be found again -

Serratum, Smithies - found in 1913 by J J Smithies on Dartmoor. It was said

to be one of the best wild finds but, unfortunately, no photo was published in

any of the fern literature.

Serratum, Henwood - found in 1916 by C Henwood as a small plant growing

on a wall in Buckinghamshire. It ranked among the best and was very foliose,

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Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

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Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 59

with broad overlapping and deeply divided pinnae. Again, we have no photographic
record, due to economies dictated by the First World War.

Plumosum Forster - bred by W Forster and exhibited by him to the Society in
1924. Its origin is lost. It was foliose and bipinnatifid with slight cruciation which
was only partial and occasional. It is depicted here (Fig.2).

Bipinnatum Sheldon - raised sometime between 1916 and 1930 by J J Sheldon
from spores of Henwood’s Serratum listed above. It had the same characters in
a more pronounced form, being thoroughly bipinnate. It is depicted here (Fig.3).

We now come to the very finest variety ever produced by this species but, strangely,
neither Martin Rickard nor | can find much more detailed information about it than
appears in Druery’s British Ferns and their Varieties, page 134. All the published
references to it at the time, in the final decades of the last century and the first few
of the present one, in the gardening literature of the time by Druery and in the early
volumes of the British Fern Gazette, give us no further details. We have a photograph
of it, nothing more, and this same photograph (Fig.4) appears in several publications
of the time. | rather suspect that the fern had a very short life and the most was made
of the only surviving record - this photograph! The variety was -
Plumosum Airey - raised by T Airey. Druery states - ‘Decidedly the finest form
of all; tripinnate and robust”. The pinnae were divided into half-inch (1.25cm)
pinnules which were themselves deeply divided. The photograph was from Druery’s
own plant. Airey was an active fern hunter in the Lake District in the 1860/70s
and several of his finds have been recorded in The Ferns of the English Lake
Country by W J Linton, second edition 1878. One of his finds was made at
Windermere, described as almost bipinnate with very large secondary segments
and we think it must have been from the spores of this plant that he produced
his ‘Plumosum Airey No. 1’, depicted here. An inferior form ‘Plumosum Airey No.
2’ was also bred but we hear nothing further of this.

It is pleasing to report that, although all those fine varieties of Blechnum spicant have
been lost, the variety Serratum has again been found in the wild in the post-war years.
This find is a first-rate plant, ranking equally with the best finds of the past. It is
called -
(Serratum Group) ‘North Wales’ - found by Martin Rickard in North Wales in 1973
(Fig.1c). It has fronds up to 9 inches (23cm) long, the barren ones having very
regularly and very deeply indented pinnae which have a pronounced upward curve
and in well-grown plants can be very much more than just serrate. The fertile
fronds have very narrow pinnae which have a backward curve, just like Revolvens.
In cultivation, my plant developed pi g t h enlarged to b Imost
pinnules.

In 1977 Richard Rush sowed spores from the Rickard find and successfully raised several
plants, among them a very good bipinnatifid form, (Bipinnatifidum group) ‘Rush’. This
is depicted in the Pteridologist, Vol.1, Part 1, 1984, p.43. It seems obvious that the
variety ‘North Wales’ has great possibilities and can emulate the very best of the past
varieties.

A minor form of Serratum is Incisum, but it could, in my opinion, be a producer of
much better things in its progeny. It can be found occasionally in the wild but is not
sufficiently attractive to appeal to the majority of variety collectors. But it can present
a challenge!

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

60

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Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 61

Two types of variation remain to be mentioned. One is - Revolvens - by no means
a common kind of variation found in this species and, indeed, has only been recorded
once and named -
Revolvens - found by C T Druery near Barnstaple in Devon round about 1913/
14. It will be seen from the illustration depicted here (Fig. 5) that it was a very
good example of its kind with very fully recurved pinnae. It was said to yield quite
true progeny with the incurved character as fully marked as in the parent. Like
all the others, it has passed on.

My last variety is a very strange and unique plant which was named -
Paradoxum - found by G Whitwell in Bannisdale, Westmorland in 1877. It is difficult
to picture this plant and | can best describe it in Dr F W Stanfield’s language
and leave the reader to build up his/her own picture. ‘It was an absolutely unique
plant, no fern with this three-winged character having been recorded in any species
so far as the writer knows. The frond was, at first sight, somewhat of the strictum
(contracted, narrow) character with toothed and abbreviated pinnae, but along the
middle of its upper surface was an upright ridge like the crest on the back of
the male newt. The ridge was, however, divided into lobes, corresponding to pinnae,
and the frond was consequently described as having ‘three rows of pinnae’, viz.
the two normal lateral rows and, in addition, the vertical pinnate ridge. The upright
row had no lower surface but both sides had glossy epithelium similar to that
of the upper face of the normal frond....The plant was given to Mr Barnes, a very
successful grower of Blechnums, to look after...and it became established and
developed over twenty fronds of some three inches in length...Unfortunately, ...the
plant was divided with a knife, the result being that one of the pieces perished
entirely while the other was all but killed....lt never became robust...and eventually
died without progeny more than thirty years after its discovery.”

Dr Stansfield laments its passing as a great disaster to the fern world, more than the
loss of many more beautiful plants, even though its decorative value was very small.
Unfortunately, no frond, photograph or drawing of the fern exists.

| hope this paper will stir up enough interest in this neglected species to encourage
hunting for varieties and to grow and experiment with them in the hope of recovering
some of the past losses. | think the great trouble with this fern has been overlooking
the fact that lime is a positive poison for it. | admit | have been at fault in this respect
by using hard London tap water, but my ground dries out so much in the summer
- particularly in the two past summers - that | can never get enough rainwater for
watering purposes. To succeed with Blechnums a moist, open, loamy and leafy soil,
free of lime, is needed. It is somewhat of a bog lover, growing largest in moist shady
conditions with water available below for its roots to tap.

SHORTER NOTE

From the Spore Exchange Organiser:

| am hoping to build up a file of information about the ferns usually offered on the
_ Spore list and would like to hear from members on two points in particular. | am interested
to discover whether there are ferns which people have tried to grow repeatedly from
spores without succcessful germination. Also | would like to hear from members who
are growing outside many of the foreign hardy or near hardy species which are now
more widely available, particularly which species have survived unscathed in the recent
cold weather and those that have succumbed. Correspondence about this or other matters
concerning the Spore Exchange should be sent to me at 201 Chesterton Road, Cambridge

1AE.

MARGARET NIMMO-SMITH

62 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

EQUISETUM FUNGICIDES?
R.N. TIMM, Castle Villa, Church Lane, Minting, Nr. Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9
5RR

The traditional use for Equisetum in polishing and cl ing is probably familiar to everyone;
however, in Plants a Plenty by C Osgood Foster, an American book which gives a slightly
‘off beat’ introduction to the propagation of plants, | found a paragraph on sowing seeds,
which seems to refer to a natural fungicide or sterlizing agent -

Keep the workbench and containers clean, too, by using a 1% solution of clorox. Or you

ight want to try an Equiset luti his can be prepared by combining 1 cup of Equisetum
weed - known as horsetail - with 1 cup of water in your blender. Then blend on medium
speed for a minute or so. If you have the weed itself, it might help to bury pieces of it
in the soil.

Though it seems, from this paragraph, that this is a familiar and perhaps traditional
practice in America and, from subsequent lines, that the solution may be commercially
available, few other horticultural books appear to have anything to say about this use
of Equisetum. In a book on folklore, however, | found this one short line -

Mildew - scatter dried marestail on the ground round plants likely to be affected.

Neither of these give any clue to the origins of this idea, or to which species or species
to use. The former does state that it grows in ‘sandy places’ - could this be E.arvense?
Scattering dried material on the ground beneath a plant would seem a doubtful way
of preventing mildew unless the active component is extremely potent! Equisetum, being
a genus with a long evolutionary history, however, may have evolved a biocide for its
own protection, powerful enough for use in disinfection. Alternatively, could this simply
be an idea which has arisen out of confusion over the use of Equisetum in scouring?
Several other B.P.S. members | asked said that they had no knowledge of the subject
therefore, there could be a great deal of interest, if anyone familiar with the facts could
provide more information.

SHORTER NOTE
WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Common names for plants are a fascinating study. They tell us so much about pres
folklore, medicine and country practices. Yet they are disappearing fast In this vite
‘standardisation’. As new species appear in our flora new ‘common’ names at ype
sometimes translations of the foreign name, sometimes descriptive, sometimes not poe
the earliest British Floras English names were given, e.g. Hudson's Flora plo hem
and Withering’s Systematic Arrangement of British Plants (1776) and most of t
most descriptive. The danger with a national list (like English Names 0 jatter
Dony et al. 1974, 1986) is that those interesting regional names get host. ue hens
also introduced a way of signifying a ‘generic’ common name by introducing wise
which play mockery of the English language. | am keen to collect local names tor © Als
ferns (and allies) - in English, Welsh, Gaelic, Urse, Doric or any other language oF postin
And if you have interesting stories about old uses for these plants, please let me
about those too.

AC. JERMY

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 63

MY FILMY-FERN HOUSE
CHRISTOPHER J. GOUDEY, R.M.B., 1175 Cozens Road, Lara, Victoria, 3212,
Australia

An Introduction to Leptopteris

About sixteen years ago, | was shown a plant of a Leptopteris sp from Mt. Bartle Frere,
North Queensland” in cultivation at Montrose, Victoria (see fig 3, rear). It belonged to
David Jones (well-known author).

To me, it was the most beautiful fern | had ever seen. David had a spare plant and
it was not long before | managed to relieve him of it and set it up in a large terrarium
in my glasshouse. | have still got the same plant to this day, although considerably
larger.

| soon learned that there were two more species in New Zealand, Leptopteris superba
and L. hymenophylloides, so in March of 1975, my wife and | set off for a holiday
to New Zealand. We returned home with many ferns including the two Leptopteris spp.
They suffered a severe setback whilst in quarantine, but they survived and in a few
years grew to become quite large. It was not long before | had acquired a pliant of
L. fraseri from the Blue Mountains (Fig. 3 opp. p.64), west of Sydney and L. moore
from Lord Howe Isiand (Fig. 1 opp. p.64).

In 1978, we moved from Werribee to a five acre property at Lara near Geelong, Victoria.
The Leptopteris spp were all transported to Lara in large plastic bags and set-up again
in terrariums under a skylight in a large shed. We built several large glasshouses and
commenced growing ferns commercially. The Leptopteris soon outgrew their terrariums,
so | set aside an area in one of the glasshouses for them.

| built a wooden frame approximately 18ft long (5.4m) by 4ft wide (1.2m) and 4ft high
(1.2m), with a lift-up lid. | covered the polybox as | called it, inside and out, with clear
polythene. | had a raised soil bed in the base, into which | planted the Leptopteris spp.
They flourished in their new environment and were soon out-growing their polybox.

The Remaining Species

| collected L. wilkesiana (Fig. 2 opp. p.64) in Fiji in 1982 and again in 1989 in New
Caledonia. My first plant of L. x intermedia came from lolanthe Small from Pukekura
Park at New Plymouth, New Zealand, and in 1988, | travelled to Papua New Guinea
to seek out the two remaining species, L. alpina from Papua New Guinea and L. /axa
from Bougainville Island. | was very fortunate to obtain the latter as, shortly after, the
unrest started at the island’s copper mine.

Amongst the other filmy-ferns | grow, my next favourite would have to be Trichomanes
(Cardiomanes) reniforme.

Establishing the Filmy-Fern House (Fig. 4 opp. p.65)

For many years, | had been planning the construction of a filmy-fern house. | wrote
to the curators of the filmy-fern houses, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Huntington
Botanic Gardens, San Marino, California for any information they could give me.

| commenced building in January, 1988. The house was to be 32ft long (9.6m) by 16ft
wide (4.8m) and the walls were constructed of concrete blocks 8 inches thick (20cm).
The roof was covered with alternate sheets of corrugated fibreglass and corrugated iron.
The iron was used to help cut the light back. The entrance was through an airlock.
The ceiling was lined with ultra-violet inhibited polythene, to give a double-glazing effect.

The soil beds are all raised and the run-off is drained into a pit which is pumped out
automatically onto the garden outside. Two spinning disc humidifiers were installed,

. Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

drawing in only tank water, and two small fans circulate the air in the house. A small
quantity of fresh air is drawn through a system of pipes and introduced at floor level,
and a exhaust fan draws out the stale air at the other end of the house.

All this sounded good, but | had many problems the first year. The hot summer sun
heated the north wall and the inside temperature was getting too high. The humidistat
was not functioning accurately. | like to keep the humidity above 80% at all times.
Eventually | had to house the humidistat in a cylinder into which a small low voltage
fan had been mounted.

The fan keeps a constant flow of air moving across the humidistat to keep it dry. Before
| used the fan the moisture in the air was condensing on the humidistat, causing me
no end of problems. With the sensing element wet, it would shut the humidifiers down
until it dried out. By this time, the humidity in the house was becoming dangerously
low. | shaded the north wail in the second summer and this helped to keep the temperature
down.

| also had problems with pockets of stale air in the house. Many of the ferns had a
grey mould growing on them and some of them were growing deformed. | installed
an evaporative cooler this year, which automatically switches on in the morning and
off in the evening. | have had no fungal problems since.

The walls are sprayed automatically for three minutes and the soil beds are watered
for ten minutes every second day. The watering jets have been inverted so that they
spray onto the soil and not the foliage. | have found that if the fronds of Leptopteris
Spp are wet too often they turn black.

Hybridising Leptopteris spp

In 1985, | began experimenting with the hybridisation of Leptopteris spp. | had already

successfully developed a few Asplenium hybrids and was anxious to try my hand with
Leptopteris.

My method is simple and it worked. | sowed the two species together in anticipation
that the spores of one species might be fertilised by those of the other species, whic
worked in most cases. | successfully crossed the following species -

L. superba x hymenophylloides

L. superba x fraseri(see Fig. 2 opp.)

L. superba x moorei

L. superba x sp Mt. Bartle Frere, North Queensland”

L. moorei x hymenophylloides

Dr Patrick Brownsey of the National Museum of New Zealand sent me a pied ee
paper on ‘A Biosystematic Study of a Wild Population of Leptopteris Hybrids 'n ne
Zealand’, New Zealand Journal of Botany 1981, Vol 19, and | was fascinated to we :
that L. x intermedia (L. superba x hymenophylioides) produced good viele — the
plant was large and fertile, so | collected spore and sowed it and to my surprise
end result was many hundreds of L. x intermedia.

i ; if an
This year, | am going to collect the spore from some of my earlier hybrids and if

of them produce viable spore | will attempt to cross them back with L. superba
knows what | may end up with?

" ; nistS
The Leptopteris sp. from Mt. Bartle Frere in North Queensland is regarded by eon by
as just an isolated population of L. fraseri, but | have grown the two species
side for many years and | feel that they are quite different.

2 (1991)

,

Pteridologist 2

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ae

-

‘a1944 ajieg IW wo 'd: 4€ 6 14

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€ 64

$ X l4aSe1j Si1ajdojda7 Z ae ‘1a100w! ssaydoide7 16

4

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

Fig. 4 The filmy-fern hou
mounted above the roof

Se showing the double-glazed window and outer door. The pipe frame
IS used in summer for shade cloth, although it is not being used this
year.

Asplenium trichomanes (Incisum group) ‘Greenfield’

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 65

ASPLENIUM TRICHOMANES (INCISUM GROUP)
‘GREENFIELD’
MARTIN RICKARD, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops SY8 2HP.

| am endebted to Reginald Kaye for sending me the photograph of this superb little
fern and for allowing me to publish it here (See Photo opp.). This is surely the most
attractive cultivar of Asplenium trichomanes still in cultivation. Indeed, we have Reginaid
Kaye to thank for the fact that it is still with us.

It was found by Percy Greenfield in 1960 on the Society's annual excursion. It was
growing on a roadside wall among a large colony of normal forms of Asplenium
trichomanes near the village of Crowcombe in the Quantock Hills in Somerset (Dyce,
1961). As a keen variety hunter, | can easily imagine the thrill Percy Greenfield must
have experienced on that September day thirty one years ago. Jimmy Dyce was present
and had they been walking in a different order this charming little fern might now be
called ‘Dyce’!

The fern had two crowns and one was given to Jimmy Dyce. Later, this one died but
Greenfield's flourished. However, some years later the two members concerned decided
to pass on the surviving crown to Reginald Kaye at Silverdale. They felt strongly that
it had a better chance of survival in the Silverdale nursery’s natural limestone pavement
with its soft north Lancashire climate. Time has proved that this decision was correct.
It is, perhaps, relevant to add that ‘Incisums’ have proved difficult in cultivation. Indeed,
many years earlier Reg had already lost a fine ‘Incisum’ when he split a well grown
plant from the Barnes collection into about 20 crowns only to see all the divisions die!
As he observed more recently he has no plans to split the Greenfield plant! (Kaye, 1968).

Asplenium trichomanes (incisum group) ‘Greenfield’ is an example of the true plumosum
form of Asplenium trichomanes, the pinnae are deeply and finely cut and the plant
is completely sterile, quite unlike the coarser and quite common ‘Incisum Moule’.
Greenfield's is the most recent of several similar plumose finds:

‘Incisum’ - in Jersey by Sherard? in British Herbal 1743 (Druery, 1910).

‘Claphamii’ - found at Smeerset, near Settle in 1859 (Lowe, 1890).

‘Incisum’ - found in Westmorland by Mr Wollaston in 1870 (Druery, 1910).

‘Incisum’ - found near Burnley by Mr S Gibson (Lowe, 18

‘Incisum’ - found in Borrowdale by Miss Wright (Lowe, 1890).

‘Inciso-crispatum Clementii’ - found in a mason’s yard in Lancashire, apparently the
best find of all. (Druery 1910).

So often choice: plumose forms of our smaller British ferns heve disappeared from

gia It;

cultivation, b will deliver as renewed
hunting of the treasures that are surely still growing J undetected.

References:

DRUERY, CT pees British Ferns and their Varieties, London.

DYCE, J W(1961). The British ion 1960, The British Fern Gazette,

KAYE, R (1968). Hardy Fer.
LOWE, E J (1890). British prose London.

66 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)
REPLY FROM CORNWALL - WINNER OF THE COMPETITION
SET IN 1989 BY C R FRASER-JENKINS in ‘LETTER FROM
HAWAII’

BRIDGET GRAHAM, Polpey, Par, Cornwall, PL24 2TW

One possible solution occurs to me that would resolve Mr Fraser-Jenkins’ problem
concerning the distribution of Dryopteris aemula and its surprising occurrence in Hawaii.
It is based partly on information and partly on speculation.

} ee ai arcal

Although the author does not believe in “random and especially world p p
for any but, perhaps, a handful of tropical adventives”, it could be the answer in this
case, depending on what you mean by “random”.

One of the earliest records of migrating birds is that of Colymbus pedviridus, the Green-
footed Poker Bird, which existed some time in the Cretaceous Period, possibly before
the North American continent began to split apart from Europe. Remains of this ancient
bird have been found in China, Patagonia and on several Pacific islands, including Hawaii.
One or two bones of the bird have recently been identified in Central America, but
the incontrovertible evidence of its characteristic beak, discovered on several of the Isles
of Scilly, proves that the Poker Bird was there in great numbers, where it is also significant
that Dryopteris aemula is still plentiful.

Whether Colymbus pedviridus was forced to make long migratory flights by reason of
the ever widening gap between the continents, the subsequent rising of the levels of
the oceans and the submerging of the range we now know as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge,
must remain a matter for conjecture. But the flight path of the bird would appear to
have followed the equatorial counter current, turning east at Panama and then joining
the course of the Gulf Stream as it crossed the Atlantic. There is little doubt that the
bird would have rested on islands which have since disappeared under water.

The bird was a wader with a highly developed sense of smell. The name derives not
only from the green webbed feet but also from the peculiar bill. This was used Tor
stabbing the foreshore in search of food and later, forced by a rising tide-mark, ios
Poking in the humus of woodland and scrub, not only to extract food but also to bury
it. This changing habit forced a bird of the foreshore to adapt to an inshore owen
It became fully adapted to prodding for food in the undergrowth. The olfactory ipeee
located at the base of the bill, enabled the bird to return and collect the meal at a
later date. This was a very necessary skill to develop in view of the great energy a
to make its long flights, especially as the bird was not fully evolved to its nad
potential. There is ample proof, from the analysis of its fossilised stomach oe
that the Hay Scented Fern was most attractive to the Poker Bird. Possibly it was attra po
by the smell, or the scales, or by the spores which had an irresistible flavour. yep Mt
the scent of hay would have made it easier to detect underground. The fern coul : i
have been used to line the nests which, it is thought, were large and untidy, bul a
ground-level within sight of the sea. In any event one can be sure that spores of ee
would have adhered to the bill, feet and even feathers of the bird and could se i
been transported across the waters, even to our own shores. The bird's summer lL
was discovered to be on Lyonesse, the lost land between the Isles of Scilly and ai Bs
By all accounts this was a paradise on earth with a gentle climate that was an ad
habitat for vegetation of all kinds. Botanical investigation has shown that the port ee
pteriodophyte was D.aemula, beating Bracken at its own game. A mere 10, aa
ago, as the result of tectonic action between Atlantis and Eldorado, the land of ag ooded
was drowned by enormous tides, and the fertile fields of waving fronds were

and swept away.

; ‘eved fossils
Now we come to the most crucial evidence. Over the last decade, divers retriev

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 67

of ferns between the layers of slate, for which Cornwall is famous. Furthermore, there
are impressions of fronds embedded in strata of serpentine rock. These have been reliably
identified as D.aemula.

| have little doubt that were Mr Fraser-Jenkins to see the collection of fossil sporangia
preserved in the Museum of Relics of Lyonesse which is on St Marys, the curator would
be delighted for him to examine them under a microscope. He would then see that
they are indeed exindusiate as are those in Hawaii.

Minor differences between the varieties of the fern may be accounted for by geographical,
climatic and ethnicarian influences (as Darwin proved).

Plus ¢a change, plus c’est la méme chose.

(Don't take this too seriously! Ed.)

BOOK REVIEW

FARNE IN NATUR UND GARTEN EIN NACHSCHLAGEWERK DER ARTEN by
Helmuth Schmick, pp.324, about 114 full page line drawings and numerous
other smaller figures, 22 x 31 cm. Text in German. Privately published by the
author, 1990. Available from the author at: lm Grund 6, D-2056 Glinde, Germany.
Price 99 DM including postage.

It is oo pleasing to see this substantial book published in a country where books
fern growing have been few. The author has been a member of our Society for
many years wie contributed to the Bulletin in 1981.

In general format the book is reminiscent of The Gardener's Fern Book by F G Foster.
Each species is allocated a double page spread, with an illustration opposite copious
notes including a description, details of garden merit and wild distribution.

The illustrations are the key to the book, all drawn by the author in a most attractive
style. For the most part they are of a very high quality and should readily enable the
recognition of even the more difficult species eg. in Dryopteris. | only noticed one exception,

oodsia pulchella, which would be difficult to recognise from an uncharacteristically
sketchy illustration. An unusual inclusion is a series of sketches of the cross sections
of the stipe of many species showing interesting differences between genera.
Unfortunately, perhaps because this is a book for the gardener, there are no drawings
of the sorus structure of each species.
Only species and hybrids are covered by this book, cultivars are excluded. There are
nevertheless many interesting taxa included. | was particularly impressed by Dryopteris
formosana - one of several species to add to my wants list. Of great value to the gardener
in colder regions will be the tables giving details of hardiness in central Germany as
well as situation and pH preferences in the garden.
| do not think the nomenclature used here is likely to prove controversial, the only
questionable names to catch my eye were Phy/litis scolopendrium instead of Asplenium
scolopendrium, Ceterach officinarum instead of Asplenium ceterach and Dryopteris x
tavelli instead of Dryopteris x complexa
Even with my rudimentary German it has been possible to extract tips on how to grow
these ferns; however, for patient English speaking members the author has expressed
the hope that an edition in English will be produced in the future.

MARTIN RICKARD

68 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

PTERIDOLOGY IN FRANCE PAST AND PRESENT:
A BRIEF SURVEY

ANDRE J LABATUT, Puypezac Rosette, F-241 OO, Bergerac, France.

MICHEL BOUDRIE, Les Charmettes C, 21 bis Rue Cotepet, F-63000, Clermont
Ferrand, France

From a geographical point of view. France occupies a choice location in Europe. The
large size of the country and the variety of landscape allow for a multitude of climatic
influences. The most important of these climatic factors which bear on fern growth
and distribution are:

- the Atlantic on the Western seaboard.

- the Mediterranean on the Southern seaboard.

~ the five major mountain ranges, namely, the Alps, the Jura, the Pyrenées, the
Vosges, and the Massif Central.

The easternmost ranges exert a central European climatic influence which results in
the occurrence of a boreal pterido-flora. Lying in the Mediterranean sea, Corsica proves
to be a major element of the French flora.

As a consequence of such varied environmental conditions, the presence of a large
number of fern species in France has been recorded, indeed, one of the largest for
a European country. Up to now (1990), 121 native species and subspecies have been
listed, four of which (Asplenium jahandiezii (Fig. 1), Dryopteris ardechensis - discovered
by C.R. Fraser-Jenkins in 1981 Isoetes boryana and Isoetes velata subsp. tenuissima)
are endemic. Three further species (Cyrtomium fortunei, Matteuccia struthiopter's,
Selaginella kraussiana), are idered lized or established, whereas the indigenous
Status of Pteris vittata in SE France is still at issue. To this list must be added 49 hybrids.

It has to be admitted that pteridological study in France during the 19th century was
not So active as in other countries: it lagged behind research carried out in the U.K.
and Germany, for example. However, as there was a general increase of interest 10
Botany everywhere, a large number of French local floras and catalogues were published
by keen botanists. These publications are invaluable today but ferns in general were
unfortunately poorly studied and, as a result, references remain too frequently doubtful.
Yet, that period saw the publication in 1893 of the earliest of the very few books solely
devoted to French ferns: Les Fougéres de France by C.de Rey-Pailhade.

At the turn of the century, H.J. Coste (1858-1924), while compiling his remarkable Fi =
de France which is still very much in use today, provided the basis for pteridolog
systematics.

7 : in
Although no major comprehensive treatise on French pteridophytes was pe
the first half of this century, a large amount of regional notes on specific subjects

Francaises, but his locality references, unfortunately, are not all reliable. | ferns,
Tardieu-Blot Produced the second publication entirely devoted to French eae
Ptéridophytes (Fougéres et Plantes Alliées). Despite these works, French fer He pods
the fifties used to be relegated either to the very beginning or end of fed nsible
under outlandish, obsolete names, as if they were mysterious and incompreé .

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 69

Fig. 1 - The five Asplenium species originally described from France and not native to Britain
A. Asplenium foreziense Le Grand, Indre, France, leg. M. Boudrie, Jan. 1988
ahandiezii (Litard.) Rouy, Gorges du Verdon, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France, leg. M

Boudrie, July 1985
trarchae (Guérin ) DC., Pyrénées-Orientales, a dh 80 Boudrie, April 1
D. rs fontanum (L.) Bernh., Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France, leg. A.Labatut, “odheg 981
E. A .obovatum Viv.subsp. obovatum var. obovatum, Fader France, leg. A Pesca July 1982

70 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

plants.

And then in the 1960s a new light began to dawn on French pteridology. J. Vivant,
an excellent field botanist, developed a special awareness for ferns; within a very few
years, he was credited with the discovery, in his area (SW France) as well as in Corsica,
of several very interesting new species, such as Stegnogramma pozoi, Cystopteris
diaphana, Dryopteris submontana. Most of his finds were published in the two famed
French botanical journals, Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France, and Le Monde
des Plantes. E. Contré, too, became more attentive to the various pteridophytes he
encountered on his field trips in Central and Western France; in 1972 he corrrectly
identified the hybrid A.adiantum-nigrum x A.septentrionale in central France, which was
later named after him, A. x contrei. At the same time, A. Berton made a close study
of Horsetails.

The mid-seventies saw the arrival on the French pteridological scene of two botanists.
F.Badré and R. Deschatres, both fern specialists. F.Badré, in charge of the Pteridophyte
Herbarium at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, set up an extensive
work programme with a view to publishing a flora of French ferns. He received great
help in his task from D.Deschatres, one of the leading French field botanists with a
sound knowledge of Corsican flora and to whom we are indebted for a number of new
Species for France and Corsica, i.e. Cheilanthes hispanica and more recently Asplenium
balearicum (Fig.2). F.Badré was warmly encouraged by Professor T. Reichstein of Basel
who, incidentally, had introduced him to the fern world. Their combined efforts led to
the publication in 1979 of an excellent updated synthesis on French pteridophytes, Les
Pteridophytes de la France, liste commentée des espéces. This annotated list of all
pteridophyte species, subspecies and hybrids then known in Continental France and
Corsica, provides cytological and ecological data as well as general distribution for each
and every taxon entered. For twelve years now this work has been the major basis
for all pteridophyte research in France. No further publication on French ferns can afford
to ignore this synthesis. It must also be mentioned that F.Badré, due to his thorough
knowledge of fern hybrids, described in 1981 two interesting Asplenium hybrids, new
to science: A. x sleepiae (Fig.2) and A. x bouharmontii. He also produced in collaboration
with R.Deschatres and A. Faber Tryon, an exhaustive paper on French Cheilanthes 1n
1982.

Concurrently, a number of famous foreign pteridologists, H.W.Bennert, C.R. Freee

; and
Jenkins, H. & K. Rasbach, Prof. T. Reichstein, J. Schneller, who explored France

i nium
Corsica, published their discoveries in different foreign bulletins; for example, $i A. x
x cyrnosardoum and Cheilanthes x insularis were described from Corsica W found

ruscinonense was described from Southern France. Woodwardia radicans was
in Northern Corsica by a German botanist, G.Shulze, in 1963.

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 71

Fig. 2 - Some other Asplenium taxa from Fran

. qa balearicum Shivas, Désert ion Agriates (shore zone),
leg.R.Pre
B. pinot x costei Litard. (A. foreziense x
leg.M.Boudrie.

C. oy Nae x sleepiae Badré & Boudrie (A. billotii x A. foreziense) Andabre, Hérault. May 1988,
leg. M.Boudrie

Haute-Corse. April 1990,

A. septentrionale), Col de Madale, Hérault.May 1989,

72 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

However, the French botanist whose name occurs more and more frequently at the
bottom of current pteridological publications is that of our good friend, Rémy Prelli.
Introduced into the fern world by F.Badré, his passion for pteridophytes caused him
to produce in 1985 a long awaited Guide des Fougeéres et Plantes Alliées.

This manual (reviewed in the Pteridologist |, 3, 1986) soon proved to be indispensable
for all botanists with an eye for ferns. Its main merit is a short description of all known
French species accompanied by an illustration or line drawing. These line drawings
pinpoint diagnostic characters which separate plants otherwise morphologically alike.
It must be stressed that this handbook is the third publication solely devoted to French
ferns - if one considers that Badré and Deschatres’ annotated list is more intended
for the specialists.

The first edition of this guide soon ran out of print and a second enlarged, revised edition
has been recently published (Sept. 1990). The descriptions and determination keys for
genera, species, and subspecies have been greatly improved allowing for the possible
occurrenc of hybrids. Photographs have been replaced by diagnostic line drawings and
photo-silhouettes. New species recently discovered have been added. Nomenclature has
been up-dated. Reflecting the author's improved knowledge of French ferns, the book
oi datailcor Ai Bey : io pone ey “ ep er 1 4d dictrihi ition

n
wv y v a PCUVUIvyy av

This addition to the Study of French flora proves beyond doubt that if pteridology in
France had a rather belated Start, today’s French botanists are intent on making up
for lost time. Fern research and studies of all kinds thrive. Major results are published
in Le Monde des Plantes, and in the excellent annual publication of the Société Botanique
du Centre Quest. This very active society is considered by many to be the leader in
the French botanical field today.

Another proof of this renewal of interest in French pteridology was the successful one-
day symposium on French pteridophytes (systematic, chorological, biological, and
ecological aspects), held at Paris University on November 9th 1990. It was organised
by M.Boudrie and S.Muller under the auspices of the Société Botanique de France, whose
Bulletin will publish the different papers presented.

Recently a collation of distributional data has been undertaken under the guidance of
R.Prelli for the whole of France, with the kind help of French and foreign eee
Preliminary results have led to the discovery of a large number of new localities .
rare and very rare taxons, and to the re-discovery of ancient localities believed to hav
disappeared, resulting in a burst of enthusiasm among all fern fans! The outcome
all this will be the publication of an Atlas Ecologique des Ptéridophytes de France.

And So as the foregoing amply shows, French pteridology is gathering mone It
's undoubtedly heading for promising days, as there is no denying that France s sec for
woods Streambanks and mountain screes still keep in store precious ferny finds
inquisitive pteridologists.

References: (limited to publications strictly devoted to ferns) especes.

BADRE, F & DESCHATRES, R 1979 - Les Ptéridophytes de France, liste commentée des
Taxinomie, cytologie, écologie et répartition générale. Candollea 34: 379-457

PRELLI, R 1985 - Guide des Fougéres et Plantes Alliées. Ed. Lechevalier, Paris, 199 P- lier, Paris,

PRELLI, R 1990 - Guide des Fougeéres et Plantes Alliées, second edition. Ed. Lechevailer,

p.
de REY-PAILHADE, C 1893 - Les Fougéres de France. Ed. P. Dupont, Paris, 193 P- _
TARDIEU-BLOT, M L 1954 - Ptéridophytes (Fougéres et plantes alliées). Sedes, Paris,

ve.
For further pteridological references, please consult the first three references given abo

105 p.

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 73

PHOTOGRAPHING FERNS

Part 1 (cont.). A picture is better than a thousand words
C N PAGE, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh EH3 5LR
The hunter and the hunted

No fern oF fern- “ally © ever grows where it does to = me — of a photographer.

Indeed, it they grow where they d s, under cliff overhangs,
on the roof of a cave, or half-way up a tree, “especially to avoid undue media attention
(I'm sure many of us know the feeling). Finding a reclusive species can be an exercise

in itself which has long been an important part of pteridological cotton. But don’t
get carried away in the excitement.

Survival (of both the photographer and the plant) is the most important point here. |
once slipped and took an unplanned tumble down 15 feet of rough cliff, cracking my
camera against a boulder on the descent and landing on it at the bottom - needless
to say, the camera was in better shape afterwards than | was, and turned out to be
rather better insured. Thereafter, | decided on a new principle: It is always better to
return with no photographs, than not to return at all.

So if a plant is really inaccessible, look for another one. And if you really have to risk
life and limb, do try to make a regular point of not trampling most of the other vegetation
to death in the process of reaching the plant with your camera or, worse still, taking
it with you as you fall.

Telephoto lenses with a macro-zoom capacity can be especially useful in situations of
difficult access, but more about these later

Controlling (!) the environment

Having found your quarry, tried about 25 different poses and finally, probably returned
to the first one, the next thing to do is think. Light and wind are usually the two next
considerations. The former is usually easier to control than the latter.

The chief problem with light, it seems to me, is that there is usually either too much
or too little of it. My best advice is to wait for a day when the light is good and bright
but lightly overcast by high cirrus clouds, and thus diffused. Light thus coming from
all directions is excellent for ferns, right down to quite misty conditions and exposures
of half a minute or more, and it would be difficult to stress too much the importance
of getting this right. Using a tripod and, providing that there is no wind (a soft, bright,
early morning is often best), you can stop down well (to increase depth of field), and
compensate for this with a slow shutter speed. | usually stop-down as far as possible,
and then make my exposure as long as practical. If using colour film, photographs taken
under such conditions also have the advantage of better colour saturation, which | prefer
and which can be particularly useful if the result is to be reproduced.
ify vait for better natural d people can’ t), then | recommend
ph pata herd light with a very technical piece of equipment called a ladies’ umbrella
(‘ladies’ because they come in a range of pale colours [the umbrellas, not the ladies},
while gents ones, for reasons I’ve never thoroughly understood, seem to come only
in exciting Shades of black). Le this wo hoo work only when there is no wind. If light
ctors, carefully positioned, can be additionally

is W 1ostly f Wit
useful.
Bright, undiff be effective though. But to use it well, | recommend
breaking all se rules and shooting three-quarters into it, as | find that a wholly backlit
fern frond, set against a dark ground, can show details such as sori beneath a frond
particularly well, although exposures here can be tricky. Bracketing the exposure helps,

74 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

and filters can also be valuable. Filters will, of course, themselves further modify the
exposure (usually with a loss of 1 or 2 stops), but | will deal with them later.

| usually prefer to use natural light, however modified, for fern photography, rather than
to use a flash gun as a light source in the field. For the use of flash raises problems
of differential exposure of nearer and more distant parts of the same specimen, as well
as tending to flatten the form of a fern even in a successfully exposed photograph
(especially if the flash gun is mounted on the camera). My main use of flash has been
as a fill-in light source in whole-tree conifer photography - but that is a subject which
has an order of magnitude of difference from photographing ferns.

Wind, as you will gather, is the fern photographer's particular delight. Even the gentlest
of breezes makes the tips of many fronds quiver in most undisciplined fashion, and
if you wait long enough, it can have much the same effect on the photographer too.
Wind is less easy to control than light. If the day is even moderately windy (ie. above
about wind force 0.001), it is usually better to come back on another day. If the wind
is already gentle, but needs that extra bit of stilling to dampen it a little further, | usually
fall back on my umbrella again (which is why it looks so tatty).

The personal touch

At this stage, some people have uncontrollable urges to ‘garden’ their subjects (ie. tidy
them up a bit, as if preparing a display of cauliflowers for the county show). Others
Say that this is cheating, and that the debris surrounding the plant is all part of the
natural scene and should be left. Personally, | steer a course of moderation here, usually
preferring to remove the odd decaying bicycle wheel and cola can from the picture (the
latter usually to be found in the most remote corners of tropical forests) and anything
else that looks offensive or intrusive.

Amongst the latter, | number especially grasses (I hope there are no grass-lovers reading
this). Grass blades are wearisome things. They turn-up everywhere. They turn annoyingly
pale out-of-season, last forever, and usually cut diagonally across the frame Lag nf
carefully lined up (which the eye will then follow). They can become especially conspicuous
in black and white work, when they appear nearly white against darker backgrounds.
| carry a special pair of anti-grass scissors for trimming them away (never pull i:
as half the landscape will usually follow). By comparison, fallen leaves do not usually
matter (providing you can see the plant for them), for they are usually part of the scene.

At this stage | usually add a scale of some sort into the picture - a relfex action eon
resulting from my scientific training. | personally dislike seeing endless shots of pe
Caps or coins (all of which vary in size anyway). | am, however, happy with a yee
placed hand lens, a pencil or penknife (more standard sizes). Some people think ! :
Sacrilege to use any scale at all, but scientifically, it provides a valuable Oe
Particularly for unexpectedly small or large subjects. And when you are finish ae
not to forget, as | do, to pick it up again. For, to me, this has not become bs gore
reaction, and in many places, from Britain to the tropics, there are ferns growing
hand lenses carefully posed beside them still.
Travelling solo

raphy,

Some things are best done in teams (though I’ve personally yet to find one). £ hotog setting
however, | find is a very personal business. Every photograph takes time - time in Ait
up or dismantling your tripod, adding or taking-off filters, setting up reflectors iat pies
choosing the perfect angle, setting focus and exposure, and waiting for ie ane
when at ing entarily stops. Then, of course, there is the repeat pe! that you
because, at that perfect moment when you pressed the shutter, you sera

ain.
had forgotten to wind on after the last shot, and so the whole process begins 29

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 5

So allow yourself plenty of time. Have patience (quite a lot of it). Don't try to hurry.
And finally, if you have a good friend to go walking and exploring with, my advice is
to go alone, for unless your friend is also very patient, you will one day look round
and find that he or she has also taken to working solo instead.

(To be continued. Subsequent sections will cover composition, exposure, filters, choice
of films, equipment, printing and reproduction).

CAVING WITH A FEMININE TOUCH
RAY WOODS, NCC, The Gwalia, Ithon Road, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1
6AA

Worming your way down mud filled crevices between razor-sharp limestone blocks is
not my idea of fun. To the caver it is one of the most promising ways of discovering
new caves. Unfortunately, often after weeks of digging, the bedding planes may narrow
and most “digs” end in disappointment. It’s often difficult to decide out of many possible
sites which is the most likely to “go” or lead into a substantial cave passage. A strong
draught, typically into rock crevices on the upper hill slopes in the summer and out
in the winter is recognised as a good sign of a cave below.

At a time when photographs from the edge of the solar system are commonplace and
the whole of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used to probe into the structure
of things, it comes as a bit of a shock to discover there does not seem to any sort
of a gadget practically capable of detecting cave systems. Could there be any biological
indicators of hidden cave passage, | was asked by the cavers?

Having watched for over a decade the almost entirely futile scrabbling, digging and
dynamiting that had gone on in the search for new caves across Ogof Ffynnon Ddu
National Nature Reserve and the adjacent areas of limestone at the head of the Swansea
Valley in Brecknock, | hadn't the heart to say no. The whole area is so full of depressions
and sinks there just has to be more cave there. To add insult, a huge hole suddenly
opened up outside one of the caving club cottages recently. Ten yards to one side and
it would have swallowed the cottage.

So | found myself having to present a paper to assembled cavers on a “brainstorming
day” designed t up with new ideas for locating s. |lappeared on the programme,
| think, between the impulse radar man and the dowsers. Cabaret was provided by
the satellite image man. Like on a TV talent show the audience picked the most promising
act and the Lady Fern won an overwhelming vote.

She was, | suppose, my only hope. Pursuing hibernating moths, counting stomata on
rock cress leaves and the search for obscure frost sensitive liverworts clearly had not
impressed. But the possibility that heaven in the shape of a monstrous cave system
might lie behind an apparently feminine fern-fringed crevice had to be investigated.

Out with the cavers back on the hill it certainly began to look quite exciting. Ferns
were very limited in their distribution. Sink holes associated with known caves were
rich in ferns. As the air sank into them on a mild summer's day moisture condensed
in the bedding planes and kept the adjacent soil damp - an ideal situation for prothalli.

Lady Fern seems to be fairly frost sensitive. In the 2nd week of June recent frost damage
was evident on many fronds. Did warm air venting out of the caves in the winter assist
the growth of sporelings? Buckler Fern seemed to replace Lady Fern on the gritstone
cliffs nearby. Moving away from known cave systems a search of holes with and without
Lady Ferns certainly made the cavers rethink their views on potential sites for digs
and some new draughting holes were found. Perhaps the first cave discovered by the
Lady Fern test might be called Ogof Athyrium.

716 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

FERN HUNTING
JW DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT

About the middle of the 19th century the Victorians discovered ferns and the beautiful
variations produced by some of our British species, particularly the Soft Shield Fern
(Polystichum setiferum) and the Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina), which could be found
in the wild by the diligent hunter. Thus began the ‘Victorian Fern Craze” which lasted
into the opening years of the present century when it began to decline, and the First
‘World War effectively finished it off. In its heyday it became a mania and enthusiasts
combed the ferny parts of the country for variations, all of which, no matter how minor,
nondescript or ragged, were eagerly collected and named. Most of them were fitted
only for the rubbish heap, and in the course of time that is where they probably finished
up, but among the finds in lanes, woods and on mountain sides were some with regular
and beautifully divided fronds, and our garden varieties today are the descendants of
those plants. Some are divisions from the actual original finds which still exist, in many
cases over 100 years old.

For some reason, which we cannot satisfactorily explain, the best fern varieties seemed
to be concentrated in only a very few areas in the country. Some people try to account
for this by saying that these regions were more intensively hunted, but | do not think
this is the reason, for during the height of the Craze hunters were eagerly exploring,
throughout the whole land, every nook and cranny where ferns were to be found growing,
and although some of the best of the well-known varieties originated outside the
epicentres, they were very few compared with the numbers collected in the two main
centres, the West Country and the Lake District. A possible explanation is the abundance
of the variety-producing species in these areas - for instance, the West Country is the
chief centre of the Soft Shield Fern in Britain, and most of the good varieties of this
species originate there, while the same applies to the Lady Fern, to a large extent
in the Lake District. Both areas had many resident collectors whose names eine
prominent in the fern world, and their memories are perpetuated in the names of severa
of our best garden plants. Best-known of the on-the-spot West Country fern men were
Dr E F Fox, Col A M Jones, J Moly and Dr J S Wills, with E J Lowe not far pee
in Monmouthshire. Others further afield who made this centre their happy hunting groun
were C T Druery, Dr F W Stansfield and G B Wollaston. Moly is credited with vt!
600 varietal finds but, in common with so many of the ferns collected in those —
the large majority of them must have been very ordinary, and many more so very er
that it would take a lot of imagination to tell them apart. In the North, R Whites”
G Whitwell, J Wiper and members of the Bolton family (now famed as specialist ee!
or Sweetpeas, and still possessing the Bolton fern collection) were a few of the

i ; Bone : those
active, hunting the dee j i Lake District. And it was ©
g Pp valleys and high hills of the Lake Nore British

For a period of about 50 years fern varieties became some of the most important aa
plants and the demand for them was reflected in the growth of the many pei? inn
nurseries scattered throughout the country. The foremost were Stansfield of T loguess
and Sale in the north of England, Birkenhead of Sale and May of London. Their — is
assuming book proportions, remain treasured possessions in the hands of so ware
men today, and contain the most remarkable and comprehensive lists of pact!

illustrated by excellent line drawings. Some of the plants were priced at psn

a very large sum in those days. Other well-known nurseries were Askew ©

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 77

in the Lake District, Perry of Enfield in Middlesex, Sim of Foots Cray in Kent and Taylor
of Bracknell in Berkshire. Alas! they have all gone and now we are left with only one
really preh ive fern variety specialist nursery in the whole country, that of Reginald
Kaye of Silverdale in Lancashire. It is pleasing to add that, with the revival of interest
in fern growing, other nurseries are again specialising in ferns, chiefly Fibrex Nurseries

by Judith | Jones, an enthusiastic grower of our British fern varieties.

The craze for collecting ferns in Victorian times led to the disappearance from the wild
in many parts of the country of many of our rarer and uncommon species. Even normal
species plants were collected and sold in the markets and from street barrows in our
large towns by the “spivs’” of the day who invaded ferny areas and dug up every fern
they found. The beautiful Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis), in particular, suffered greatly
and has now disappeared completely, or become very rare, in many of its old haunts
where at one time it was common. The Killarney Fern (Trich peci J is another
example which, because of publicity giving exact locations of its habitats, has vanished
from practically all of them. Today, there are only about five or six known colonies of
this very beautiful fern in our country, and those of us who know where they are keep
silent or mention localities only in the very vaguest of terms. Of course, the more common
species in their favourable habitats are as indestructible as the weeds in our gardens,
and their removal by the fern-vendors only left room for others to grow and replace
them. This is particularly applicable to the Soft Shield Fern in its chief centre in the
West Country where it is cut back ruthlessly in the lanes by the hedge-cutters every
year and dug up to clear the ditches, but this has in no way reduced the abundance
of the species in that part of the country. In other areas the Lady Fern is equally abundant
and resistant to the onslaughts made on it to keep it in its place, and this also applies
to most of the larger-growing members of the Dryopteris genus in certain areas. The
dominant ground cover in many Forestry Commission fully-grown and more open forest
is composed of vigorous Lady Ferns and various Male Ferns, and when the trees are
eventually cut down and dragged from the sites the fern population is virtually destroyed,
but such is the resilience of these plants that in a year or two, with tree competition
removed, they are more profuse on the ground than before.

However, this does not mean that we can go into the ferny districts and dig up the
plants with impunity. Nowadays we are conservation-minded, and laws against the
removal of plants from the countryside are strict and well enforced, and are likely to
become more so in the future. While the removal of the odd common fern cannot upset
the survival chances of the species, there are many ferns in Britain which are far from
common and the removal of even one plant from a colony of such ferns can have a
detrimental effect on the strength of the colony to survive. | cannot stress this strongly
enough. Besides, very few of our rare species are decorative garden plants, and the
fact that they have a struggle to continue living in the wild demonstrates convincingly
that only the very skilled and knowledgeable plantsman is likely to have any success
with them in cultivation. Leave such plants well alone - you will be most unlikley to
keep them alive and are only helping to hasten the day when they will become extinct.
If you really think you can succeed with some of our rarest and most difficult ferns,
grow them from spores. Provided the plants in a wild colony are flourishing and healthy
with full complements of fertile fronds, the removal of one tiny pinnule containing ripe
spores will do no harm and will be more than enough to provide you and all your fern
friends with as many plants as you can find room for. BUT, it is forbidden to collect
even this small part of our rarest ferns, and | have to insist that this ruling must be
respected.

When it comes to fern varieties the situation is very different. Varieties are not species,

78 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

they are what botanists call ‘‘monstrosities’’, although not in the same rather contemptible
way that you and | would use the word! Very rarely, where a certain variety is found
inthe wild, willth b th ne plant, and for this reason th tionists,
rather muddled in their thinking, who insist that such plants should not be touched

ut left where they are. Variant forms are mutations and as such, speaking generally,
are weaker in constitution than normal forms and less likely to survive in competition
with them. Also, as genetic mutants, they may not only have changed their form but
also their sensitivity to their surroundings. In favourable circumstances in the wild they
may survive - and even flourish - for a time, but inevitably in the end, by one means
or another, they will be destroyed. | can instance many examples known to me of the
fate of good varieties which were not collected - a wall or hedge has been removed,
a site has been churned up by tractors or animals, a rock face has been blasted, a
fire has swept the area or a quarry has been filled in, - and a beautiful fern variety
has been lost for ever. Even if such catastrophies pass them by, they will eventually,
in the end, be choked out by the more vigorous growth of their own kind or by other
plants. Being unique forms they have no brethern near by - or anywhere else : to
support them and ensure their survival. It is noticeable that the spores of wild varieties,
even when fully viable, rarely seem to achieve any success in the wild. The rare species,
on the other hand, is unlikely to exist as just one individual in the habitat, and their
Spores do germinate and grow on in suitable places to keep the species going. If on
plant is lost there are others to continue the fight for survival, unless the habitat IS
changing to the detriment of that species, a circumstance to which, | think, insufficient
consideration is given, in which case its eventual disappearance is a foregone conclusion.

There is only one way to conserve fern varieties - get them out of the wild as quickly
as possible and into the protective conditions of the garden where they can grow and
flourish, freed from the strains of competitive struggle. There they can be propagated,
both by spores and by vegetative division, to become not just one vulnerable plant 'n
precarious conditions, but a large number spread around in many gardens with a —
future. This is how the fern treasures in our gardens have been obtained and althoug
it may be unnecessary to go out into the countryside for our ferns nowadays a
there are enough in cultivation to supply all our propagation needs, nevertheless t =
occasional excellent variety may be found by the diligent searcher - and It could

a new unique variety - and it should be conserved in the only way which can conserve
it - get it into a garden quickly.

| shall conclude with the names of a few of our best-known unique fern wae =
existing, which originated in the wild as single plants and have never been pate
second time. Athyrium filix-femina ‘Clarissima Jones’ was found in 1868 in Nowe wie
A.f-f. ‘Frizelliae’ in 1857 in Co. Wicklow, A.f-f. ‘Victoriae’ in 1861 in Sin
Gymnocarpium dryopteris ‘Plumosum’ about 1910 in the Lake District, ne st
setiferum ‘Plumosum Bevis’ in 1876 in Dorset and Osmunda regalis _ i
purchased by a London nursery from a street vendor as a dormant crown who
in the 1860s/70s. (It was later spotted growing in the nursery by GB woe but
made an offer of £25 for it but was refused!). Not only these plants themse ane:
their progeny have contributed greatly to the enrichment of our gardens. big in
unique finds, and it is possible that other equally unique fern varieties pee
the wild awaiting discovery, hidden away from seeing eyes i qui :
For this reason alone, conscientious variety hunting in the ferny parts
can still be fully justified.

of the country

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

‘g/m
NATURAL
CHOICE

TO

LAND AND
OFS

| ts. is
AIF | ee

Organic Based Fertilisers

Humber Fertilisers Ltd, PO Box 27, Stoneferry, HULL HU8 8DQ
Telephone: (0482) 20458. Fax: (0482) 212825

80 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

SHORTER NOTE
Collectors Corner - Nature Printed Plates of a different kind

| am sure that there are many of us whose interests in ferns spread ever widely away
from the plants themselves. This can lead to a passion for collecting ‘ferny’ bits and
pieces with almost as much enthusiasm as was given to the botany or horticulture
that attracted us to ferns in the first place.

The Victorian craze for ferns gives great scope for collectors for it was clearly reflected
in the range of china, glass and cutlery that was decorated with their and our favourite
plants. Most of the ferns portrayed on china were either transfers or individual paintings,
but at least one firm sold ‘nature printed’ plates. H. Adams and Company of Longton
in 1870 used living fern fronds to impress the moulds from which the plates were
made. The ferns are therefore elevated with their veins and Sori clearly visible in relief,
making the species themselves very easily identified. There were at least eight different
plates and they were made in cream or pale blue china with the ferns over-painted
in very bright colours. They are the most striking and indeed attractive pieces of ‘ferny’
Victoriana | have ever seen. Beware, for if you see them you will almost certainly want
to buy them.

BARRY A THOMAS

BOOK REVIEW

FLORA OF THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE by Eva Crackles. Pp. xii, 271,
ye maps, 4 overlays. 1990. Hull University/Humberside County Council. Price
.00

We are in the age of recording and there is a great desire now to see what changes
the havocs of man are reeking on our countryside and flora. Some surveys are short,
and give quick guides to the state of the local flora. Others are more substantial, pe
stimulated initially by the BSBI Maps Distribution Scheme, and painstakingly pursu

over many years. The book under review is one such project, culminating in forty year®
of intensive study by the senior botanist for many years of the East Riding, Eva Crackles.

The Flora follows the familiar pattern of local floras with the earlier part of 59 wees
being an introduction to the area - its soils, geology, habitats, former botanists (2 P ;
| always find fascinating) and conservation. In the account of the flora detailed pean
are given with dates and observer or reference. This book has been well edited e
the press but | am glad to see Eva Crackles acute field observations being quoted 7
full. She often has gems to offer about the niche and behaviour of plants that other
do not see. Furthermore she is just as keen on ferns as the flowering plants.

’ ubt
The author has thrown out a number of challenges to re-find extinct species. | do

the reason for the disappearance of Lycopodiella inundata, for instance, 'S epg pe
has Dryopteris cristata or Phegopteris really disappeared altogether? D. affinis IS se
given as the aggregate which is excusable, but it is not excusable to map Popes
vulgare only in the wide sense. The problem with a project that has indeed yess
life’s work is that the time scale becomes blurred. For Eva Crackles the lg
of Pilularia at Skipwith Common in 1964 is recent enough but that is over 25 ce
ago. The plant was known to be there in 1987, and | am sure still is, but oe na
of 1990 does not tell me that. There is, therefore, much work yet to be pete sollect
East Riding as far as ferns are concerned, and the BPS could help. For those that ¢
county Floras, this is certainly a nice one to have.

A.C. JERMY

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

ell

ies,
4 *
spe (tnennanen=~smnnn en

Plates manufactured by H. Adams & Co.

Figure 2 - Male fern frond

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 81

SHORTER NOTE
Fern corbels in church

Corbels, roof bosses, and pillar capitals in mediaeval churches were commonly carved
with representations of foliage. Fruit and flowers ti included. A combination
of oak leaves and acorns, for instance, is often to be seen. Though the kind of plant
depicted is generally recognisable, it is often despite the most detailed carving, either
not certainly identifiable or apparently fictitious. Yet among the wealth of foliage decorating
churches everywhere fern fronds are exceedingly rare. | never remember to have seen
them except in the church which is the subject of this note. And these, | am sorry
to say, were not mediaeval.

St Michael’s Church at Farway, in east Devon, though Norman is origin, was altered
in the 14th, 15th, 17th and 19th centuries. During the Victorian restoration in the 1870s
by Sir Edmund Prideaux two stone corbels were added at the base of an arch on either
side of the north aisle. The corbel on the north side of the arch shows a frond of a
Harts-tongue Fern (Figure 1), and that on the south side comes closest to representing
a frond of Dryopteris filix-mas or the D. affinis aggregate (Figure 2).

In view of the distinctive features of fern fronds it is surprising that mediaeval sculptors
were so averse to depicting them, especially as ferns must then have been a far more
abundant feature of the natural vegetation than they are today.

TD V SWINSCOW
SHORTER NOTE
Cards and Posters

In our Centenary Year there will inevitably be a lot of material produced to promote
ferns. Most new books published get reviewed in this Journal but cards and posters
tend to be overlooked.

Two or three years ago the Society started selling fern greeting cards, postcards and
notelets. These are reprints of some of the famous Henry Bradbury Nature Prints and
feature Polystichum lonchitis, Athyrium flexile, Thelypteris palustris and Polypodium
australe ‘Cambricum’; all are of the greatest scientific accuracy. These have been well
advertised on inclusions in our recent journals.

This year the National Museum of Wales has produced a set of eight notelets, four
featuring ferns and four featuring fungi, all painted by Dale Evans. Although paintings,
aS Opposed to the above nature prints, these too are good representations of the species
depicted; Phegopteris connectilis, Pteridium aquilinum, Athyrium filix-femina and
Cystopteris fragilis.

| am only aware of one fern poster, prepared by Dale Evans for the National Museum
of Wales. It is entitled Woodland Ferns and carries paintings of complete plants of 14
different species, including the four extracted for use on the above notelets. Small detail
of a further 5 species has been added, along with distribution maps for Europe.
Aesthetically, it is a very pleasing item and, technically, it is clear. There are some
omissions, eg. Dryopteris aemula and Dryopteris carthusiana; nevertheless, this poster
will double as both attractive and informative. It is available from the National Museum
of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff or through BPS Booksales at £2.60 each, including post
and packing.

MARTIN RICKARD

82 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

THE HARDY FERN FOUNDATION BREAKS GROUND

SUE OLSEN, President of The Hardy Fern Foundation, 2003 128th Ave., S.E.
Bellevue, WA 98005, USA

As the British Pteridological Society approaches its centenary celebration a fledgling
fern organization is emerging in the United States. At the suggestion of the New York
Botanical Garden’s Curator of Ferns, Dr. John Mickel, a group of Pacific Northwest
horticulturalists has incorporated the non-profit Hardy Fern Foundation in the State of
Washington. Their goal is to establish a comprehensive collection of the world’s hardy
ferns for display, testing, evaluation, public education and introduction to the gardening
and horticultural communities. Ferns from nurseries and private sources as well as spore-
grown rare specimens will be tested in selected environments for their different degrees
of hardiness and ornamental garden value.

The Foundation’s board of directors has arranged to have the primary research garden
at, and in conjunction with, the Rhododendron Species Foundation Garden at the
Weyerhaeuser Corporate Headquarters in Federal Way, Washington. This 25 acres facility
is divided into scientifically arranged study gardens shaded by a canopy of native conifers
- a most inviting setting for an understory of ferns. In addition there is a pond area
for moisture loving species and a rock garden to accommodate Cheilanthes and those
of the ferns with a xeric preference. The climate is rather similar to Britain’s and tt
is expected that upwards of 1,000 different temperate ferns should adapt to this
environment.

The planting is to be laid out systematically, with deference to habitat requirements,
So as to show the scientific relationships and differences amongst the species and genera.
Hybrids will be planted so far as possible with one parent on either side and varieties
will be grouped to show the genetic diversity of a given species. To date two initial
work parties in the spring and fall of 1990 planted 333 ferns representing 101 different
species, varieties and hybrids. Almost all of this material was donated by local growers
and foundation members.

In addition to the reference garden at the Rhododendron Species Foundation, the hap:
Fern Foundation has installed a display garden at Lakewold, the Tacoma estate an
public garden of Mrs. Corydon Wagner. It is the intention of this planting to demonstrate
how a diversity of ferns can be used in the landscape. 42 species and varieties were
Set in a sylvan entryway garden and supplement an extensive fern collection already
established on the property. A small handout identifies the ferns which are divided into
a native and exotic section respectively.

Future plans call for expanded testing and displays at satellite garden locations. be =
(Nov. 1990) the Board has received applications from seven potential sites depen ee
the climatically severe (Michigan) to the benign (Florida). While the south can ha a
be used to test cold tolerance, observations can certainly be made on ae ene
rigors of heat. It has also been suggested that a warm climate be included in our rese ats
to investigate which of the deciduous ferns can survive without a period of _ the
The potential for accumulation of scientific and horticultural data is as varie saciile
localities. Periodic newsletters will keep the membership informed of both 7 know
and subjective observations on the plantings. Our belief is that it is one thing to ae
that a plant will survive under snow at 15 degrees F, and quite another to saat

it looks like after the storm.

The Foundation’s initial membership drive of spring 1990 brought an encouraging 20
positive response. Membership represents 32 states plus Canada. Furthermore, Holland
and offers of assistance have been received from as far away as Great ——

and the former East Germany.

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 83

in addition to progress reports members will have access to spore through a co-operative
arrangement with the American Fern Society's spore exchange and, as material becomes
available will have an opportunity to buy plants as well. .

There are test gardens throughout the world devoted to roses, annuals, bulbs etc. The
Hardy Fern Foundation’s living collections should provide an equal exposure for the
promotion of ferns. The Organization h ived f the Nortt Horticultural
Society and has the support of the American Fern Society, but is primarily dependent
upon donations and memberships for its funds. Membership classifications range from
U.S.$20 for an active individual membership to $1,000 for patrons. Studert memberships
are available at $10. Memberships and inquiries should be sent to the Hardy Fern
Foundation, P.O. Box 60034, Richmond Beach, Washington 98160-0034 U.S.A. AND
look for some of our members at the BPS festivities in 1991. We look forward to meeting
you all there.

J

FERN MANIA
JW DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT

Ferns! What a strange interest! Over the past 55 years how often | have heard these
words, or similar ones, aimed at me.

Up to the age of 29 | knew nothing about ferns, although | still remember very clearly,
as a boy during the first world war while my Father was in the army, walking with
my Mother along the side of a wood where a magnificent specimen of Dryopteris affinis,
the Scaly Male-fern, was growing, a perfect shuttlecock of fronds 36 inches (90cm.)
high. | admired it so much that | went back the following day, dug it up and transplanted
it into a pot. How long it lived in that confined habitat | cannot say - no memory exists
of its subequent fate!

An exile from my native Scotland, immured in an international bank in the City of London,
| looked forward eagerly to my annual leave when | could not get back quickly enough
to my family home in Strathspey in the north of the country. On the way | usually
interrupted my journey to spend a day or two with a close friend in Edinburgh. He
was a keen gardener with a casual interest in ferns and had several Hart’s-tongue Ferns,
Asplenium scolopendrium, in a special corner. He wanted more and asked me if | could
find him some up in the north where | was going. Oh! yes, | replied, there are plenty
up in my part of Scotland. Arriving home, | told my Father, a professional gardener,
of my quest, to be met with a very quissical look and the question - “Where are you
going to find them?” On my blithely answering that there were plenty all round the
area he dryly remarked that in this part of Scotland the Hart’s-tongue Fern was completely
absent. In parenthesis, if one looks at the Atlas of Ferns, published by the Botanical
Society of the British Isles and the British Pteridological Society in 1978, it will be seen
that there are, or were, only two post-1930 records for the area. Several years later,
in the post-war period, | found this fern growing very rarely in the country just west
of Inverness. The fern | fusing with the Hart’s-tongue was the Hard Fern, Blechnum
Spicant - so much for my knowledge of ferns!

BUT, an interest was kindled, and on my frequent walks in the surrounding countryside
with my Father, who not only knew his garden plants well but the local flora as well,
he fanned the flames by pointing out and naming the many local ferns to me. Two
still remain fresh in my memory, the Oak Fern, Gymnocarpium dryopteris and the Beech

ern, Phegopteris connectilis. The beauty of these two ferns, seen for the first time
with open eyes, completed my conversion to a new an
was reinforced a few days later by seeing a tiny Oak Fern frond growing out of a hair-
Crack in the cement of a granite wall. | got my first lesson on spores from my Father,

84 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

and how this tiny frond was the result of a wind-blown spore from the colony seen
a few days earlier, which was the only one in the area and two miles distant.

| could hardly wait to learn more about my new interest and one of the first things
| did on my return to London was to phone my gardening paper, Amateur Gardening,
asking them to recommend a book on ferns. The Editor, A J MacSelf, was an active
fern-man whom | got to know well in the post-war years. He recommended British
Ferns and their Varieties by C T Druery, and on my 30th birthday | was presented with
a copy. It became a “bible” and was quickly absorbed from beginning to end.

Then, another piece of good fortune helped me on my way. A friend had recently got
married and on a visit to meet his wife | was full of my new hobby. The lady remarked
that her Uncle Joe was a fern-man and active in a society dealing with these plants.
There was nothing for it - | had to be taken to visit Uncle Joe who lived at Great Bookham
in Surrey. He turned out to be J J Sheldon, the Treasurer of the British Pteridological
Society and a very active grower and breeder of ferns. | paid him my ten shillings (fifty
pence) on the spot and became a proud member of our Society.”

In those days | only had two weeks’ annual leave from my work and always spent
them at my parents’ home in Scotland, so it was not till 1939 that | managed to attend
the Society's Annual Excursion, held that year at Chard in Somerset. This introduced
me to the fern riches of the West Country and awakened a love for this part of the
country and its ferns which has continued strong and undimmed to the present day.
During that meeting the then Secretary, Percy Greenfield, took me under his wing and
he remained my beloved mentor until his death in 1970 at the ripe old age of 90 -
| still have four more years to go to catch up with him!

That Meeting saw the end of ferns for the next eight years during which a war was
fought and won. Back in “Civvy Street” in 1946 my thoughts returned to ferns and
| eagerly waited to hear that the British Pteridological Society was coming to life again.
| waited in vain, and at last | wrote to Greenfield who straight away came up to see
me in London. It transpired that most of the Committee members, none of them young
men, had died during the war years and the feeling among the remaining officers was
that the Society should be allowed to fade away and die a natural death. This did not
Suit me at all - | had only recently, cutting out the war years, become infected with
the fern craze, | still knew very little about ferns, and only through this Society bie:
| likely to learn more. | prevailed on Greenfield to call a meeting of the remaining Committee
members of which | was one, having been elected as Auditor at the 1939 meeting:
Six of us met, in September 1947, W B Cranfield, President, P Greenfield, Secretary,
AH G Alston, Editor of the British Fern Gazette, the Rev E A Elliot, Professor F E ee
and myself. The general feeling was one of apathy, but | took a stand against it, Greenfle
rallied to my side and we won the day. For my pains | was given the job of Treasurer
which incorporated that of Membership Secretary, with a commission to gather ——
the straying membership which had been on the loose since 1939. Before the end :
the following year, 1948, | had shepherded back into the fold 100 fully paid-up member
and the British Pteridological Society was actively back in business again after evading
an early death!

| have had my wish - | now know a /ittle more about ferns! | often wonder what won
have happened if my Edinburgh friend had not asked me to get him some Hart s-tong'
Ferns! MY life would have been very much more empty but, no doubt, in time, someone
else would have revived the British Pteridological Society.

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 85

NEW ZEALAND FERN SPECIMEN BOOKS ETC. -
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MARTIN H RICHARD, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops. SY8
2HP.

In the 1986 Pteridologist, while listing all the commercially produced New Zealand fern
albums | had been able to trace, | made a request for any additional information on
the subject (Rickard). This p ked such a good resp that! ble to significantly
supplement the original article. For additional information | would particularly like to
thank Dr Patrick Brownsey of the National Museum of New Zealand, Wellington; Miss
Jeanne Goulding, formerly of the Auckland Institute and Museum; Bolton Metropolitan
Borough, Department of Education and Arts; Bridget Graham; J W Dyce; Miss Ruby
G B Laidlaw and our Hon.Sec. Matt Busby. | am also grateful to the Natural History
Museum London for finding several useful additional items.

All too frequently the dates of these items are not known; however, it seems reasonable
to assume that most were produced in the period 1880 to 1900.

Additional specimen books etc. - commercially produced

(Anon.) New-Zealand Ferns. Beautifully bound in leather with title blocked in gold. 25
sheets, names in manuscript. 27 x 14cm.

Craig, E. New Zealand Ferns. 25 miniature sheets of dried ferns, 14 x 21 cm, printed
labels. In a wooden box with a splashwork fern design on the lid, 19 x 27 x 5 cm
(Goulding).

Craig, E. New Zealand Ferns and Fern Allies. Two sets each of 24 cards. Printed labels.
The cards mounted on a folded sheet of paper such that when fully open all 24 specimens
can be seen at once, 4 across and 8 down. There is no duplication between the two
sets, i.e. there are 48 different specimens.

Craig, E. New Zealand Ferns and Fern Allies. Folio album with mottled kauri wooden

covers. As entries in original list except;
An issue in Bolton Museum has 60 sheets with 118 specimens, 30 x 45 cm.
Another issue in Auckland Museum with 152 specimens, 32 x 45 x 10cm (Goulding).
Another issue in the Natural History Museum, London.

The wooden covers for these books were made for Craig by Wilson and Horton (Goulding).

(? Craig, E.) New Zealand Ferns. Neatly bound in red cloth blocked in black. 20 sheets.
Printed labels identical to those ? exclusively used by Craig. 27 x 32 cm.

Cranwell, T. (New Zealand Ferns) prepared and mounted by T Cranwell, Folio, 34 x
48 cm with wooden marquetry covers. Another copy as on the 1986 list except this
one has fewer sheets (c.60), the central design on the cover is a display of two ferns
(not one) and this copy comes in its own carved wooden case. The inlaid covers for
these books were almost certainly made by Anton Seifert, a well known furniture maker
resident in New Zealand in the late 19th century (Brownsey, pers.comm.).

Cranwell, T. Ferns were also mounted on cardboard in sets of 24 sheets (Goulding).

(? Cranwell, T.) (New Zealand Ferns). 4. quarto edition with the above type of marquetry
cover is in the Auckland Institute and Museum, without preparer’s label. 23 x 29 cm
(Goulding).

(? Reid, W.) New Zealand Ferns. A quarto volume bound in brown cloth with the title
blocked in gold on the cover, 24 x 30 cm. 30 sheets, but no author given, however,
writing is unusual and indistinguishable from that used in the Reid volume described
in the 1986 list. This book was given by C Howard Tripp of Timaru to Dr F F Laidlaw

86 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

in 1901 (R. Laidlaw, pers.comm.). There was a Miss A Reid who mounted ferns (Brownsey,
pers.comm.) - is there a connection?

Tait, James. Collection of West Coast Ferns, Lycopods and Mosses in Natural Colours
(mounted). Hokitika. Printed title page plus 20 sheets of ferns. Fern names in manuscript.
Most sheets arranged with lower margin dressed with mosses and lichens.

Wayte, Edward. Ferns mounted on boards or in books with carved mottled kauri covers, —
100, Queen Street, Auckland (Goulding). | have seen a large collection of loose, but
well presented, quarto boards prepared by Wayte. Each specimen was protected by a
fly sheet.

Wildman, W. Addendum to the details published in the 1986 list. Miss Goulding
(pers.comm.) has suggested a link with stationers Wildman and Airey at Auckland around
the turn of the century.

Other Fern Specimen Books

There are probably large numbers of books in existence without printed labels. | have
seen otherwise unlabelled examples with the following names added in manuscript:

Clark, Sir Mayfield.

Heape, Richard. 1876.

Leider, Louis - folio volume with manuscript notes on each species.

Tangy, Sir Richard.

Tinsley, William. 1891. Quarto, brown cloth album blocked in gold in same style as
that sometimes used by Craig.

Wells, W.C.

as well as many totally anonymous volumes.

| had assumed that these were always “one offs’’ and privately compiled by amateurs
but | am not now so Sure since W C Wells is on record as having shown at least four
albums in exhibitions (see below).

Other names associated with New Zealand ferns around the turn of the century were
(Brownsey, pers.comm.):

Atkin, William. 1872. High Street, Auckland.

Burrett, R. Wellington.

Austin, Frederick. Fern collector.

Dall, James. Fern collector. Pittosporum dallii was named after him.
Harrison, Thomas. Fern collector.

Leighton, J F. Bookbinder and Stationer, Shortland Street, Auckland.

; er
There may be books in existence compiled by some, or all, of these people. | have nev
Seen any but the names are worth looking out for.

Exhibitions of Dried Ferns

Several albums, or collections of pressed New Zealand Ferns, were exhibited during
the later part of the 19th century (Goulding).

In Dunedin in 1865 the Governor General, Sir George Grey, exhibited a collection ——
by the Misses Sinclair of Auckland. Ferns mounted by St Johns College, Auckland se
exhibited by Rev. Blackburn of Taranaki. John Buchanan presented 73 species apie:
from Otago, while H F Logan of Wellington showed “one of the best collections in
Exhibition’.

in London in 1886 G K Burton of Nelson, T E Ellis of Wanganui and T C Tims of Te
Puke all exhibited albums of ferns.

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 87

In Melbourne in 1888 W C Wells and J Marshall of Hokitika each showed two albums,
while E Maxwell of Opunake exhibited a large collection of dried ferns.

In Dunedin in 1889-90 W C Wells of Hokitika again showed albums, this time entitled
Fancy Books of Specimen Ferns, while C Hicks of Greymouth, Miss L Manis and Miss
N Falla of Westport and G M Thomson of Dunedin all displayed dried ferns. In addition
Miss M Barclay showed “Plush curtains, plush cushions and New Zealand ferns”!

The only examples of work by any of these exhibitors that | have seen are by wc
Wells, and it may be that this album (entirely handwritten) was one of those originally
exhibited at Melbourne or Dunedin, and G M Thomson author of the 1882 book Ferns
and Fern Allies of New Zealand.

Printed Books on New Zealand Ferns - additional to the 1986 list
Details of Craig and Dobbie volumes from Goulding, 1977:

Brownsey, P J and Galloway, T N H. 1987. A Key to the Genera of New Zealand Ferns
and Allied Plants. Wellington. 31pp.

Brownsey, P J and Smith-Dodsworth, J C. 1989. New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants.
Auckland.viii, 168pp.

Craig, E c.1888. New Zealand Ferns, 167 varieities. 104pp.

Craig, E c.1890. Catalogue of Ferns and Lycopodiums in the Herbarium of Eric Craig,
Princes Street, Auckland. Birmingham, 31pp. (Not exclusively New Zealand ferns).

Craig, E c.1892. New Zealand Ferns, 172 varieties. Second edition. 100pp.

Dobbie, Herbert B. 1880. 145 Varieties of New Zealand Ferns, illustrated. Either in 2
parts, pp.1-48 and 49-104, or 1 part pp.1-104.

Firth, S, Firth, M, Firth, E and Morrison, R 1986. Ferns of New Zealand. Auckland. 80pp.

Craig's two New Zealand books were little more than re-issues of Dobbie's work. None
of these three books had any text but consisted of a collection of fern prints in white
on a bright blue background - hence the descriptive name “Blue books .

These “Blue books” are very rare today and | know of no copies in the United Kingdom.

Correction to 1986 article: Handbook to the Ferns of New Zealand given as: Anon. c.1861,
| now know to have been written by Mrs S Jones in 1860 (Brownsey, pers.comm.).

Footnote

For more information on many of the points raised in this article | strongly recommend Jeanne

Goulding’s article, see below.

References:

GOULDING, J H 1977. Early publications and exhibits of New Zealand ferns and the work of Eric
Craig. Rec. Auckland Inst.Mus. 14:63-79.

RICKARD, M H 1986. New Zealand fern specimen books. Pteridologist 1,3:120-125.

ON THE TRAIL OF COLLECTIONS AND COLLECTORS PAST
NICK SCHRODER, 2 The Dell, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1JG

In this, our centenary year, we focus rather more than usual on the activities of the
Victorian fern collectors and are fortunate in having an excellent supply of literature
at our disposal with which to study them. When reading the old fern books, particularly
Lowe's “Our Native Ferns”, apart from the minute detail of the varieties themselves,
one gains an insight into the activities of the people involved. The number of amateur
Pteridologists referred to when Lowe put quill pen to paper !n
wonder why we didn’t celebrate our centenary twenty years ear n
collections evidently in existence at that time, how much remains awaitin

lier. And with so many
g rediscovery?

HHI — /
AH Ht c)

ttl

i‘

a)

Forms of Ath
akin to ‘Monk

frond
. b) Plumose

yrium filix-femina in the garden at Scarborough. a) Incised form. b)
manii’. c) Depauperate form

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 89

With the sad loss of so many fine varieti lier inthe p t century when horticultural
fashions changed and whole collections were lost to cultivation, we should be especially
conscious of the need to seek out and conserve what we can.

Returning to Lowe yields some clues as to which Victorian collectors may be worth
tracing. Several of those mentioned are referred to again and again, and one can even
begin to build up a picture of an individual enthusiast - their particular areas of interest,
geographic “hunting ground”, and success at raising new varieties from spores.

One such collector whose name appears frequently is ‘Mr Clapham of Ramsdale Bank,
Scarborough”. Here is a clear enthusiast with many finds to his credit, and being
responsible for the several varieties bearing the name Claphamii. In Athyrium varieties
alone, Lowe describes 18 varieties as Clapham’s finds, a further 4 raised by him, and
8 where he is acknowledged as the grower of a scarce variety.

And so it was that, finding myself in Scarborough last autumn, | decided to attempt
to trace the garden where such treasures as Athyrium filix-femina ‘Acrocladon’ were
known to have grown in the mid 1850s and the 1860s. | will recount my experiences
for the benefit of any like-minded pteridological historians. | started with the Postal Sorting
Office which yielded no knowledge of “Ramsdale Bank” either as a house name, street
name, or district - ‘And I've been here years, mate!”’.

Inspection of the local street maps providing no further clues, led me to the reference
section of the local library to search the W H Smith Street Directories. The 1915 edition
showed a house, Ramsdale Bank, situated at No 5, Belmont Terrace. There could, of
course, have been other houses bearing this name fifty years earlier, but at least this
street was in a part of the town which existed from pre-1850 and was also little-changed
to the present day. The 1850 Ordnance Survey map yielded both Belmont Terrace and
a single residence - Ramsdale Villa.

| was then thrown off the scent by the 1851 census, which was available on microfilm
in the library and which showed no trace of a Clapham in the vicinity. However, the
following census, 1861, did list one Abraham Clapham, retired wine merchant, living
at 6 Belmont Terrace with his wife Mary and daughters Marian and Jessie. This left
some confusion as to the precise location of the Clapham residence - further research
showed the street to have been extended to form Belmont Road and renumbered, and
Ramsdale Villa split, or rebuilt, with Ramsdale Bank standing on a plot precisely adjacent
to it. Moreover, the latter plot was clearly shown on a later map as a substantial house
with a conservatory and a large garden on a north facing slope.

Armed with my maps | set off to Belmont Road where | found the site now to be occupied
by the Cumberland Hotel. The original Ramsdale Bank exists as the easternmost part
of the hotel frontage which has been extended to fill part of the former garden. With
the permission of the proprietor a search of the garden followed. Whilst the paths were
still laid out as shown in the Victorian maps, | could find but three varieties ~ all lady
ferns.

One was an incisum, another bore the marks of an early plumosum similar to Lowe s
illustration of A.f.f. ‘Monkmanii’, and the third attempts rather unsuccessfully to combine
several characters and is obviously a descendant from one of the treasures which once
grew in that garden. Spores collected from the latter two may in due course ——
further evidence of the fern wealth of our forbears. On the other hand, | suspect it
will be more rewarding to follow a fresh trail...

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My thanks are due to Miss Bishop and Mrs Monteith of the Cumberland Hotel and
to Bryan Berryman at Scarborough Reference Library.

90 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

MORE ABOUT FERNS WITH OTHER PLANTS
PETER TEMPLE, Wingfield, 2 Deneside, East Dean, East Sussex

The last issue for 1989 of the Pteridologist contained an article by A R Busby under
the title “Ferns with other Plants’. This contribution provides much guidance and interest
to us gardeners who, besides growing plants which can delight us, fight those which
do not throughout the year; yes...weeds. However, there is a combination of ‘Ferns
with other Plants’ which are those which introduce themselves without help to another
section of the garden; this is the greenhouse whether heated or not.

The average greenhouse is used for a number of different purposes; seed growing, tomato
growing, pretty flowers to be taken into the house, with generally a row of raised shelving
on one or both sides. Tucked away but clearly visible is a hotch-potch of objects, flower
pots, sowing and potting composts, weed killing and fertilizing cartons or bags and puffers
and maybe a variety of other objects. Even in those unimpressive and uninteresting
structures there is no immunity from the softening effects of the minute intruders -
fern spores, but rarely, because of the misguided outlook of some greenhouse owners,
are the resulting sporelings allowed to ‘disfigure and disgrace’ that mishmash within
the glazed walls.

These minute specks of life-to-be which float around us and, indeed, which we breathe
can and do find their way into more welcome acceptance. |.have the good fortune,
pleasure and excitement of allowing these floating unseen specks to settle and germinate
where they will in my greenhouse where, for some forty years or so, | have been collecting
and growing members of the Pineapple family, the Bromeliacae together with members
of the Cactacae, the Rhipsalis. | cannot think of any plant more naturally suited to
companionate Bromeliads and Rhipsalis than ferns of every species dependent only on
the growing temperatures of a greenhouse such as | have and, particularly so, since
| endeavour to provide an environment which gives a happy home to all three families
where they can grow epiphytically, in the greenhouse soil and in the flower pots, living
as near to their natural lifestyle which means taking the rough with the smooth.

It is very rewarding and surprising to see what results, and which find a happy home
with the other genera. In addition to the wanderers, | have methodically blown yer
spores received from the spore offers of the Society around the greenhuse so that nature

growth results, sometimes in numbers and sometimes singly - and sometines not at
all!

My greenhouse presents a ‘homely’ greeting to the visitor - if she or he is able to
get in ~ entirely due in my opinion to the association of my ferns growing among !
bromeliads and rhipsalis. | do not have any staging. However | must say that occasionally
| have to cull some ferns which seek to take over, but without them the greenhouse
would not be so intimate if there were no ferns to soften the picture.

The ferns are not troubled by snails or slugs, but woodlice, which are a plague In bay
area, do cause some nuisance at times since they are very partial to bromeliad and
rhipsalis flowers and seedpods. | have to weigh up carefully my method of control with
liquid Derris and Malathion and dusting the junctions of floor and walls with Gamma
BHC dust. Derris does not appear to disfigure the ferns but Malathion can and often
cuts them down, but in most cases, s ti a very long interval, they will reappeal
Literally | have to cut out fern plants from the bromeliads and rhipsalis before they
Smother but in most cases | replant them haphazardly.

es
| would say to those greenhouse owners who want a natural effect in their greenhous

s
of which they can be proud and ‘at home’, let nature do its job for them and per
aid them in concealing their brickabrack which is found in the greenhouse and t 5
give a friendly and natural touch. Of course there is a wealth of other combinatio

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 91

of ‘Ferns with other Plants’.

Over so many years some of the ferns growing among the bromeliads and rhipsalis
in my greenhouse which have ‘dropped’ in or have resulted from the spore offers are:-

Adiantum - a variety of these including the tiny A. raddianum ‘Gracillimum, the
Five Finger Fern A. hispidulum, A. pedatum and A. capillus-veneris.

Asplenium nidus the ‘Birds Nest Fern’, and A. falcatum.

Doryopteris sp.

Drynaria rigidula the ‘Oak Leaf Fern’.
Cryptogramma crispa the ‘Parsley Fern
Cyclosorus in varying forms differentiated by the separation of the blades. Very
prolific.

Cyrtomium falcatum ‘Rochfordianum’ the Japanese Holly Fern. Very prolific.
Cystopteris bulbifera the ‘Bladder Fern’.

Davallia sp.

Lygodium palmatum the ‘Climbing Fern’ - very tender and delicate.

Microlepia speluncae

Pellaea ovata the ‘Button Fern’.

Pellaea calomelanos the ‘Hard Fern’ - fairly prolific.

Phyllitis scolopendrium the ‘Hart’s-tongue Fern’ - very prolific.

Platycerium bifurcatum the ‘Stags Horn Fern’.

Polypodium diversifolium - very prolific.

Pteris cretica.

To close | must tell you that in my Living Room | have a light fawn coloured armchair,
very near to a large Japanese Holly Fern (a beautiful specimen), which each season
is turned to light brown colour by the wealth of spores settling on it - but as yet no
sporelings have appeared!

WILL THE REAL ADIANTUM MONOCHLAMYS PLEASE
UNFURL!

A R BUSBY, 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry

In recent years there has been a great deal of interest by many members in acquiring
Adiantum monochlamys. Puzzled by this enthusiasm and not knowing the fern, | asked
a fellow member, Why all the fuss? “Because it’s so beautiful”!, came the reply.

| was anxious to meet this paragon that appears to elude fern growers. | thought my
chance had come a little while later when, visiting a garden | know with a small fern
border, | was pleased to find a small fern labelled A.monochlamys, however, delight
turned to disappointment when | found myself staring at Adiantum venustum. Even
| have got that so why all the fuss?

Sometime later | had the chance of discussing this with a notable fern grower. “Please”,
| enquired, “how do you separate A.monochlamys from A.venustum’’? Came the reply,
“A.monochlamys has only one sorus per pinnule’. My face dropped - =
the fuss is about? Surely not.

At Southport Flower Show, | was asked to check the names of hardy ferns on a nearby
Stand and | was pleased to see that all the ferns were correctly labelled. | then found

of A.venustum. | carefully lifted a frond to peek at its private parts’. Bless my soull,
it had mostly one sorus per pinnule, was this the ‘Eldorado’ of my searches?

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

Aa

A. Adiantum monochlamys: a, frond x 2/7; b, fertile segments x 3

A. monochlamys D. C. Eat ; ing in the
Like A. Capillus-veneris and related members in having the veins of the sap pia ete
teeth of the margin, but differing from all in having only one sorus, rarely two, p

false indusium quite deep, roundish or stout-oblong. Japan.

Bb

B. Adiantum venustum: a, frond x 1/4; b, fertile segments x 2).

A. venustum D. Don. ; A. bellum, but closer
Rhizome long-creeping, the frond much like those of A, Capillus-veneris and : artilaginous, the
er, th egular, distinctly c f indusium

(Both Figs and Captions from Hoshizaki, in Baileya 1970)

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 93

Further enquiries revealed that it had come from a fern nursery 30 years ago. | was
kindly given a fertile frond to press and take home to compare with my own A.venustum.
They were virtually identical. Searching through various fern literature, A.monochlamys

often mentioned but never illustrated, very frustrating. However, on page 182 of
Hoschizaki (1970), there is a small silhouette illustration of A.monochlamys and a line
drawing of two pinnae showing one sorus per pinnule, the entire thing looking nothing
like A. venustum.

A hlamy d ibed as having one, rarely two, sori per pinnule yet all the material
| have examined has had commonly two, sometimes three, sori per pinnule.

Determined to persist with my searches, | enquired of yet another colleague if he had
A.monochlamys and, if so, would he send me a fertile frond. This he did and at first,
| was sure that | had received A.monochlamys but, by carefully comparing it with both
A.venustum fronds and the descriptive material in Hoshizaki, | found no clear indication
that | had indeed received material of A.monochlamys. At the time of writing, | am
still looking for this elusive fern so if any member can furnish me with fertile material,
will the real A.monochlamys please unfurl.

Throughout this note | have changed events slightly and mention no names to spare
blushes

References:
HOSHIZAKI, B J 1970 The Genus Adiantum in Cultivation. Baileya, Vol.17, 182-183.

SHORTER NOTE

How to use a hand lens

Principle:

Using a hand lens is much like looking through the key-hole of a door. If you stand
away from the door you can see nothing; however, if you put your eye to the key-hole,
all will be revealed. So it is with a hand lens - try to use it as a magnifying glass
and you will see nothing but put the hand lens close up to the eye and you will see
everything in close-up.

Method:

Hold the hand lens between thumb and forefinger and rest forefinger on eyebrow and
thumb on cheekbone: this holds the lens steady against the eye.

With the other hand hold the object to be viewed with the thumb and forefinger. Now
with the lens against the eye, rest the base of the thumb holding the object against
the base of the thumb holding the hand lens; both lens and object are thus held steady.
Always ensure that you have a good light source shining on the object.

With a 10x hand lens the working distance, ie. the distance between lens and object,
is about 20mm (3,inch). The object can be brought into clear focus by carefully adjusting
the working distance. Lenses with higher magnification have shorter working distances,
€g. a 20x lens will have a working distance of about 8 mm (5/,¢ inch).

To practice, try examining the cuticle of the thumb nail that would be holding the object.

A R BUSBY

94 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

BOOK REVIEWS

COMPUTER KEY TO THE FERNS OF THE BRITISH ISLES (Written, produced
and distributed by Pat Hill-Cottingham and Alan Morton, Blackthorn Cottage,
Chawridge Lane, Winkfield, Windsor SL4 4QR. Disc, 5%,’’ 360k for IBM-
compatible MS-DOS PC. Price approximately £10.

This is a computerised multi-access key. The program contains a main key covering
British fern species and six sub-keys each covering a small, difficult group of taxa. The
user selects a key and is presented with a list of diagnostic characters from which
one is chosen. A list of corresponding character states is displayed, from which one
must be selected. Following this, a reduced list of possible taxa is shown and the diagnostic
characters offered again. The process is repeated until only one possible taxon remains.

Instructions, a glossary of terms, a list of characters and the results of a diagnosis can
be printed from within the program. A printed set of instructions and a sheet of diagrams
to illustrate the glossary are included.

The program is intended for use by Country Trusts, Reserve Managers, Field Course
Tutors and anyone interested in identifying ferns.

The program is easy to use following the clear instructions. The program takes the user
step-by-step through the p by means of self-explanatory screen menus and prompts.
There is no facility within the program to enable changes or extensions to the taxa
or characters, but examination of the structure of the files on the disc reveals that this
would be simple to accomplish.

There are a number of errors and confusing points such as the sub-key called ‘Polystichum
spp. (Shield-Ferns)' only containing two of the three native species of Polystichum and
the inclusion of a number of characters in the ‘Dryopteris affinis’ sub-key which are
not linked to the taxa concerned and hence have no effect on the diagnosis when invoked.

The main key generally produced a correct diagnosis when tested but the sub-keys pr oved
much less successful, regularly reaching an incorrect conclusion. This is due to the
fact that the characters offered are significantly overlapping in many cases, being based
on a description rather than a diagnosis.

There is very little available in the way of computer aids to identification and attempts
like this should be welcomed and encouraged. However, the implementation here Is
in danger of falling between two stools, in that results from the reasonably accurate
main-key could be achieved without the trouble of a computer, and the potentially much
more useful specialised sub-keys are too inaccurate and simplistic. Problem areas like
those covered in the sub-keys need a more sophisticated approach, such as compar 19H
methods using Bayesian probabilities, to be really useful and thus warrant the
inconvenience of using a computer rather than a paper key.

ANTHONY PIGOTT

GUIDE DES FOUGERES ET PLANTES ALLIEES by Remy Prelli, second ro
edition, pp.vi.232; figs.76. 14x20 cm. Text in French. Editions Lechevalier, 4"
1990. Price 220 FF.

After a period of many years with no book on French ferns in print, the publication
of the first edition of this book in 1985 was extremely welcome. The apne us
of a more comprehensive volume will surely further boost interest in the marve :
fern flora of France.

ve
Mic bert differs from the first edition in many ways. The introductory — ky
been slightly condensed, while the systematic section has been expanded by 4

Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991) 95

pages. This extra space has allowed a clearer format for generic and specific headings
to be adopted, making the book easier to use. Full dichotomous keys are given down
to specific level. All hybrids are listed and most are described (except, curiously,
Asplenium). There have been some nomenclatural changes, | welcome Cystopteris alpina
being reinstated in favour of C.atrovirens; others are new to me eg. Cheilanthes acrostica
for C. pteridioides, while | regret that, perhaps inevitably, C. dickieana has been retained.

The black and white photographs h almost all been replaced by lient line d gs;
these are often a vast improvement, especially in Cystopteris, Asplenium and Dryopteris.
Descriptions down to subspecies level are particularly good, eg. in the Asplenium
trichomanes and Dryopteris affinis complexes. In the latter case there is an excellent
diagram showing the inter-relationships between the species and hybrids. Finally, the
bibliography has been completely updated, but on the debit side the index is still
frustratingly difficult to use with entries at generic but not specific level.

| liked the first edition of this book and in this revised form it is greatly improved. |
feel it can be recommended to botanists with an interest in French or European
pteridophytes. Unfortunately, however, the price (about £23) will be too high for many.

MARTIN RICKARD

FERNS AND FERN ALLIES OF CANADA by William J. Cody and Donald M.
Britton. 430 pp. The Canadian Government Publishing Centre. Supply and
Services Canada. Ottawa, Canada KIA 059 ISBN 0-660-13102-1 Price $38.50.
Also published in French under the title: Les fougéres et les plantes alliées
du Canada

On holiday in Canada | was delighted to discover this recently published book. The ferns
of Canada are much more diverse than those of Britain and even some of the familiar
species have a slightly alien look, so it was most helpful to have this book for identification
and explanation.

The book has a familiar appearance, for one is strongly reminded of Chris Page’s book,
The Ferns of Britain and Ireland. Both books are exactly the same dimensions and in
soft covers. The Canadian book is laid out somewhat differently, the ferns being listed
systematically rather than alphabetically. The distribution maps are all together at the
back, which is a little awkward but all the maps are very clear and the line drawings
of the plants are often quite life-like.

The book is very readable, even for the layman, and there is a useful glossary of botanical
terms near the back.

Each fern is described and the cytology, habitat and range are given. The ‘Remarks’
on each fern are fascinating and useful, and give many interesting details, for example,
explaining why the bracken | saw did not look like the British equivalent at all.

| was a little surprised to see Phyllitis still included as a family but realise this is still
the subject of botanical argument.

| was very pleased with this book and can recommend it without reservation. It will
be of particular interest to anyone visiting Canada and also to fern growers who like
to grow species from other countries. | am sure that many of the ferns described would
be welcome visitors to a British garden.

This book is now available from: Books Express, P.O. Box 10, Saffron Walden, Essex
CB11 4Ew.

AH OGDEN

96 Pteridologist 2, 2 (1991)

BOOK REVIEWS

FERNS OF PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS by George R. Proctor,
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden, Volume 53, 1989. 399 pp., 110
figs. 180 x 254 mm. Price $85.50.

The fern flora of Puerto Rico has been studied, on and off, during most of the twentieth
century, but this is the first book of the fern flora to be published. It is also the latest
in the author's series of books on the ferns of the West Indies, following on after Flora
of the Lesser Antilles, Volume 2, Pteridophyta (1977) and Ferns of Jamaica (1985).

376 species are recognised here, an increase of 56 over the number given in the most
recent list in Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands by Liogier & Martorell (1982).
Twelve new species or combinations are given and 22 endemic species described.

The introductory sections are brief but to the point and include some useful maps of
geology, topography and climate as well as a short account of some aspects of Peurto
Rican fern ecology. The systematic section is very similar to that in Ferns of Jamaica,
i.e. there are full dichotomous keys, synonymous names, descriptions, details of
distributions and habitats.

The book is well illustrated. About 139 species are depicted in line drawings OF 0
photographs, mainly of herbarium material. Some of these illustrations were specially
drawn for this book but many are recycled from the author’s, and other works, covering
the ferns of the West Indian region. At the end of the book there is a useful list of
the ferns of each of the Virgin Islands, a checklist of all the fern taxa known in Puerto
Rico, a glossary and a bibliography.

In summary, this book is produced to the high standard we have come to expect from

the author and it is Strongly recommended to anyone interested in the ferns of the
central American tropics.

THE CORNISH FLORA SUPPLEMENT 1981-1990 byL J Margetts andKL Spur. gin,
1991. Trendine Press, Cornwall. About 120 pp. plus map. 140 x 210 mm. Price
£14.95

Cornwall has one of the most interesting pteridophyte floras in England and a supplement
to its flora is very welcome ten years after the main Review of the Cornish Flora 1

by Margetts and David. Only new records are given here; therefore, for a full, up-to-
date picture of the county flora both volumes are needed.

Perhaps of greatest interest is the batch of new records for Huperzia selago, rare In
lowland Britain, but | am also fascinated by the large number of introduced pteridophyte
now established in the county; Selaginella kraussiana, Pteris cretica, Dicksonia antar ctica,
Polystichum falcatum, Blechnum chilense and Azolla filiculoides.

in this book
Although only a supplement, there are interesting new pteridophyte records In thi
that will necessitate reference to it when a visit to Cornwall is in prospect.

REAP A DESTINY by T D V Swinscow, 1989. 334 pp., 135 x 220 mm. Price

£14.95 post free, from BMJ Bookshop, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London
WC1H QJR.

Although in no way a fern book this autobiography by a member of this soaey

39 years cannot go unmentioned. It is a very readable volume which | am he

members who have had the pleasure of knowing the author will find of great intere>
MARTIN RICKARD :

BRITISH FERNS AND THEIR CULTIVARS
A very comprehensive collection is stocked by
REGINALD KAYE LTD
SILVERDALE, LANCASHIRE
CATALOGUE ON REQUEST

FIBREX NURSERIES LTD

Honeybourne Road, Pebworth, Nr. Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire, CV37 8XT
Hardy and tender ferns
Begonias, Gloxinias, Hederas, Hydrangeas, Primroses, Arum Lilies
and Plants for the cool greenhouse

Catalogue on request

MRS J K MARSTON
Specialist Fern Grower
A wide range of hardy and greenhouse ferns, especially Adiantums

Culag, Green Lane, Nafferton, Nr. Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 OLF

Send 60p for catalogue

FANCY FRONDS
Specialising in North American and English hardy ferns
Send two International Reply Coupons for Catalogue

Judith |. Jones,
1911 4th Avenue West, Seattle, Washington, 98119, USA

GROW GREAT FERNS
Los Angeles International Fern Society
LAIFS Fern Journal bimonthly includes fern lesson,
educational meetings, materials, spore store, books.
Annual dues: $15 domestic, $19 overseas surface, $24 overseas airmail.
P.O. Box 90943, Pasadena, CA 91109, U.S.A.

HARDY AND HALF HARDY FERNS

The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops, SY8 2HP
Please send stamp addressed envelope for list

The British Pteridological Society

Contents

PTERIDOLOGIST

Volume 2, Part 2, 1991

MAIN ITEMS:

President's Letter Barry A Thomas
Musings on another Maidenhair Mystery Judith Jones
Variation in Blechnum spicant Dyce
Equisetum Fungicides? RN Timm
My Filmy Fern House Christopher J Goudey
Asplenium trichomanes (Incisum group) ‘Greenfield’ Martin Rickard
Reply from Cornwall Bridget Graham

Pteridology in France Past and Present: A brief survey
Andre J Labatut and Michel Boudrie

Photographing Ferns, Part 1 (Cont.) CN Page
Caving with a Feminine Touch Ray Woods
Fern Hunting J W Dyce
The Hardy Fern Foundation Breaks Ground Sue Olsen
Fern Mania J W Dyce
New Zealand Fern Specimen Books etc.
Additional Information Martin H Rickard
On the Trail of Collections and Collectors past Nick Schroder
More about Ferns with other Plants Peter Temple
Will the real Adiantum monochlamys please unfurl? A R Busby
SHORTER NOTES: «ae
My Interest in Ferns E A Elliot
Centenary Fern Show Pebworth Martin Wee .
From the Spore Exchar rganiser Margaret Nimmo-Smitr
_ What's in i ee : AC Jermy
Collector's Corner - Nature Printed Plates Barry A to,
Fern Corbels in Churches TOV Swine
Cards and Posters Martin Rickard
How to Use a Hand Lens AR Busby —
BOOK REVIEWS:
Farne in Natur und Garten
Flora of East Riding of Yorkshire

__ Computer Key to the Ferns of the British Isles
Guide des Fougéres et Plantes Alliées
__ Ferns of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

a Diack eae

teridc logist Volume 2 Part 1 was published on 21 May, :

Eecoae” aF eee oe PUN ee gee see PaaS fi ad 200 es

aie a

BRBVLBs

Volume 2 Part 3 1992
rN

/

eat RI RO ER ee

BRITISH
PTERIDOLOGICAL

SOCIETY
/ PTERI DOLOGIST

Edited by
sx. MH Rickard

2," ‘4

/ / A
i O~

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Officers and Committee for 1992
President: J.H. Bouckley
President Emeritus: J.W. Dyce
Vice-Presidents: J.A. Crabbe, A.C. Jermy, R. Kaye, C.N. Page, M.H. Rickard, G. Tonge

Honorary General Secretary A.R. Busby, ‘Croziers’,
and Archivist 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD
(Tel: Coventry 715690)
Assistant Secretary (Membership); and Miss A.M. Paul,
Editor of the Bulletin: Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD
Treasurer: Dr N.J. Hards,
184 Abingdon Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 9BP

Meetings Secretary: A.C.
43 Molewood Road, Hertford, Herts. SG143A0
Editor of the Fern Gazette: Dr. B.A. Thomas

Botany Department, National Museum of Wales,

Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NP.

Editor of the Pteridologist: M.H. Rickard, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes,
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2HP

assisted by J.W. Dyce

Committee: G. Ackers, P.J. Acock, P. Barnes, J.M. Camus, Mrs M. Nimmo-Smith,
N. Schroder, R.N. Timm, Dr T.G. Walker, J.R. Woodhams

Fern Distribution Recorder: A.J. Worland, Harcam, Mill Road, Barnham Broom,
Norwich, NR9 4DE

Spore Exchange Organiser: Mrs M. Nimmo-Smith, 201 Chesterton Road,
Cambridge, CB4 1AH

Plant Exchange Organiser: Mrs R. Hibbs, 30 London em
Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3BW

Booksales Organiser: S.J. Munyard, 234 Harold
Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 9NS-

Trustees of Greenfield Fund: A.R. Busby, Dr N.J. Hards, J.H. Bouckley

The BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY was founded in 1891 and today continues

for forn fern enthusiasts. It It provides a wide range of informa tion about ferns through the m

ask matter ' ge pede
the Prcloi opcs of hens nec and the

aia a Sin Sn

Membership is open to all interested in ferns and fern — ———, ; not rece Se a

1st enuary each year) are Full Personal Membors £12

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 97

PRESIDENTS LETTER

Mille Ante Bis Millisimum Annum

What a year 1991 has been with the many and varied activities which have been so
well organised to cater for everyone during our centenary celebrations. Unfortunately,
even though the memories are still in our minds, the events are now in the past and
our one hundred and first year is with us, so instead of looking backwards to those
celebrations our thoughts must now be directed to the future of this great Society.

There are two very important ingredients of a good thriving society, these being

are going to be lost through a variety of reasons and, to keep this side of the Society
in a healthy condition, it is vital that new members are introduced and that there is
a gradual increase or growth in the number of people joining us. My aim for this increase
is contained in the heading which, translated, means ‘One thousand before the two
thousandth year’ or, looking at it broadly, a thousand members before the turn of the
century. With the increasing interest in ferns countrywide this should not prove to be
a formidible task.

If every member is enthusiastic enough to try to make sure that they make at least
one new introduction before the end of 1999, | am convinced that, after allowing for
natural wastage, such growth could be achieved. Personally, | think it could be done
long before the end of this century. Why not have a go?

There are many activities arranged by our Meetings Secretary and his Committee and
there are also more arranged by Regional groups, and all members are encouraged
to get along to these. They are pleasant, educational and healthy activities, enabling
everyone to make or renew aquaintances, exchange views and also to make suggestions
for future gatherings.

Hoping to see many of you during the coming year and wishing you much success
in your chosen activities.

JACK BOUCKLEY

TRIBUTE TO REGINALD KAYE ON HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY
J.W. Dyce, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT.

Reginald Kaye was 90 years old on the 11th of April, 1992, and the BPS cannot let
the opportunity pass to pay tribute to him, our longest surviving member - he joined
the Society in 1929, several years ahead of me, and he, Jean Healey and | are the
only survivors of the pre-war membership.

From his earliest years ferns have been one of Reg’s great interests, in addition to
his love for alpines. After spending some years with Ingwersen’s nursery at Gravetye
in Sussex he moved back up north to Silverdale where he acquired Waithman’s nursery.
There, on the limestones he loves, he devoted his life to alpines and to ferns, eventually
becoming our foremost fern nurseryman with his very comprehensive collection of
varieties of British ferns. It could have been better still if he could have afforded to
buy Cranfield’s huge collection which was offered to him for £500 at a time when
that sum was a lot of money and beyond Reg’s reach. Eventually, on Cranfield’s death,
that priceless collection was flame-gunned - a very painful story which | have narrated
elsewhere. Instead, why could not Cranfield have passed the collection on to Reg in

his will? MISSOURI BOTANICAL
AUG 29 1992

— QBRDEN LIBRARY

98 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

Reg was elected our President in 1963 to 1966, a very popular choice, and his nursery
has been a mecca for fern lovers world-wide in the post-war years. Ferns from his
nursery now have their homes in many countries, particularly in the United States.
Some years ago he did a lecture tour of that country and endeared himself to fern
growers there.

In 1968 he published his book, Hardy Ferns, which has become a “bible” for fern growers
and lovers in many countries. The book is now out of print and in recent years Reg
planned to write a second edition which is badly needed. Most unfortunately, his present
State of health has prevented him from completing the work.

In recognition of his great services to our Society and to the fern cult Reg was awarded
in 1975 our Society's greatest honour, the Stansfield Medal. He is also an Honorary
Member of the Society.

Sadly, Reg has been in indifferent health for some time but his indomitable spirit keeps
him going. His many friends wish him well on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

SHORTER NOTE
Divide as a Rule

In the past, when exhibiting hardy ferns was a commonly enjoyed pastime, it wees

general rule that ferns with an erect rootstock, such as Dryopteris, Athyrium, Polystichum,

etc, were exhibited as single crowns. An untidy tangle of fronds did not attract our
rebears.

|, too, think that single crowns are more attractive, both on the show bench and in
the garden.

Ferns grown as single crowns display their various features more effectively, especially
if they are named forms.

| now make it a habit to reduce all my ferns that are developing multicrowns to ~~
crown plants which are then re-planted in threes or fives, thus not only ye
good stand of ferns but also enabling them to display their features to the best effect.

This job needs to be done every four years or so, depending on how vigorous a particular
Species or variety may be. This year | lifted a large clump of Polystichum sat
‘Plumosum Bevis’ which had not been divided for ten years. Pulling the crowns apa
is out of the question so you must resort to the time-honoured method of using pee
border forks back to back to gain maximum leverage. Begin by placing the forks in ally
centre of the clump and forcing it into two halves. The clump will separate —
between the crowns. Then divide the two halves and continue in this manner yer
the clump has been reduced to several single crowns. You will find that they will sep@ nt
with the minimum of damage to the roots. They can go back in the same poe
replenish the soil by forking in a bucket or two of leafmould or garden compost hat
a handful of blood, fish and bone fertiliser. Ensure that they are planted firmly ee owns
the crowns are snug into the ground otherwise the soil will sink leaving the we ater
proud of the soil and prone to collapse or drying by the wind. After planting,

well and top dress with a suitable mulch while the ground is moist.
will be done In

ee sai is affinis; this ;
Next year | shall be lifting several varieties of Dryopteri for the coming

March, weather permitting, so that once again, they will look their best

season.
AR BUSBY

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 99

AQUATIC FERNS (Based on a talk given at the autumn indoor
meeting at Kew, 1991)

JACK BOUCKLEY, 209, Woodfield Road, Harrogatre, N. Yorks HG1 4JE

As the name implies, aquatic ferns grow in water. Some of them can withstand long
periods of drought which will leave them growing above the water level. They have
been around for a considerable period, there being fossils of /soetes from the Triassic
period which lasted from 225 million years until 190 million years ago down to Salvinia
from the Cretaceous period - 136 m. til 65 m. years ago.

However, this article is mainly for the keen fern grower and collector. Remember that
what suits plants in my gardening conditions will not necessarily suit those away from
Yorkshire. Experimenting is essential. My garden is clay and the water is neutral to
acid, having come down from the peaty moors. However, let's get down to the first
of the alphbetically arranged plants.

Firstly, Azolla. There are a number of these but the one normally seen in this country
is A. filiculoides (Fig. 1a) and it is not a British native. It is a free-floating fern which
will form colonies on ponds where it will propagate itself readily by self-division, even
to becoming a nuisance and having to be thinned out. This is quite easily done with
a fish-net or by hand. It is an attractive little plant, sometimes turning pink in autumn,
and it may die down to a floating or sinking bud which can grow again the following
season. Try it in a small container, such as a 5-litre ice-cream tub or a fish-tank. It
is not hardy so will need frostfree conditions in winter.

Next comes Ceratopteris thalictroides. This is a tropical plant which will grow anything
from 6 to 15 inches (15-38 cm) tall and is an ideal plant for a well-lit heated tropical
fish-tank. Plantlets are produced on the fronds from which they will self-detach and
then float about until they find a place to root. The bright-green fronds will push above
the surface of the water, displaying their fine divisions. Economically, it is quite an
important plant as it is eaten raw or cooked in many countries.

Natives of this country are /soetes histrix (not a real aquatic), /. lacustris and !. echinospora
(Fig. 1b and 1c) - the spring and the common quillworts. To see them in the wild where
they can form carpets on the bottom in water usually under 12 feet (4 metres) deep
but they can occasionally be found in 18 feet (5 metres) deep lakes.

To keep these at home, plant in an aquarium or container in a compost of poor nutrient
value and the water must have a very low calcium content. Some people recommend
starting them off in distilled water. | use ordinary soft tap-water. They are well worth
trying if you can get plants.

Now we come to more introductions to this country - the Marsileas. They have a
distribution covering many parts of the world, but M. quadrifolia came here from Europe
where it grows in margins of lakes and also in boggy places. My method in this country
is to plant it in a large plastic container and then submerge the whole lot into a pond
so that the rim of the container of neutral compost is two or three inches (5-7 cm)
below the water surface, then the four tineir way above the surface,
looking like a lush stand of clover. In the wncig ‘the fronds fold up to triangles the
same size as one of the lobes. M. quadrifolia can also be found with incised fronds.

Another marsilia, M. drummondii (Fig. 1d) is very attractive, being covered with silvery
hairs, the density of which depends on the depth of water. Try plants at different depths
to find which is best for your conditions. This plant is not quite as hardy as the M.
quadrifolia. | take all my plants into a frost-free greenhouse in late autumn for over-
wintering. In the winter of 1990-91 the frost-free qualities of my greenhouse failed
and everything was frozen solid down to 12° F. (-12° C.) M. quadrifolia survived but

100 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

Fig.1
a) Azolla filiculoides. b) Isoetes echinospora c) |. echinospora quillbase.
d) Marsilea drummondii. e) Pillularia globulifera _f) Regnellidium diphyllum.
g) Salvinia natans. h) Salvinia auriculata.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 101

M. drummondii died. Anyone in the south could try a well-rooted M. quadrifolia round
the shallows of a garden pond, planted straight into the mud. It would be interesting
to know if they are winter-hardy in parts of this country.

All marsileas can be easily propagated from pieces of rhizome, in the right conditions.

Pillularia globulifera (Fig. 1e) is another British native which is causing concern owing
to its disappearance from many sites all over Europe. This again can be easily grown
from pieces of rhizome which wander across the surface of the mud in shallow water.
It normally grows to about four inches (10 cm) tall and is sometimes free-floating until
it finds a place to root. In the garden, it is best in a pot of soil-based compost with
the whole pot submerged about two inches (5 cm) under water, when the un-fernlike
fronds will show above the water, looking more like a small sedge or rush. They may
die back in winter but will revive again the following spring. The colour is bright-green
and, kept in the close confines of a container, they will form a lush dense growth.
It will withstand periods of drought. A pot of them in an aquarium would make very
good shelter for fish spawn and fry.

Another =o like plant is Regnellidium diphyllum (Fig. 1f). This a tropical plant from
South America and its common name is the Latex Fern, as the stem, if broken, will
exude a cae aa substance. It will grow to a foot (30 cm) or more in height and
has bi-foliar leaflets at the top, each lobe being up to four times as big as the Marsilea
quadrifolia lobes. Propagation, again, is easy by rhizome. It will adapt very well to conditions
in a heated aquarium, or in any other heated area, in a pot of poor soil with the base
permanently in water. It is not at all hardy and it intensely dislikes alkaline water.

Salvinia is another floating fern with two distinct types of fronds (Figs. 1g and 1h).
The buoyant ehh which can n be seen on the water surface is sterile but has two main
uses - firstly, to keep th dly, to take in nutrients by photo-synthesis.
Under water, looking more like a frond skeleton, is the other frond which is sometimes,
but not always, fertile. The plant readily divides and will quickly form quite attractive
masses on the surface. It is not hardy.

For the enthusiast, the plants mentioned can be propagated by placing the sporocarps,
which they all produce, in water and waiting for nature to take its course. The sporocarps
of the Marsilea should be abraded (about J, of a millimeter cut off at the end) so that
the _— interior can only just be seen, but not damaged. A petri dish is ideal as a
contain

| must thank Mike Hill of York University for the remarkable illustrations.

SHORTER NOTE
Dicksonia antarctica and Dicksonia fibrosa - a correction

In the 1990 Pteridologist | discussed ways of distinguishing Dicksonia antarctica from
D. fibrosa. Since then the characters described have not proved 100% reliable on their
own. | now know that it is most unlikely that any established Cornish specimens are
D. fibrosa. The confusion has arisen because D. antarctica apparently varies from north
to south in its _ in Australia (Chris Goudey, pers. comm). The forms grade ir into
each other but at their geog

D. fibrosa in ie. pinna and frond shape, and cannot, therefore, be reliably separated
by frond silhouettes alone. The following article by Dr Chirs Page gives a full account
of the better key differences.

MARTIN RICKARD

102 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

THE TAXONOMY AND IDENTIFICATION OF AUSTRALIAN
AND NEW ZEALAND DICKSONIA TREE FERNS IN
CULTIVATION IN BRITAIN

C.N. Page and Ruth Hollands, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh EH3 5LR.

Of the four species of the austral tree fern genus Dicksonia that are present in Australia
(from southern Queensland to Tasmania) and New Zealand, one, D. Janata Colenso,
is usually not of tree dimensions, and so is not included in this account. Of the tree-
forming species, D. squarrosa Spreng of New Zealand is especially distinctive in
appearance. By contrast, D. fibrosa Colenso of New Zealand and D. antarctica Labill.
of Australia form a closer species-pair, and can be more difficult to separate.

In the Temperate Fern-Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and at Glasgow
Botanic Gardens, many fine specimens of these tree-ferns (totalling over 100 individuals,
many well over a century old) have long been cultivated in comparable conditions of
soil and climate. The differences reported here are mostly based on observations made
on these specimens, backed-up by field and herbarium study.

Dicksonia squarrosa

Plants of D. squarrosa form long-fronded, slender-trunked individuals 8 - 20 cm in stem
diameter, reaching 2-4 m high in cultivation, but up to 6 m in the wild (Page & Bennell,
1986). Unlike the other two species, the trunks scarcely secondarily thicken with old
root masses, and so the persistent leaf-bases remain mostly exposed, covered in rigid,
dark, perpendicular blackish hairs. Beneath the crowns, old fronds are shed from the
trunk as they die, to a ccumulate in large numbers beneath the trees (Page & Brownsey,
1986). Underground rhizomes usually link the plants, which consequently form es
dense groves. The fronds of mature plants are similar in size to those of D. antarctica,
but are distinguished by having much longer stipes, up to about one third of the length
of the frond, which are dark in colour. The pinnae are typically quite widely spaced
along the frond, with a very glossy upper surface, and a texture which is harsh to grasp.

Dicksonia fibrosa

Plants of D. fibrosa form relatively short-fronded, moderately thick to thick trunked pie
(usually 25 - 30 cm diameter in cultivation, but exceptionally up to 60 cm in the wild)
which are usually about 2 - 7 m high (Page & Bennell, 1986). Like D. antarctica (see
below), the trunks secondarily thicken with a dense weft of old root masses, bese
the persistent frond bases, and giving the trunks a tawny grey-brown colouration. Benea

except in tall trees in the most exposed situations (Page & Brownsey,
D. squarrosa, plants are not linked by underground rhizomes, and so grow indi pe
The fronds of mature plants are usually about 100 - 160 cm long, and the sng
very short and pale with only moderately long (c. 1-1.5 cm), soft, lax brown hairs, which
are usually tenaciously retained by the plant when lightly pulled. The pinnae, tes
continue nearly to the base of the frond, are typically very numerous and each na

ins, and
but closely-spaced, with a glossy upper surface, crisply undulate eevee fate
as : i d outlines
a texture which is especially harsh and prickly to grasp. Fron pres abruptly

a distinctive widest point about two thirds from the frond base, tapering d stra
but more gradually below this point. Throughout the frond, the fairly stiff an

pinnae tend to be angled forward at about 30 degrees from perpendicular.

Dicksonia antarctica

rees (usually 30
m high, but can
Bennell, 1986)-

Plants of D. antarctica form long-fronded, thick to very thick-trunked t
80 cm diameter in cultivation and in the wild) which are often 3-10
reach 15 m or more in height in both cultivation and in the wild (Page &

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 103

Like D. fibrosa, the trunks secondariy thicken with a dense weft of old root masses,
hiding the persistent frond bases, and giving the trunks a tawny grey-brown colouration.
Beneath the crowns, old fronds nearly always persist on the plant in large numbers,
to form an impressive skirt (Page & Brownsey, 1986). As with D. fibrosa, plants are
not linked by underground rhizomes, and so grow individually. The fronds of adolescent
and mature plants are usually about 200-250 cm long, and the stipes are very short
and pale with long (c. 3 cm), pale brown, soft, lax, silky hairs, which usually detach
from the plant by their bases extremely easily when lightly pulled. The pinnae, which
continue nearly to the base of the frond, are typically broad and quite widely spaced,
with a dull upper surface, flat pinnule margins, and a texture which is fairly soft to
grasp. In contrast to D. fibrosa, fronds on most plants tend to be of a more constant
width throughout much of the central part of their outline, with an indistinctive widest
point usually about the mid-point, tapering more equally both above and below this.
The pinnae of mature fronds are also much more flexible than are those of D. fibrosa,
and tend to be more perpendicularly arranged. They also curve gradually basally and
droop somewhat downward at the tip and either side of the pinna midribs.

D. squarrosa thus differs from the other two species by several characters, but mainly
by its slender trunk and large dark-scaled fronds with long, dark stipes, which are shed
from the crowns when oid, as well as underground rhizome links.

D. fibrosa differs from D. antarctica in having markedly smaller fronds on mature
specimens, with short, strongly-retained hairs, crisply undulate pinnule margins, and
more numerous, narrow, crowded and forward-swept pinnae, which are more rigid and
harsh to the grasp

D. antarctica differs from D. fibrosa in having markedly larger fronds (even on small
trees only a metre high), with long, weakly-retained hairs, flat pinnule margins, and
less numerous, broad and more widely-spaced pinnae, which are more flexible and soft
to the grasp

These differences are based on the morphology of mostly adult plants, and probably
apply in much lesser degree to juveniles. Nevertheless, young plants generally increase
in size very rapidly, with their fronds reaching nearly adult morphology through their
first decade. Even for juveniles of D. fibrosa and D. antarctica however, the features
of pinna breadth and spacing and frond texture may still help to separate them at a
relatively young stage.

KEY
la. Stipes long, up to one third of the length of the frond, trunks of trees slender, less
than 20 cm diameter, plants usually linked by underground rhizomes... . . D. squarrosa

1b. Stipes short or O, trunks of mature and semi-mature specimens broader than es
cm (usually 30-70 cm), specimens solitary
2a. Fronds of mature and semi-mature plants usually about 100-160 cm long, with
a glossy upper surface, and a texture which is very harsh and prickly to grasp, ee
with undulate margins D. fibrosa

2b. Fronds of mature and semi-mature plants usually about 200-250 cm long, with
a dull upper surface, and a texture which is fairly soft to grasp, pinnules with flat margins

D. antarctica
References:
PAGE, C.N. & BROWNSEY, P.J. 1986. Tree-f kirts: a def gai limt d large epiphy
J. Ecol. 74: 787-796.

PAGE, C. = & BENNELL, F.M. 1986. Dickonsia, in The European Garden Flora (ed. S.M. Walters
Cambridge: University Press.

104 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1 992)

CONCERNING SOME PEST AND CULTURAL PROBLEMS
THAT CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT THE GROWTH OF FERNS
IN CONSERVATORY, GREENHOUSE OR HOME. (Based on
a talk given at the autumn indoor meeting at Kew, 1991)

JOHN WOODHAMS, Tropical Section, Living Collections Department, Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB

It should be said at the outset that ferns are not the most troubled plants with regard
to pest and disease problems though there are a number of relatively common “‘nasties”
that will pay them attention, and if allowed to persist can become rather damaging.

Incorrect treatment, cultural conditions or the v g i Isob damaging
as pest or disease attack, so a look at this area first.

If incorrect, cultural methods and growing conditions may result in ferns looking visibly
unhappy and this can happen Surprisingly quickly. A common example is the drying
effect on the atmosphere in the home, caused by central heating. However, it will often
be found that a fern suffering considerably in one location indoors will recover if relocated
to another room, or even moved to another place in the same room. The author only
recently needed to remove a cultivar of Adiantum raddianum from a southerly aspect
room, where it was increasingly unhappy, to a position near the window in a north
facing room. Improvement was soon apparent, the plant showing improved vigour and
wellbeing.

One should aim to avoid situati I bec too hot, or suffer excessive fluctuations
of temperature, though a night time drop in temperature is usually acceptable and, indeed,
in many situations, beneficial. Draughts should be avoided, especially for the placing
of the more soft and tender items, for this can encourage the prevalence of mn
(tarsonemid and broad mites, especially, which cause foliage distortion). Also, avoid a
situation where a plant would be in strong sunlight for long periods, especially if directly
behind a window, though, equally, a dark and gloomy corner would be ill-advised,
especially through the winter months.

Drought is, of course, an anathema to so many of the ferns, so much so that within
a few hours a perfectly marvellous plant can be reduced to a shrivelled apology that
may take months to recover - if recovery proves possible. On the other hand, damage
due to over application of water does not, in general, cause such an immediate problem
as drought but, nevertheless, can result in damage to the root system and/or Pesos
etc. With most ferns this is likely to be more prevalent through the autumn and —
months when growth is at its lowest ebb. Again, standing potted ferns (unless of wa :
or wetland habitat) in a saucer or tray which may accumulate up to an inch or nee
of water is not advisable, for this will cause the compost to become waterlogged = s
anaerobic, to the detriment of the plant's roots. Incidentally, this is likely to be a 2
of a problem where plastic pots are used. Standing plants on top of a shingle is
a plant saucer or tray, where water can be added to a level below the pot = ge
ideal, for, as it evaporates, the immediate area around the plant is slightly moistene?,
providing an improved microclimate.

isition of
It would seem pertinent to offer a few words of caution concerning the pit stage
plants to add to or build a collection, for, unless care is exercised, it is at
that pest and disease problems can be inadvertently introduced.

: , ; ‘cihly healthy
It is wise to check over all possible acquisitions with care and select visibly

: ue to
plants, divisions, etc. Beware of signs of dessication for this may nt voided.
drought but could be the outward sign of root or stock ailment that Is pease
Inspect foliage and growing points for insect pests, or signs that they have P

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 105

1
given the plant attention, for eggs laid and not easily observed will be the next generation
waiting to trouble the plants and you!

Control of Pests/ Disease

If, on running through your cultural checklist, you have not satisfactorily identified the
problem/s then attention should turn to the possibility of the cause being a pest or
disease related one.

In thinking about pest and disease problems and controls, it should be stated that many
pesticides and fungicides can be phytotoxic, especially to ferns; they may also be toxic
to the persons applying them and be damaging to the environment. Sometimes their
use is unavoidable, but it is becoming increasingly popular and, indeed, preferrable to
use physical or biological control measures where available, reserving pesticides as the
long stop should all else fail.

As more research effort is channelled toward biological, or what is more correctly termed
Integrated Pest Control (where predatory insects, certain fungal and bacterial agents,
physical traps, and low toxicity and persistence chemicals are employed in a truly
integrated pattern), the armoury is expanding, with some promising results.

Physical traps are also playing an increasingly important role to catch winged pests
such as white fly and are used also to monitor the degree of certain infestations. Usually
in the form of yellow or blue plastic sheets (seme produceu and marketed in sheet
size 25 x 40 cm) and coated in a long persistence glue, they are hung or located at
crop height where they are most effective. No pesticide is used in their manufacture.
Aphids

The attack may be from the fern aphid /diopterus nephrolepidis which is black with
white legs, or the green Myzus persicae, or possibly others. They congregate on the
young fronds and growth points and suck the plant sap, debilitating and distorting the
plants and, by their method of feeding, can transmit viruses from plant to plant.

Control can be by washing the aphid colonies off the plant with a tepid water spray
from a pump-up sprayer (a few drops of washing-up liquid may be added to help the
water to penetrate the aphid colonies). Alternatively, use the biological control agents
Aphidoletes aphidimyza and/or Aphidius matricariae. The former is a predatory midge,
the larvae of which live by piercing the aphids and devouring their body contents, while
the latter, a small wasp-like creature, lays an egg in the aphid, which hatches and
proceeds to devour the body fluids - eventually pupating and emerging from the aphid
as an adult - thus continuing the cycle.

Mealy Bugs

Pseudococcus obscurus is probably the commonest species (despite its specific name)
found in glasshouses in Britain, but others do occur, including the long tailed mealy
bug Pseudococcus longispinus.

They tend to form colonies and hide near veins on the foliage and inhabit the growing
points of ferns where they feed on the plant sap. Like aphids, scale insects and white
fly, mealy bugs excrete a substance called honey-dew which is rich in sugars. This
forms a coating on lower foliage around the feeding site/s. This coating is often colonised
by a fungus called sooty mould, which looks most unsightly and can be detrimental
to plant growth if the coating is heavy and widepsread on the plant.

Control of mealy bug (Fig. 1) (all Figs. opp. p. 108) can be effected by the introduction
of the lady bird-like Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Fig. 2); both adult and larvae will feed
on the mealy bug colonies. Though freely available from suppliers, this predatory insect
is somewhat choosy about plants and conditions. However if Cryptolaemus \ikes your

106 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

conservatory or glasshouse (not sure if it would work in the home) it will do a great
job, though it has to be stated that the older larvae have the appearance of large, rather
more fluffy mealy bugs so do not be alarmed if these creatures appear some time after
the adults are introduced!

There are also species of mealy bug that live in the compost feeding on the fern roots.
These are difficult to get at and a soil drench of a Malathion based insecticide is preferred
~ use at or slightly less than the manufacturer's recommendation. Malathion can be
used to control mealy bug on the upper parts of the plant if predator and physical washing
fail.

Sooty mould may be sponged off the plants in the same way as described here for
the physical removal of scale insects or, if a heavy coating has developed it should
be allowed to dry out completely, causing it to flake and peel, whereupon it can be
swilled from the foliage.

Scale Insects

A variety of scale insect species can attack ferns, though the most commonly met with
are soft brown scale, Coccus hesperidium, and the fern scale or snow scale Pinnaspis
aspidistrae. The latter appears as tiny white flecks on the fronds, usually scattered over
the undersurface and feeding by sucking the plant sap, causing yellowish white marks
which, in a heavy infestation, can cause the frond to appear mottled. Both types of
scale mentioned can severely debilitate a fern and must be treated.

Ferns with fronds that lend themselves to physical washing - the Asp/enium nidus group,
Microsorium punctatum and some members of the Elaphoglossum genus, etc., can be
washed clean of the pest, using tepid water and a soft sponge. The larger scale species
are the most successfully treated in this way. Do not attempt to use the hard cellular
Sponges for they may cause damage to the frond tissue - change the water in the
bowl or bucket frequently. Obviously, some juvenile scale stages will be overlooked but
a thorough and careful washing will give very satisfactory results.

Biological control can be attempted, using the small wasp parasite Metaphycus helvolus,
though warm conditions seem to be necessary for this to be able to work e ectively
A microfungus, Verticillium lecani, marketed under the proprietary name “Mycotal , be
been found to gradually lessen infections, though again warm conditions coupled bee :

a high relative humidity level are essentials for this agent to work. It is, however,
for use in a tropical fernery where the preferred relative humidity level of 85% plus ca

be provided.

White oil, which works mostly by smothering the insects, thereby cutting ther ae
to air, can be effective, though usually two applications are necessary and there is

to give good coverage of the foliage colonised by the insects. Use as recomme in
by the manufacturer and | would advise not using more than two he
succession, for the product can be damaging to young fronds, and will cause death #

to develop on older fronds if used too frequently.

s aoe ; is a product
A systemic insecticide is likely to be the most effective treatment and there !s 4 P

nahin ice is
still available which has dimethoate as the main systemic ingredient. ssp
to try this on one or two plants initially - watch after a day or so for any sign n bright

on the foliage. Do not apply spray if the temperature is over 24 C (75 F) or if!

sunshine. A good rule for most insecticides.

White Fly a
‘ jum,

Generally, very good control of the glasshouse white fly, Trialeurodes vaporar!

be effected using the parasitic wasp, Encarsia formosa.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 107

As with all biological agents observation is paramount, and early detection of the pest
allows introduction of the predators before extensive colonisation of the plants has taken
place. Nephrolepis spp, in particular, can be the subject of persistent white fly attack.
Some of the quick acting, flying insect control products can be usd to spot treat, but
remember, if biological control is to succeed, indiscriminate or over use of chemical
formulations should be avoided, if possible. Also the quick-acting (knockdown) products
will often only knockout the adults, being of little use against eggs or scale stages of
whitefly.

Red Spider Mite

Tetranychus urticae, the two-spotted red spider mite (Fig. 3) can be troublesome, the
problem often exacerbated by an incorrect environment, which usually means too hot
and dry. A light misting over of fern foliage, using a hand trigger sprayer or small pump
pressurised type, using rainwater or filtered tap water at perat will physically
combat spider mite attack and can also be of benefit to the ferns. However, avoid wetting
the plants during periods of low temperature or late in the day, especially in winter.

There is a predatory insect, Phytoseiulus persimilis, (Fig. 4) which will frequently give
more than adequate control. Again, early detection of the pest allows rapid introduction
of the predator, so avoiding chronic build up of spider mites. A further aid to assist
the predator gain control is to fairly forcefully wash over the foliage (both upper and
lower surfaces) and allow to dry before the first introduction. P. persimilis can live on
the eggs of.the red spider mites if adults and young are in only minimal numbers.

Thrips

V :

var

type of feeding on both the upper and lower surfaces of the fronds of a range of fern
pecies causes a silvering affect, disfiguring the plants, and in numbers they are very
debilitating.

f thrips are t bl including Thrips tabaci. Their rasping

A predatory insect, Amblyseius cucumeris, can be used for light infestations. It feeds
by devouring the first stage of the young thrips as they hatch from the eggs. It will
also feed on pollen should thrips be unavailable, but our precious ferns are unable to
help here ! “Mycotal” will work well if the same conditions of temperature and humidity
prevail as mentioned for the control of scale insects. If drastic action is needed the
systemic insecticide mentioned previously may be used to good effect.

Vine Weevil

An increasingly troublesome if sporadic pest (Fig. 5) of some rhizomatous ferns and
the clump forming types, especially those liking drier conditions. Adults eat notches
out of the foliage and lay eggs at the base of the plant where the resulting grubs will
invade the root area, devouring plant tissue below ground level.

A relatively simple treatment, using a beneficial eelworm (Fig. 6) to carry a bacterium
into the bodies of the vine weevil larvae, results fairly quickly in their death - where-
upon more eelworm are released to carry on the culture.

Procedure for application is to mix the eelworm culture with water and apply this by
watering-can to the soil of the plants affected. There is a different eelworm species
that is effective against the larvae of the fungus or sciarid fly, Lycoriella auripila, and
the culture is applied in the same way. The products are marketed by one company
as “Nemasys” and “Nemasys H” - the latter being for fungus-fly larvae.

The predators and biological formulations arrive through the postal service and should
be dealt with as soon as received. Some of the formulations need to be held at fairly
low temperatures if not used quickly.

108 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

The different producer companies package them in a variety of ways, many of which
are very simple to handle and apply to the plants. The author is given to understand
that at least three producer companies will deal with the amateur market:

Natural Pest Control, Watermead, Yapton Road, Barnham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
English Woodlands, Hoyle Depot, Graffham, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 OLR
“Wye bugs”, Wye College, University of London, Wye, nr Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH.

Each company may not handle the same range but will be able to advise as to availability
and supplier. It may be found that availability of some predators and other agents through
the winter months is variable. Many of the predators are naturally-occurring insects
in the British Isles and have to be encouraged into breeding cycles at a time when
they would normally be hibernating or otherwise inactive.

JONES, D.L. 1987. Encyclopaedia of Ferns, British Museum (Natural History).
BUCZACKI, S. & HARRIS, K. 1981. Collins guide to the Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Garden
Plants, Collins.

THE GLASLYN BRACKEN CUTTER

BARRY A. THOMAS, Department of Botany, National Museum of Wales, Cathays
Park, Cardiff CF1 3P ;
JOHN WILLIAMS-DAVIES, Department of Farming, Crafts and Cultural Life,
Welsh Folk Museum, St. Fagans, Cardiff CF6 6XB

Bracken is a very successful and invasive weed. Although once restricted by brash
woodland it has spread rapidly because of woodland clearance. It is still invading marg
agricultural land.

Originally the only practical method of controlling the spread of bracken on hilly yee
had been by scything, which was an extremely slow and laborious process. The .
bracken was often stored in stacks for later use as bedding for cattle. After the me
of the Agricultural Wages Board in 1921 it became impractical to employ men specinice
for bracken cutting as it was far too expensive.

In 1930 Charles H. Williams Ltd. of the Glaslyn Foundary, Porthmad
a machine for bracken cutting to a patented design of James Pugh, a e based
of Gartheiniog, Aberangell, (see Fig. opp p. 109). The design was a ye to three
on the roller principle to be pulled by horse. Carbon-steel knives were attach an
iron discs arranged along a six-foot axle. As the machine was dragged forwa ‘ ,
knives turned and cut the bracken. It was capable of cutting up to ten acres pe ;
a considerable improvement on the one acre or so which could be es ae
It also worked efficiently on very steep slopes without showing any signs oF S! could be
and stones caused no damage. The cutters were also designed so that ney

used singly, in pairs or in threes.

nds
The most reliable method of eradicating bracken was to cut in June, esse es fro
had nearly reached full height without unfurling, and then at about six-week ee killing
This effectively exhausted the food reserves in the underground stem, — gi
the plant. So successful was the machine that it could almost be anid = imple task
itself redundant. Once the bracken had been cleared it was 4 relatively ve was 10
with fertilisers to keep the land clear, with a result that the bracken ~~ ar because
longer needed. Production ceased d the beginning of the Second Worl! Tr. ime
of lack of demand and partly because of increasing demands upon che be to
from war work. Judging from the increase of bracken, perhaps 't !S ci
remaining machines out of the museums and back onto the hillsides.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1 992)

108:

Some pests of ferns and their biological control agents (see p. 104)

Fig. 5. Vine Weevil

Fig. 2. Cryptolaemus montrouzierie
Mealy Bug predator

Fig. 6. Beneficial eelworm. Carrier of
bacterium for control of Vine Weevil

Fig. 4. Phytoseivius persimilis Predatory mite

(Photographs courtesy of the
Horticultural Research Institute and Applied Horticulture, both of Littlehampton)

109i Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

JOHN EVANS «SONS,
AGRICULTURAL IRONMONGERS
MACHYNLLETH."

MEW PATENTED

BRACHEN cuTTER

h
Pugh’s Patent —— Cutter at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Show held at Aberystwyt
n 1933 when it was awarded the Society's Silver Medal

tterhead
“Frizzle head” caused by insect damage on Lady Fern at O

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 109

SHORTER NOTES
Deformed ferns at Otterhead - Somerset/Devon

In 1987 a photographic group org da walk round head Lakes which are situated
in the Blackdown Hills about ten miles south of Taunton. The county boundary bisects
the lower lake. Ferns then as now were the predominant summer ground flora, the

area being best known for spring snowdrop displays.

The former estate of about 150 acres was originally known as Wick Farm. In 1841
it was purchased by William Bleadon, a surgeon, who erected a mansion and laid out
the grounds to incorporate three lakes. Two of them remain and are usd by anglers.
Bleadon died in 1864 and the place was acquired by Justice Mellor and then his son-
in-law the Hon. Sir W.H. Goschen who died about 1935. The house remained empty.
Wessex Water bought the estate in 1939 and on instructions from the local Council
demolished the house in 1947. Now Wessex Water with the Somerset Trust for Nature
Conservation and the Forestry Commission manage the area.

During the 1987 excursion | observed a large number of fern fronds with what | described
as frizzle ends, or distorted tops (see Fig. opp.). At the time | attributed this to the possible
use of herbicides, but as | was also then researching the Victorian Fern Craze | did
wonder if there was any connection with the ferns at Nettlecombe Court, as it was
likely the owners knew each other socially, or their gardeners did. At Nettlecombe the
Trevelyans and their gardeners were keen collectors of mutations, and other fern oddities.
| was not able to trace any definite link, and until recently forgot the matter.

Following the centenary symposium of the B.P.S., | returned to Otterhead to have another
look. It is now rather overgrown, and the lower lake restricted to anglers. Some youths
were slashing at the ferns which still predominate and threaten to obliterate both the
paths and picnic areas. Bracken is encroaching and, under the trees, there are considerable
growths of about seven prolific fern species. Lady Fern predominates and there are
sufficient distorted fronds to be significant. From two to ten per plant, with the same
feature appearing occasionally on Broad Buckler Fern, but not on Male Fern or any

other species

| suspect an entomologist might know the cause of this occurrence. However, for anyone
wanting to see for themselves, it is quite a pleasant walk, preferably on a cool breezy
day. There is a car park. Take the Honiton road out of Taunton (B3170) and turn right
a a sign marked Otterhead Church. The next turning to ‘Royston Water’, the name now
given to the lower lake, is for anglers only.

PRIMROSE PEACOCK

(I'm sure Primrose is right to attribute this damage to insects. Very often small flies
can be seen laying their eggs on fern croziers. The eggs develop into whitegrubs which
do the damage. Careful unravelling of a damaged crozier usually reveals the grub. (Ed.) )

Ferny Doylies

On visting “Lilies”, “an historic house with 20 rooms of books in a country setting
40 miles from London”, | was intrigued to find, on the top floor in a display cabinet
on the outer wall of room 15, a display of doylies made out of Lace Bark (Lagetta linteria),
the spathe of the Silk Cotton plant (Calotropis procera), and decorated with ferns from
Jamaica, some of which had outlines similar to our Rustyback Fern. For those interested,
“Lilies” belongs to Peter Eaton (Booksellers) Ltd; its address is Weedon, a couple of
miles north on the A413 out of Aylesbury, Bucks. It is open most days except Sundays.
The telephone number is 0296 641393 . . . . you can also see the first T.V. tube.

MICHAEL G. SEARLE

110 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

COLOUR IN HARDY FERNS
A R BUSBY, 16, Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry CV4 8GD

The title may raise a few eyebrows, an article praising ferns for their various shades
of green perhaps? No, | mean COLOUR!

It is true that there are many shades of green in ferns, from the deep glossy green
of Cyrtomium falcatum, to the most pastel of greens as seen in Adiantum pedatum,
and, in between, every other shade of green imaginable.

To my mind, colour in ferns falls into two categories, those with colour in the frond
that fades as the frond matures, and those whose colour persists throughout the life
of the frond. British ferns are not noted for their colour but can perhaps compensate
by their tendency to produce varieties!

| would suggest that the exception is Dryopteris affinis and its subspecies and varieties.
True, the colour is somewhat ephemeral, but the sight of its yellow-green fronds adds
a splash of gold to the fern border, especially if it is planted where the sun can catch
it and if several plants are grown together to make a feature. As the season progresses,
the fronds develop a shiny mid-green, with the hint of yellow, as if to remind you of
its youthful glory in the spring.

Athyrium filix-femina is usually seen as a totally green plant but red-stemmed forms
are often encountered. Casual observation suggests that the red-stemed forms hold their
fronds more erect and tend to be more brittle. | have also noticed that the red form
tends to produce its fronds slightly earlier in the season. Red-stemmed varieties sabe
quite common and, although | am not a lover of the Lady Fern and its varities, if |
must profess a preference, it would be for the red-stemmed forms.

Interestingly, while visiting Wicken Fen during October 1990, | noticed a red-stemmed
form of Thelypteris palustris. The stipe and rachis were red and the red flush also ran
into the base of the pinnae. | found it quite distinct and spores from it were included
in the 1991 Spore Exchange list. It might be worth selecting good colour forms from
the progeny.

ple fronds

Osmunda regalis has its forms ‘Purpurescens’ and ‘Gracilis’ which produce pur yi

in the spring, but both become dark green in time, with the colour persisting 0
the stipe and rachis.

: “ turn
However, if we want to add greater colour interest to the fern border, we must

our attention to foreign hardy ferns. ia

- i 4s in
Adiantum pedatum var. japonicum produces in the spring the most heavenly pink-t!
fronds which fade to green as the fronds mature.

cee - w on
Arachnioides simplicior, has wonderful bottle-green fronds with a dash of yello

each side of the mid-rib. (syn A. aristata ‘Variegata’? Ed.)
oured veins,

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum has steel-blue fronds with burgundy-col good colour

and the pinnae splashed with silver at the base. Select carefully to ensure 2
form.

achides,
Athyrium otophorum, in the spring, has yellow fronds with red stipes and F

the fronds turning green as they mature but the red stems persisting. vt
: : ‘ owly

Athyrium vidalii, has fronds which emerge purple-black in the spring and sl

dark-green as they mature.

urn

ed fronds in the

gid tier f green-f
Blechnum penna-marina, in most forms, is a rich mixture of g Most blechnums

spring with purple fertile fronds displayed proudly during the summer.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 111

boast some colour; it’s a pity that our own Blechnum spicant does not have the same
ambitions!

Dryopteris erythrosora and its forms. The fronds emerge a rich-red colour, and the fertile
ones, in some forms, later display red sori. | cannot imagine anyone not wanting this
fern in their collection.

Dryopteris wallichiana is a very variable species, apparently, if the experts are to be
believed. | know it as a fern with bronze-yellow fronds sporting stipes and rachides
clothed in chocolate-brown scales.

Lunathyrium japonicum - | list this because the one | have is very colourful, not unlike
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum. However, | stand ready to be corrected on this one.
Onoclea sensibilis, apart from the usual green form, has a pink version which | thought
attractive until | was shown a red form. Deeper in colour and larger in size, it has
totally seduced me from the pink. Tends to be invasive. | prefer to grow it in a large
pot but it does not travel well and is easily damaged.

Variegation

a piece, which | have on several occasions.

| have heard of phantom forms of variegation in other species from time to time, but
they never appear stable in cultivation.

| do not pretend that this list is exhaustive and | look forward to other members adding
to it.

BOOK REVIEW

THE ILLUSTRATED FIELD GUIDE TO FERNS AND ALLIED PLANTS OF THE
BRITISH ISLES by Clive Jermy and Josephine Camus and illustrated by Peter
Edwards, 1991. Natural History Museum Publications, London. pp. xiv, 194,
numerous illustrations, probably over 200. 148 x 210 mm. Price £7.95.

This new field guide will be warmly welcomed by the large number of field botanists
with an interest in the British Ferns. It is concisely laid out and contains all the basic
information one would expect, but, above all, it is thoroughly up-to-date.

Introductory matter includes notes on how to use the book, the fern life cycle, a glossary
and a dichotomous key. Further, keys are included throughout the book at the beginning
of each genus.

The main systematic section covers all known British pteridophyte species. Coverage
of each includes di tic characters. habit, habitat, distribution and tion status,
together with useful notes for comparison with closely related taxa. All known hybrids
are listed but they are not illustrated or described.

This is a very well organised work which covers the key points of each fern. | disagree
with occasional statements, e.g. | don’t think most cultivars of Asplenium ium
are sterile, also, are there really a few sites in NW Britain for Dryopteris cristata? More
importantly, it should be noted that the figures of the two non-native species of Blechnum
on p. 183 have been transposed.

MARTIN H. RICKARD

112 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

FERNS IN THE HOME (Based on a talk given at the autumn
indoor meeting at Kew, 1991)
A R BUSBY, 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD

Growing ferns in the home is not easy as it demands skill, patience and a good measure
of dedication. Some knowledge or interest in their natural habitat will provide useful
guidelines to their successful cultivation. It is far more difficult to produce the right
conditions for ferns to grow well than for many other popular pot-plant subjects. For
example, a Swiss cheese plant, Monstrosa deliciosa, or a rubber plant, Ficus robusta,
can survive the gloomiest of corners on a minimal amount of attention. Not so the
ferns. They require regular attention and some consideration if they are to flourish in
the home. In other words, they provide a challenge and for those who are prepared
to meet that challenge, ferns will prove to be a very rewarding and decorative subject
for the house.

When we consider pot plants for interior decoration, we situate them to our liking and,
although many foliage plants are fairly obliging in this respect, ferns are not. We have
to find a situation to suit them rather than us. So, even if our large Woodwardia radicans
would be a magnificent feature in that corner behind the television, the Woodwardia
will think otherwise. The dappled shade of a temperate forest is one thing, the dusty
dry corner of a British living room in January is something else. If we are to meet
this challenge, there are six conditions that need to be considered: temperature, light,
humidity, watering, feeding and potting on. Considering that f h lapted to habitats
as diverse as from the deep shade of a rain-forest floor to the bright sunlight of the
same forest's canopy; and from the rock fissures and screes of an inhospitable mountain
to the moist shady protection of a temperate wood; and even the contrasting conditions
of heat and cold on desert cliffs and in ravines, we should be able to find the right
room or windowsill for the ferns we have acquired. Knowing the habitat of a particular
species will guide us to simulate the conditions it requires in the home. It is this ‘fine
tuning’ which provides the challenge.

Light

All ferns respond to good light without direct sunlight. They do not require goo”
conditions. A north-west or east facing window is a valuable asset for fern growing.
A south-facing window is fine as long as the plants are not in direct sunlight for the
major part of the day. In this situation, somewhere adjacent to the window !s better
than on the windowsill itself. Some ferns do require direct sunlight: the staghorn ferns,
Platycerium species, are good examples. They are ferns of the forest canopy bale.
they have adapted to direct sunlight and are able to survive long periods of drought
The best place for them is hanging in a south-facing window but, better still, a ron
or conservatory. Finding the right place in relation to light for the majority of ales
not usually very difficult or critical.

Temperature

Surprisingly, most of the ‘exotic’ ferns used as pot-plants will tolerate ¢ bie
temperatures. They prefer to be warm rather than hot and respond best to a fairly en
temperature regime. Anything between 12-18°C (54-64°F) is suitable. If plants are ight
on the windowsill, avoid trapping them between the glass and the curtains pio
during the winter, where they will become chilled. Many of the ‘exotic’ ferns will to
short periods at temperatures down to 7°C (44°F) without coming to much harm.
Humidity

This has a direct correlation with temperature and is much more important
0 get right. Humidity, the amount of moisture in the air, is measured by @
This consists of two thermometers side by side: one records the normal

e quite low

and difficult
hygrometer.
amnetr. ‘atu re;

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 113

the other has its measuring ‘bulb’ surrounded by wet musiin. _ This depresses the
temperature recorded by the ‘wet bulb’ and the diff.

shows the room’s ‘relative humidity’. The relative humidity (or RH) ot a centrally. heated
living room is usually about 48%. Compare this with the RH of a warm greenhouse
with a soil floor which is usually about 70%. The greenhouse will have a far more
buoyant atmosphere for plants generally, and ferns in particular. Obviously, we cannot
arrange for damp conditions in our homes but we can assist our ferns by providing
a moist microclimate around them. This is easily done by placing the ferns on saucers
or trays containing sand or gravel which is kept moist. The evaporation of moisture
amongst and around the ferns will help reduce any stress they might experience due
to a dry atmosphere.

Watering

Watering is a skill that has to be learned. It is the one major stumbling block for indoor
gardeners and it is where the vast majority of the gardening public make their mistakes.
Flowering plants, which have an advanced plumbing system, can tolerate long frequent
periods without water and will quickly revive after a good soaking. Ferns, by virtue of
their primitive ‘rigid’ plumbing system, will not tolerate long periods in dry conditions.
They show their disapproval by losing their fronds, followed quickly by losing their will
to live. This is where the skill, patience and dedication is required. | have no qualms
about using hard tap water although soft or rain water is preferable. The best routine
is to check the ferns for watering at least twice a week. The drier the atmosphere,
the greater the plants’ demand for water and the greater the evaporation of water from
the compost. The question most often asked is ‘how often should | water it?’, but in
fact, the question should be ‘how often should | check it?’. The first question is easily
answered: if the plant is dry, water it, if it is moist, don’t! However, there are indicators
we can observe. Modern peat-based potting compost changes colour as it dries out,
from dark brown when it is wet, to light brown when it is dry. It also shrinks away
from the side of the pot as it dries. Any shrinkage suggests excessive drying and is
a condition that should be avoided. Once a peat-based compost dries out it is extremely
difficult to re-wet. Rely on your index finger. Rub the surface of the compost. If your
finger is damp, the plant is fine; if your finger remains dry, the plant needs water.
Feeding

Ferns are not gross feeders but, like all plants confined to a pot, they require nitrogen,
phosphate and potash plus all the other macro- and micro-nutrients. The golden rule
is ‘little and often’. Be guided by the manufacturers’ instructions but apply at half-strength
about once a week in the growing season and once a month in winter. It is helpful
to have one particular day of the week or month when it is always done. Never apply
feed to a dry soil. Any proprietary plant food is suitable such as Compure, Maxicrop,
Baby Bio, Phostrogen, etc.

Compost

Most pot plants produced today are grown in peat-based composts and any subsequent
potting should be done in a peat-based compost. | have found that for ferns it is beneficial
to add about one quarter by volume of Perlite to three quarters of compost. This improves
the drainage and aerates the compost. It also assists the shaking down of compost
when repotting. The feed provided in a proprietary compost only lasts about eight to
ten weeks unless a slow release form is incorporated. Nitrates are easily leached out
of the compost each time a plant is watered so, after ten weeks, regular feeding should
be undertaken.

Repotting

Eventually all plants become potbound: the roots completely fill the pot and, very often,
the first indication of this is a mass of roots growing through the drainage holes. The

114 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

condition of the root-ball is easily checked by tapping out the contents of the pot. Before
attempting this, always ensure that the roots are well watered. It makes it easier to
ease the root-ball from the pot. This is particularly applicable to plants grown in Clay
pots. If you decide that the plant will benefit from being potted on, choose a pot about
two sizes up from the old pot, for example, from a 5” up to a 7” pot. This ensures
a comfortable amount of room and compost for the plant to explore. However, never
be tempted to over-pot by placing a plant into a pot several sizes too large. Make sure
the rootball is thoroughly watered before repotting and afterwards water again.

Containers

Maidenhair ferns

These are worth a special mention. They are the one group of ferns that have a wide
appeal to the general public. If you attempt to grow maidenhair ferns for more than
one season without some form of seasonal attention, the result is an untidy mix of
new, old and dead fronds. This is easily avoided if, during January and February, all
the fronds are cut down to soil level. If the plant is pot-bound, pot on as described
earlier. If it is a plant pot-bound in a 6” or larger pot, divide into two and repot into
the same size or Slightly smaller pots with fresh compost. The result is a spring flush
of new fronds that will look good throughout the new season. If you keep a close check
on the watering you will have two large ferns instead of one.

List of Plants available from Supermarkets and Garden Centres

Most of the following species and varieties feature regularly on pot-plant sale displays,
but some of the others are scarce.

Adiantum hispidulum, rosy maidenhair, and A. pubescens, a very similar species, are
seen frequently.

Adiantum raddianum (syn. A. cuneatum) is the common maidenhair of the pot-plant
trade. It has produced numerous varieties amongst which ‘Fluffy Ruffles,
‘Fragrantissimum’, ‘Fritz Luth’, ‘Micropinnulum’ and ‘Weigandii’ can be found, most
usually un-named.

Asplenium bulbiferum, hen and chicken fern, which has distinct ‘bulbils’ on its oi
tri-pinnate fronds, is hardly ever found in commerce but is a very popular ‘amate
fern which will often appear at private plant sales.

ar e.
Asplenium nidus, the bird’s nest fern, has simple entire fronds held nest-like in a —s
Mis. cultivars ‘Angustatum’ and ‘Fimbriatum’ can now be found. The latter appear
be sterile and must be propagated by division only.

Blechnum gibbum is an erect fern with pinnate fronds which are pink bee ee
and is valued for taking on the appearance of a miniature tree fern with : zon B.
occidentale is well worth seeking, It has handsome pinnate fronds, plage over-
young. It has a creeping rhizome, so tends to wander out of its pot, and dislikes
watering. They both prefer acid conditions.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 115

Cyathea dealbata, the silver tree fern and national emblem of New Zealand, is occasionally
imported from Holland and may turn up in larger garden centres.

Cyrtomium falcatum, Japanese holly fern, is popular as both a hardy garden fern and
as a pot plant. Its hard shiny glossy green fronds prevent it suffering from all but the
most outrageous neglect. C. fortune is also common.

Dicksonia antarctica and D. fibrosa, are occasoinally found with Cyathea dealbata, but
beware of incorrect labelling! They generally prefer acid conditions.

Davallia solida var. fejeensis and other hare’s-foot ferns may be available. These make
excellent basket ferns and will stand drier conditions.

Didymochlaena truncatula is often overlooked in the plant sales area due to its unexciting
appearance. However, in maturity it is a large handsome fern with bi-pinnate fronds
with glossy dark-green pinnules, often rosy-red when young. Keep this fern well watered
and fed, otherwise it drops its pinnae and looks terrible.

Doryopteris pedata, is a small fern with very appealing attractively-shaped fronds that
improve with age. The variety pa/mata is larger with deeply-cut fronds. Hemionitis arifolia
is a related fern which has ‘plantlets’ on its entire fronds and dislikes over-potting.

toa lianht 7 Ac
J

Microlepia speluncae, the so-called carrot fern, has soft hairy tr ipinnat gree
and a wandering rootstock. Parks departments use this one.

Nephrolepis exaltata, the Boston fern, is so well-known that even the general public
recognise it as a fern. Several fancy cultivars are available in addition to the more normal
forms. ‘Linda’ has very congested and dissected fronds. ‘Duffii’, a cultivar of N. cordifolia,
with rounded button-like pinnae, is well worth seeking.

Pellaea rotundifolia, the button fern, is a very common amenable small rosette fern
enjoying an acid compost and good light. P. falcata, a larger colonising relative, is more
difficult to keep in good condition.

Phlebodium aureum and its cultivars, with attractive glaucous fronds, make excellent
basket ferns, eventually growing to several feet in height but, unfortunately, are not
commonly available. They withstand drier conditions and enjoy being potbound.

Platycerium bifurcatum, the stagshorn fern, always causes comment from the uninitiated.
It prefers a very open free-draining soil-less compost with added chipped bark and enjoys
being suspended in a pot or basket or grown wired onto cork bark. Give it plenty of
sunlight, watering once a fortnight in summer, once a month in winter. The much larger
P. grande has been found with diligent searching.

Polystichum tsus-simense, better known to British growers as 2 et = olga
quite often offered as a pot plant. Perhaps someone knows why this Polystichum and
no other is used in this way.

Pteris cretica, the Cretan brake, is the most ubiquitous of ferns, appearing at your local
green grocer’s by the trayful, usually in several different varieties. The fronds are strongly
dimorphic with the fertile frond narrower and held stiffly erect. The attractive variegated
forms need more light as they lose their colour in too much shade. The addition of
lime to the compost is beneficial. Occasionally other species, including P. argyraea and
P. tremula can be found.

Rumohra adiantiformis, is the floristry fern, but despite its popularity as cut fronds,

imported from Florida in their thousands, | have never seen it for sale in a garden centre.
Meee cele cant i rhizomes

Stenochlaena palustris, the climbing swamp fern, is vigorous W wide-rar ging

that climb, given the opportunity. It remains barren unless these rhizomes ar able to

climb into high light conditions. It is very attractive with bronze-tipped young —

116 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

and requires a higher minimum winter temperature than most of the other ferns
mentioned.
The following rarities have sometimes been found in aquarist suppliers:-

Bolbitis species reportedly crop up but found by others not me.

J Lee ae ae L4 4

Ceratopteris thalictroides, water fern, has lettuce-green fronds p j
The fertile fronds are strongly dimorphic, being very thin. Often found planted or floating
in tropical aquaria.

Isoetes flaccida, found just once in an aquarist shop in the Midlands, but it is well
worth checking carefully through tropical aquaria suppliers for pteridophytes.

Trichomanes speciosum is often used but is usually supplied as cut fronds pushed into
rock wool filled containers. However, rooted portions have been found.

Selaginellas. These really are the cinderellas of the pteridophyte world and deserve a
whole chapter to themselves. Those commonly available are Selaginella emelliana, S.
kraussiana which has both green and gold forms, S. martensii, and S. helvetica, but
many more species deserve to be more widely grown.

| am sure that this list is not exhaustive and would be pleased to receive feed-back
of what is available in your area. If you find your local outlet has a poor selection,
then why not turn your attention to the Society’s Spore and Plant Exchange Schemes
where you will find a wide selection of species to challenge you. Fibrex Nurseries and
Mrs Jean Marston also offer a much extended range of non-hardy ferns by mail order.
The Plant Finder’ will also supply the addresses of further nurseries which offer a few
exotics including tree ferns.

Recommended Books

Fern Growers Manual, B J Hoshizaki. KNOPH, 1975
Encyclopaedia of Ferns, David Jones. BMNH, 1987

Maidenhair Ferns in Cultivation, Chris Goudey. LOTHIAN, 1985
The Plant Finder, Chris Philip (Hardy Plant Society). MPC, 1992

EQUISETUM FUNGICIDES?
MICHAEL G. SEARLE, Oak Lodge, 108 Cumnor Hill, Oxford, OX2 9HY

In continuance of this query, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia and elsewhere, provide
the following information, regarding the constituents of Equisetum arvense L., aS aconitic
acid, saponins, nicotine, palustrine palustrinine, flavonoids, calcium, sodium, iron,
manganese, potassium, sulphur, magnesium, tannin, a complex of alkaloids and a bitter
glucoside. The flavonoids are quoted as being luteolin, isoquercetin and —
However, different authorities seem to have varying ideas as to these constituents @
also the possible toxicity of what is a well-known medicine for the treatment of vo
Stones, cystitis and prostatitis. It is suggested by Michael Hallowell that thiaminasé i
Horse Tail causes a deficiency of vitamin B1, permanently damaging the liver. Of eae
ike amount of any chemical contained in any one plant of equisetum will depe a
its growing conditions, as well as the make up of the soil in which it is pers .
that the sa : . Sone ip : S sg tgs tadi

vvorr |

é ? v : y Vinge a ideas
Set of constituents, particularly in respect to quantity. There appears to be ee
about the numbers of different species of Equisetum, one source quoting e
Species, 7 of which grow in Britain, and another quoting 16, with 11 in this country -

gee leaner
To underline the variation in constituents, E. hyemale is reported to be the best ell
as It deposits the most silica on its outer skin. In passing, it is noted that 4

of Horse Tail, used daily, is recommneded for perspiring feet.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 117

To return to the main question, a number of writers refer to the antiseptic and disinfective
properties of our plant and it is to be noted that sulphur appears in the list of constituents,
but, | suspect, in amounts decernable only to an analytical chemist.

Seeing that speaking to plants is no longer considered eccentric, is it possible that plants
react to the placebo effect??

BOOK REVIEWS

Over the last twelve months the Society has published the following three Special
Publications as part of its centenary celebrations.

THE CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION OF BRITISH FERNS By J. W. Dyce,
British Pteridological Society Special Publication, number 3, 1991. Pp. iv, 38,
several black and white photographs and figures. Price £3.00 + post & package.
In this book Jimmy Dyce covers all the major topics of interest to the fern grower. At
long last we have here the very book we need in reply to the question ‘Is there a simple,
inexpensive book for beginners on how to grow ferns?’ In his usual very readable style,
Jimmy works through the fern life cycle, variation in ferns, the cultivation of ferns and
their propagation. At the end he gives a series of very useful appendices providing basic
facts for the fern grower.

The bad news is, this fact-packed volume is already nearly out-of-print. However, lam
delighted to hear a second, expanded, edition is proposed

THE HISTORY OF BRITISH PTERIDOLOGY 1891 - 1991 edited by J.M. Camus,
British Pteridological Society Special Publication, number 4, 1991. Pp. 127,
26 black and white photographs. Price £5 + post & package.

This fascinating volume is a compendium of 13 articles on various aspects of pteridology
and the BPS over the last 100 years. The contributions are either personal recollections,
eg. by Prof. Holttum and Christopher Fraser-Jenkins, or reviews, eg. by Barry Thomas
and Peter Barnes, or studies of the Society over the last 100 years, eg. by Jimmy Dyce,
Matt Busby and Nigel Hall. To cap it all, there are two very clever poems, written by
Bridget Graham and Ray Smith. The whole volume makes very absorbing reading. A
bargain at £5!

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS AND
PAPERS READ AT MEETINGS 1894 - 1908, British Pteridological Society Special
Publication, number 5, 1991. Pp. 233 approx., several black and white
photographs. Price £7.50 + post & package.
The reprinting of these papers was long overdue. Original copies are very rare and it
is only right that our Society's earliest publications should be available to the wider
membership. The information in this collection is almost exclusively horticultural with
contributions from many of the founders of our Society, especially C.T. Druery, W.H.
Phillips, and Dr. F.W. Stansfield. Much of the information has not been repeated since
and | am sure it will fascinate today’s growers. In effect, these papers are the forerunner
of the British Fern Gazette which started publication in 1909.
All three of these publications are excellent value and surely essential reading for all
BPS members! All are available from BPS Booksales.

MAATIN H RICKARD

118 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

MORE ADVENTURES WITH SPORES
PETER H. HAINSWORTH, Station House, Achnashellach, Strathcarron, Ross-
shire, |1V54 8YR

Three years ago | wrote of my first adventures in raising ferns from spores (Pteridologist
1989). It is just possible that some members may be interested in my further adventures.
There must be others in a like position to myself, isolated from other members, except
for a major excursion once a year, and | know some are asking the same questions.

Being of an experimental nature, | am never satisfied. The bare essentials of fern raising
appear in several books, the most extensive perhaps appearing in David Jones's
Encyclopaedia of Ferns. But the finer points of fern physiology and development, as
far as they are known, are, | expect, still tucked away in academic archives and
nurserymen’s heads. Anyone trying to write a book on the subject would be into an
enormous amount of work digging out the information for a very limited readership
and, therefore, profit. What Government research station is going to spend time on
a subject of negligible economic importance? It could possibly be a labour of love for
a dedicated fern enthusiast (don’t look at me) with lots of spare time and, preferably,
a degree in botany (and access to Martin Rickard’s library!).

Starting with basics, the first details | would like to know are the required conditions
for spore germination. Obviously, light, warmth, moisture and nourishment are essential
for subsequent growth. Air we take for granted, but how much of each and at what
Stages for each species for optimum growth? Moderate light is needed for most ferns,
if not to initiate direct germination, certainly for growth. High levels of direct sunlight
lead to pale green prothalli and fronds, if not actual bleaching and withering.

A temperature of between 55-65°F seems to be the minimum for germination for most
Spores and if they are not showing after four weeks | begin to have doubts about their
viability, though a few take six weeks. Temperatures above this give faster growth for
most things but at 90°F, or over, prothalli go brown at the centre and edges and slowly
expire. For me, this usually means the unexpected first sunny day in May and | am
50 miles away! Direct sun in spring or summer is usually lethal, though not always
immediately apparent, even half-an-hour from a shaft of sunlight from an unexpected
direction. My only safe place in summer is under the green-house staging, even though
the average light there may be less than optimum.

Experiments with the chilling of newly sown spores, a necessary procedure for es
seeds, have proved inconclusive. Someti the chilled sp h p immediately
the unchilled ones from the same batch not at all. On other occasions both have taken
the same time to germinate. The species tried were mostly alpine or cold tolerant -
Asplenium viride, A. adiantum-nigrum, and A. ruta-muraria, also Polystichum lonchitis,
P. vestitum, P. makinoi and P. polyblepharum. Obviously, something else is at W .
here, possibly moisture levels again, and as no-one else has noticed this effect Pp
it down to a vivid imagination.

: ; mall
What of the nourishment? A major problem is that prothalli are likely to be nutrients
bulk of compost for six months or more and will almost certainly run out of n gr

Can a compost be devised that will provide very slowly released nutrients ove’ ape

Just feed? Sporelings certainly grow much faster when transplanted. What aes
nourishment? Experience with the sort of fertilisers commonly used in compos”
se fertilisers

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 119

from plant stalks, seaweed, poultry manure and limestone grit up to \, inch sieved,
in equal proportions. This provides a good physical mix put through a /, inch riddle
and provides nourishment for a few months - sterilised for spores, unsterilised for
sporelings in the hope of offering a good mix of mycorrhizal fungi. Experiments with
Cocopeat instead of my somewhat stodgy and very acid peat are encouraging.

Feeding, in an emergency, works well, using a soluble high-nitrogen feed, at about a
quarter of the recommended strength, with a pipette, drop by drop between prothalli.

mnranct i 4 + +

p yp g g water over the pots O p ’ p
trouble with moss until recently. At first | thought it came from airborne spores, then
through the water, but after eliminating both of these the trouble had to be faulty
sterilisation. | came across a most interesting publication called the Moss Grower's
Handbook by a Michael Fletcher and learned things about mosses that the botany books
omit. From his experience it seems that mosses exist as bits of protonema (roughly
the equivalent of fern prothalli) in grains of soil and this fitted well with my own
observations, both indoors and in the garden. The trouble was my lumpy compost -
the heat was not getting to the centre of the lumps. So now | pour boiling water direct
on the soil - no paper (which disintegrated anyway) - three or four times in quick
succession. This is very effective but does strange things to plastic pots!

Another mystery, so far unsolved for many of us, is what makes prothalli germinate
or, perhaps | should say, not germinate? Sometimes they grow and grow up to ¥, of
an inch or more with frilly proliferations on their surfaces and edges but no fronds
appear, even after 18 months. Do they have only one chance in their lives to produce
sporophytes and if conditions are not right just carry on growing? A bit of a dead end
from an evolutionary point of view! But we accept that ferns are different!

Obviously, there has to be some water on the underside to facilitate fertilisation but
condensation will occur abundantly in cool periods of weather and at night. My own
usually are very wet underneath, especially where they contact the soil. | did wonder
if the even temperature of the propagating case was preventing this early in the summer
So took out a box of pots and put them in a cold frame in August (probably too late)
to imitate the falling temperatures and increased condensation of autumn. Both could
have provided the spur. They were tl for a fortnight and tt t ito the propagating
case. Two months later quite a number of fronds appeared but not the dramatic surge
| had hoped for to prove the point. | get the impression that prothalli are programmed
to produce sporelings at a certain size, perhaps ¥, of an inch across, if conditions are
otherwise suitable. And if any fronds appear months later they are from late germinating
spores. This is something the Victorians must surely have found out and no doubt some
of our members have too.

There is a beautiful series of pictures of germinating spores and developing sporelings
in C.T. Druery’s British Ferns and their Varieties. He tells us that germination takes
place in a “few weeks” and fronds appear “a month or more later”, which for me
does not happen often enough. We have to bear in mind that most fern-raising then
was of easy Athyrium and Dryopteris varieties. Another thing to bear in mind is that
they did not have plastic pots - even stood in a dish of water and covered with glass,
earthenware pots would be much better aerated. | really must try to keep things drier.

We do not seem to have any reliable figures, as we have with seeds, of the longevity
of fern spores. Most last 6-8 months, at least long enough for sowing the following
spring. Some last for years and, as with higher plant seeds, storage conditions must
have a marked effect. It seems logical to assume that many will not stand much drying,
normally spending their winters in cold damp conditions, which means they should be
ed in a fridge. Osmunda regalis is noted for the short life of its spores but it is
evident that there are conditions under which they will live for a very long time indeed.

120 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

In September 1975 | was near Valencia on the SW coast of Ireland and noted on some
of the peat bog workings a thin green line 3 inches down from the surface. It was
made of many thousands of tiny plants with a round leaf about ', inch across on 1
inch wiry stems. Totally mystified | took a fist-sized piece home and twelve months
later realised that | had a clump of many Osmunda regalis plants. Some are still in
my garden. Evidently, there were viable spores by the million over acres of these bogs
- but not a fern in sight. My own explanation is that these bogs were covered with
Osmunda at one time and were “harvested” for their stems for orchid growing, for
which they were highly prized. This was a widespread practice in parts of Wales too,
around the end of the 19th and beginning of this century. This makes the spores 75-
100 years old, - unless someone has another explanation? Certainly at 3 inches down
in the peat they must have been there a long time. .

Wondering if this could be turned to the advantage of the spore exchange, | have been
experimenting with spores kneaded into a ball of freshly dug, sticky wet peat, (not the
sort you buy in bales). A small portion mixed with water and spread on the usual compost
showed good germination the following summer but few or none after two years. A
small ball in a bottle hardly imitates the natural conditions; presumably, the spores would
have been in conditions of little oxygen, high CO., no light and usually wet, not to
mention the possibility of inhibiting substances in the peat (HS?) Easy enough to repeat
in a laboratory if anyone has the facilities. | also tried keeping spores in a corked test-
tube of water, but this did not work.

Inevitably, a few pests have turned up. During the winter of 1989/90 lots of tiny black
aphids turned up in the warmed propagating case on young sporelings and potted plants,
but, oddly, never on prothalli. A few proprietary aphid sprays were tried, cautiously,
but the damage they did to young fronds (and sometimes older ones) was quite
unacceptable and led to moulds later. They were not, | think, damaged by the chemical
involved but by the detergent materials in the formulation used to reduce surface tension,
a point fairly well confirmed by the use of a few drops of washing-up liquid in water,
which was equally damaging. So what to do now? | discovered that “Vapona” sue
containing diclorvos were still available so | hung a small one in the case, with quite
dramatic results and no damage. The beasties keep returning, usually on just a we
odd plants, so the strip is set amongst them with a sheet of polythene over. 24 hours
is usually sufficient.

From time to time newly emerged prothalli develop frilly edges, suddenly diminish oF
disappear, or older ones curl up having apparently lost their roots (rhizoids). On one
occasion | found a minute maggot associated so gave it the blame, and found that a
minute spot of the forbidden DDT would usually stop the trouble. Then a visit ret
a nurseryman member told me what | needed. “Fungus gnats, try flypaper”. | did, an

over the next three weeks caught 60 in the case. Still an odd one turns up from time
to time but hopefully not enough to give much trouble.

Another trouble is rotting prothalli, sometimes with a white filamentous mould ape
on the compost. The centre turns brown, and if they are thick, quickly spreads oe
them all. Fairly obviously caused by warm damp conditions, | am now trying to leav

Pus ” I
the case open for a few hours each day to let things dry off. | tried esiiaers : ages
on a spare potful without any obvious damage, so it may be worth trying Bade dns
desperate.

Perhaps | should be thankful for what | haven't got.
jously

Mice are always with us and 1990 was a “boom” year for them. They are cur
selective. In the fern polytunnel they cleared my maidenhair ferns in a week, then ple
on to Pteris multifida which were gone in a few days. Several mice were caught phe
voles). Then another invasion got busy on Cyrtomium fortunei, but were stopped

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 121

total destruction. Last spring they repeatedly attacked Athyrium otophorum. The odd
thing is that closely allied species adjacent are ignored. They are not usually difficult
to trap with peanuts but, at three or four mice a week, it means daily attention to the
traps.

Somebody must have answers or bits of answers to some of these problems. Some
of the hazards of an annual publication are that one forgets to write in until it is too
late, and discussion by letter is almost impossible. If you have any thoughts, now is
the time to make notes, put them on a piece of paper where you will be constantly
reminded (diary?) and write them up around Christmas time. There is at least one other
member who will be interested.

Looking on the bright side, if we knew it all, fern raising would not be such fun -
but then we never will!

BLECHNUM SPICANT ‘CONCINNUM DRUERY’

J. W. DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex 1G10 1LT

Following up my article on Variation in Blechnum spicant in the 1991 issue of the
Pteridologist, Vol.2 part 2, | have to report a very pleasant discovery.

Browsing through a collection of old fern potographs which were passed on to me very
many years ago by Percy Greenfield, | came across one photograph taken by Druery
of his ‘Concinnum Druery’ variery of Blechnum spicant.

What a pity | did not discover this before my article was published last year! In it |
lamented the fact that we had no photographs of the variety, and I am pleased that
| can now remedy this omission. BUT, the mystery remains - WHY did Druery not use
this photograph to illustrate at least one of his many published references to his
‘Concinnum’ which he regarded very highly?

Also among the photographs was one of ‘Lineare Banks’ which appears to have been
a superb variety of the species.

Wy pee
om A

j ‘Li Banks’
Blechnum spicant ‘Concinnum Druery’ Blechnum spicant ‘Lineare

122 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

RAISING FERNS FROM SPORES
NEIL TIMM, Aldre, Grimsby Road, Binbrook, Lincs. LN3 6DH

The subject of raising ferns from spores has, | am certain, been covered many times
in the journals of the B.P.S. by members more able than myself. However, | offer as
an excuse for writing this article, the fact that it is a subject which seems to be of
endless interest to fern enthusiasts, and that, moreover, | have been encouraged to

ite by | I hoh p i in a written account of my methods.
Having been spore-raising for only some five years now, no part of the system here
described can claim to have been tested over a long period of time though, in that
short time, most of these methods have successfully produced large numbers of plants.
Perhaps, more usefully over that time, a number of techniques, for almost every part
of this system, have been tried and abandoned as inappropriate, or for various reasons
unsuited to my disposition. What remains works well for me and, if so, therefore should
work well for anyone.

The spores, are, of course, at the beginning of any method of fern growing. So far
| have only used two sources, those sent out from the Spore Exchange, (over which
no control can be exercised, but which always prove to be reasonably clean and pure
when | grow them), and th llected f tock plants, and the plants of other members.
When collecting from stock plants | do not go to great lengths to prevent cross
contamination, but have so far been little troubled by it. Whether this is purely g

fortune or, in part, the method of collecting the spores is impossible to say. Generally,
however, | try, as far as is practical, to prevent contamination by such relatively simple
methods as collecting each frond separately and sealing it in its envelope before the
next is cut, keeping the envelopes away from the plants, and preferably collecting from
plants which have not been grown too close together, as the number of spores falling
on a frond from other plants must diminish rapidly as the distance from those plants
increases. | really feel that this simple idea could make a big difference to the amount
of contamination, especially when the spores are collected from a garden where many
different ferns are often grown in close proximity to each other. It is probably highly
desirable to wash the frond under running water and/or in a sterilizing solution at this
Stage, but so far | have not done this, though | do try to make sure that any frond
used is free of all blemishes, moulds and rusts, etc. Nor are the spore envelopes sterilized
but, in order to reduce risks, clean paper should perhaps be used. If possible, new typing
paper taken fresh from, and stored in its packet, seems to be as good a choice as any
and, possibly because it is smooth and does not readily gather dirt, it has proved quite
good to date. At least the number of contaminated cultures | get are not too excessive.

As soon as a number of spore envelopes have been filled preparations for sowing a
because | feel, as it seems do many people, that the fresher the spores are, the bes
they germinate. Not only that, but it makes sense, particularly if you do not run to any
form of artificial day length correction, to sow in the natural season when the ees
would be shedding and, hopefully, germinating, in nature. Certainly they will not agile

in the cold dark depths of winter, and sowing immediately can do no harm. i mp a

the spleenworts are one of the most difficult groups to germinate, except, P
dded i

. . . nd
scolopendriums which grow like weeds. Also, more commonly a s alle when
i

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 123

using peat in the mix, | like to add extra bone meal to the compost to compensate
for the dilution of nutrients caused by the additives. | feel that a little bone meal in
a spore mix is a good idea anyway, as bone meal, of course, (apart from a little nitrogen
which can at least do no harm), is principally a phosphate fertilizer, phosphate being
the food most likely to be needed by small plants lacking an extensive root system,
and the most difficult for them to obtain. If possible, the need for extra feeding later,
when the prothalli or young ferns have begun to grow, should be avoided, as this will
eliminate the chance of introducing contamination with the feed, as well as reducing
work. In fact, | find it is rarely necessary to feed the plants again before pricking out.
Therefore the bone meal, which is usually added at about '/, the John Innes rate, would
seem to be doing its job.

These compost mixes are used to two-thirds fill one pound glass honey jars, the compost
at the bottom of the jar being usually used in its natural state, but the top inch or
so is passed through a riddle. This is not to help the plants in any way, but simply
because it makes pricking out easier if the sporelings, are not all rooted together into
one large lump of compost. Indeed, since the prothalli have no proper roots, but only
rhizoids shallowly attached to the surface, in all probability the texture of the growing
medium makes little diffference to them. At one time | placed gravel in the bottom of
the jars for drainage but now think this unnecessary if the compost is not over wet.
Indeed, the only real reason for filling the jars as deep as two thirds full is that this
lifts the plants nearer the top to make for easier pricking out. Also, a larger volume
of compost is, perhaps, more likely to remain evenly moist. Probably the best way to
fill the jars is to fill them up to the top loosely, which will give approximately the needed
depth when the compost is levelled and lightly pressed. The jars can then be watered
with a fine rose to achieve the desired moisture content, this watering also helps to
wash any stray compost from the sides of the jars, which can then be given a day

of container, including plastic lunch-box type cartons, and the plant pots in plastic bags
method, and am now convinced that glass jars are by far the best for several reasons.
Firstly, because, as with the pot and plastic bag, it is a sealed closed system like 3
wardian case, which means that no extra watering will be needed after sowing. This
reduces work and the risks of introducing contamination with the water. A sealed system
also means there is no risk of the compost drying out if neglected, and since it is constantly
moist, there is no risk of the prothalli being dry at the vital and, perhaps, short moment
when the male gametes are released, it being unnecessary to give any extra water
at this time under this system. Secondly, as most of the condensation forms under
the metal lid, instead of on the glass of the jar, and the glass is much more easily
seen through than many materials such as plastic bags, the culture can always be vi

and, moreover, without the risks of opening the container. Jars also have the advantages
of being clean, tidy and durable, to my mind no small benefits, especially, since, if bought
from a beekeeping supplier, by far the cheapest source | have found, they cost, with
the lids, only about three times the price of much less convenient plastic pots. This
is also considerably less than the price of similar jars bought from a wholesale chemist,
or the glass lidded jars sold for jam making, etc. Although both these types of jar wore
be equally good, for the sake of economy it is perhaps worthw! g ping
supplier, not hard to find in most areas.

Glass jars lend themselves readily to being sterilized by heat. The waxed cardboard
wads used to line the lids have to be removed, of course, but as a completely airtight
seal is not required, only one good enough to keep out the spores of moss and fungi,
etc., these will not be needed. After loosening the lids of the jars, (do not forget to
do this whatever else you may forget to do!) they can be placed in a compost sterilizer,

124 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

autoclave or domestic oven to sterilize; a microwave is not suitable because of the metal
lids. For a long time | used a compost sterilizer to sterilize the jars with their contents,
though | did find that the jars needed a little longer than’a batch of compost, presumably
for the heat to penetrate the glass. (Note that jars should preferably be cooled slowly.)
| now, however, use a domestic oven which does the job equally well. If using an oven,
the jars will need to be placed on the top or middle shelf, at gas mark one, for about
an hour to an hour and a half, though this may vary from oven to oven. In an electric
oven a setting just below boiling point will be needed. When the jars have cooled the
lids can be screwed down tight. This, then, is another advantage of the glass jar over
other methods, as this heating leaves the whole jar, including lid and compost, completely
sterile and with the contents covered throughout; also, the original moisture content
of the compost remains unaffected. Thus it is possible to have the jars already prepared
with the correct moisture content. For most ferns, a little wetter than you would normally
expect potting compost to be just after watering, seems to provide enough moisture
for germination and growth, though | have found that cheilanthes did well on a much
drier compost, and osmundas, etc., may need to be a littler wetter. Perhaps it may not
matter much, as one experienced fern grower assures me that composts for spore-
raising cannot be too wet.

Usually the jars are then left a day or so to settle down before sowing, but if a large
batch has been made, they may be sealed down and kept as long as desired, or at
least until there are enough spores to sow the full batch. Sowing is normally done
in a draught-free room, naturally, away from any ferns. The spare jars and other packets
of spores are kept in another room during sowing to avoid cross contamination. | rarely
Sow only one jar with the spores of one species, because it is easy to sterilize large
batches of jars using the methods described. Sowing in more than one container gives
some insurance of success, as there are always some failures in most sowings, and
the jars being quite small, this costs little in extra spores. The way which | have found
Suits me best is to press a piece of paper a little larger than the top opening of the
jars, onto the spores as they lie spread in the bottom of the spore envelope. When
the paper is lifted off this leaves most of the dross behind in the envelope, then the
paper is placed, with only the small number of spores that will have adhered to It

clumping out of the prothalli unneeded. After sowing, the name of the spores, and any
other details wished for, are written on the lids of the jars with a marker pen. Then
| remove the jars, envelopes and other materials from the room. Having cleared the
room, the working surfaces are wiped with a damp cloth and hands are washed. This
at least gives any stray spores time to settle.

As the jars are glass with metal lids they may be very prone to overheating if a“
in strong sun, therefore, even if the ferns sown have a high light requirement, they

Mm

| tol lin, f 3
If the light levels are very low the jars may be spaced a little to reduce the shade _
by the lids. Very rarely need anything more be done to the culture until the pric

in the jars, since it is rather a lot to ask the sporelings to put up with being histone
and to adapt to a lower humidity at the same time. This sort of humid enviro

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 125

could be provided by a frame or propagator, but the method | like best is to place the
trays of plants into plastic bags, supported above the sporelings by two or three wire
hoops pressed into the compost at their ends. This system has the advantages that,
firstly, it permits large numbers of trays to be used at the same time at little expense
and, secondly, of allowing each tray to be treated differently, as, for example, when
hardening off by opening the bags a little. The trays, | find, must be left in the bags
for at least four weeks, or preferably longer, before hardening off. | do not bother to
sterilize the compost in these trays to any great extent, at least not if it is fairly weed-
seed free to begin with. The result of not sterilizing is usually a growth of moss, but
this is only slow if the trays are kept covered, and plants of a good size at the pricking
out stage seem well able to cope with a slight growth of moss, though it would be
perfectly possible to sterilize the trays by pouring boiling water through them, in the
case of, say, very valuable ferns. The plants are then left in a the trays for as long
as possible before potting, and | do feel that, as with pricking out, large ferns seem
to get going better, which is the opposite of normal woody perennial plants. | do not
know why this should be so; perhaps it has something to do with the way ferns grow,
with the next generation of fronds and roots already forming towards the tip of their
rhizomes.

Well, this is about all | can say on raising ferns from spores at present and | hope
that it will be of interest to members. | am certain that raising spores is an interest
which still has many surprises and new experiences in store for me and, if anyone
has not yet tried it, for that reason alone | can highly recommend that you have a
go.

BOOK REVIEW

A WORLD OF FERNS by Josephine M. Camus, A Clive Jermy and Barry A.
Thomas, 1991. Natural History Museum Publications, London. 112 pp., numerous
colour plates 218 x 275 mm. Price £9.00.

| suspect by now many members will already be familiar with this superb book, one
of several published to mark the centenary of the British Pteridological Society. It is
a general interest book, one that is a joy to browse and show to friends, who, perhaps,
might not understand what we see in these plants. All the main groups of pteridophytes
are represented with first class colour photographs, contributed free of charge by fern
lovers from all over the world. This is a book of relatively few words but the chapters
are organised to cover the fern life cycle, fossil ferns, ferns of the world by habitat
and their leisure uses. It will serve as the perfect introduction to the world of ferns
for the newcomer.

We will all have our own special highlights in the book, but | derived most pleasur e
from seeing tree-ferns in their natural montane grassland habitats on the Isle of Reunion
and png | ae Al Pe 1d ot yeaa, Pee | There are many, many other photographs

Naveiit epuUc ivurY

worthy of mention but no space to itemise them here.

1 otorred

Inevitably, no two people Id ch th p my part | woul dt ~

to see more cultivars of our British ferns included. The authors are all botanists and
their preferences emerge in the selection of a rather larger proportion of photographs
of examples of the unfernlike Equisetaceae, Salviniaceae and Marsileaceae than | would
choose.

All round this is an excellent work which | am sure will help to popularise ferns.
thoroughly recommend it to everyone with any interest in natural history.

MARTIN RICKARD

126 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

DRYOPTERIS DILATATA ‘JIMMY DYCE’
JUDITH JONES, Fancy Fronds, 1911 4th Avenue West, Seattle, Washington
98119, USA

Dryopteris dilatata ‘Jimmy Dyce’, as Martin Rickard and | are inclined to call this variety,
was the mystery Dryopteris sp. in the nursery for some years. It made one of those

in Jimmy Dyce’s garden in 1986.

As the population matured and a nice threesome adorned a prominent place in our
display garden, customers began clamouring to have it. Should we gear up production
on a plant with the dubious title of Dryopteris sp.? Unlabelled plants cause no end of
confusion in the commercial trade. Large nursery companies delight in coining illegitimate
names for market plants. | become unreasonably “bent out of shape” when a fern |
introduced to the market turns up with a “new” name.

Everytime | took this plant through the Dryopteris key in Page’s The Ferns of Britain
and Ireland | landed squarely down in dilatata, except that it was somewhat atypical
in its upright rigid habit and thick fleshy texture from the type plant. | sent fronds to
Jimmy twice and he couldn't relate it to dilatata at all. | kept insisting there must be
some historical precedent somewhere. In preparing this article | believe | have found
it in Moore’s Nature Printed Ferns and reiterated in Lowe’s Our Native Ferns.

The plant that Moore describes as var. valida and Lowe as var. vallida is a perfect match
in all respects, especially the form which both authors record was found by Mr. Tait
in Monkland Glen, near Airdrie, Lanarkshire. First let us look at var. valida itself, using
Lowe's description as it is a condensed version of Moore’s detailed exactness:

“A handsome (infinitely so, we think) Fern, thick and fleshy (when fresh, not when
dried). Fronds bipinnate, or often tripinnate (especially the lower pinnae pairs), large
and broad. Stipes stout and moderately scaly. Pinnae broad and crowded. Pinnules more
or less divided, almost to the midrib; oblong ovate, and curving somewhat forwards.
The lobes oblong obtuse, lobate-serrate, with bristle-tipped teeth. The venules end on
the margin on the upper surface in a hair-like white line, giving a falsely strigose
appearance”. This last sentence is a direct verbatim quote by Lowe from Moore. This
character is only apparent under magnification and not the naked eye.

But the description of the form found in Monkland Glen and named subvariety erect
by Moore is the real clincher for me. Moore’s description most aptly fits the primary
distinguishing characteristics of this variety. It has “long stipites (meaning that the pinnae
are distinctly stalked) and ovate triangular fronds, very erect in habit, pinnae distinctly
concave, pinnules distinctly convex, having a crispy appearance. Length of frond above
two feet’. BINGO! It is this crispy appearance, due to the dichotomous nature of having
the frond surface concave, curled forwards, and convex, curled backwards, at the same
time, that has been so difficult to describe. This three-dimensional curved aye
is totally lost in herbarium material. As | hold a dried pressed frond next to 4 freshly
picked frond the former is but a sad reflection of the latter.

It is no wonder that Jimmy could not recognize the plant which he collected in “
on the Isle Arran and which is still flourishing in his garden. (WAS now in my ee
Ed.). When | showed slides of my plants at the BPS Centenary Symposium in
(Rickard, of course) recognized the form immediately. In his own words (oF @
thereof) he remembers Jimmy and Fred Jackson each arriving back at the cars W
@ crown of what he thought to be rather unimpressive wizened D. dilatata. Hal!

mmy Dyce

Here in the U.S., especially in the Pacific Northwest, Dryopteris dilatata sip in stiffly

is gaining a well earned reputation as a top notch landscape plant. Because

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 127

erect form and its attractively domed caudex, complementary plantings may be meshed
right up to the base of the crown and still be clearly visible. The fronds remain mostly
evergreen for us, with deterioration beginning in the stipe so that the fronds may fall
over after heavy rains or snowfall yet still appear attractive.

The fern is a natural for the commercial trade as it looks attractive at every size, a
trait not always to be had with Dryopteris, especially the European and American ones.
It has the typical D. dilatata verve for life and is a very successful self-sower.

Considering Jimmy's great zest for life and his far reaching efforts to make all BPS
members part of the fold, no matter how far from England they reside, Dryopteris dilatata
‘Jimmy Dyce’ is certainly a reflection of his spirit - handsome, gregarious, and well-
worth cultivating. (Phew! JWD.)

SHORTER NOTE/POEM!
Centenary Day on Whitbarrow Fell (Monday 23rd September 1991)

Figures in the midst

Hooded, cladded, shrouded shapes,
Stepping, stumbling, all look the same,
Eyes ablink with biting rain,

Keenly searching the wild terrain.

Blurred outlines bend to eroded lime

Carved by the elements in concert with time,
Heads together in dual look alike,

Slowly advancing on the hike

Peering downward into endless grike.

Voices falter against the wind

Keep together, don’t get lost,

Along the ridge, half mile or more,
Then at an angle to unseen wall,

Over the pavements, mind you don't fall.

On the summit, where tracks meet
Hearty greeting; wind swept shout,
More of the party there to hail,
Take a picture, mountain style,
While we pause for just a while.

Leaning backwards, forwards, against the gale
All talk at once to tell a tale,

Did you see . . . ? What did you say?

They no longer call it viride!

| think it’s affinis - over that way.

Then descending, the weather relenting
Morecambe’s bay unveiled its view,
And progress now was greatly eased,
As spread below in gentler breeze,
Seemingly miles of cloud touched trees.

Line astern the order now
Steep paths yielding to a softer climb,
Soon at base for there to gather,
Laughing, joking, having braved the weather,
Recalling happy hours together.
RAY SMITH

128 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

AFFINIS WATCH
CLIVE JERMY, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
ANTHONY PIGOTT, 43 Molewood Road, Hertford, Herts SG14 3AQ

The Golden Scaled Male Fern, Dryopteris affinis complex, is one of the most fascinating
systematic problem areas in the British pteridophyte flora. As we get close to the resolution
of this puzzle, it seems a good time to start a mapping project to discover the geographical
distribution of the various taxa within the complex. We would like any interested members
to help us in this exciting project.

It is worth recalling a few points about the Dryopteris affinis complex. It reproduces
without needing fertilisation, and so can easily form pure strains and partially fertile
hybrids. The group appears to share some of its origins with the Common Male Fern,
Dryopteris filix-mas, but at least one ancestor has still to be found. There seem to be
three good species within the complex in the British flora, with seven or so distinct
morphological forms.

For the last two years, we have been accumulating data on the various morphological
forms, wherever possible using the same set of cultivated plants, to enable accurate
correlation of distinguishing features. We have worked with Mary Gibby, who has carried
out cytological examination of the plants. The information so far assembled includes

Vv V¥wVe tl une ‘ty Jv r
ify an unknown specimen. This year we hope
7 1 . “3 tn khinlaniral

n a
Vitiltiayy &

O add ican vshi

t
ty au roU

make-up of the complex.

In 1987-88, the Botanical Society of the British Isles organised a sample survey of the
vascular plants of the British Isles to assess changes in our flora since the major survey
Carried out in the 1950s and 1960s. They recorded the presence of species in a sampling
pattern of 429 pre-selected 10km squares in Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands,
and in each of these squares, they recorded the same in 3 pre-selected tetrads (2km
Squares). We are proposing to map the D. affinis complex on the same basis. This =
give a reasonably precise and statistically sound picture of the geographical distribution
of various morphological forms of the fro
complex across the British Isles. All records
will be lodged with the Biological Records
Centre at Monks Wood

People will be able to contribute by collecting
fronds of all the distinct morphological forms
that can be found in any of the 10km squares
in the sample. Records from other Squares
not in the sample will also be very welcome.
Anyone wishing to participate in the project
can obtain a pack containing full details of
the project, the 10km Squares concerned, the
latest identification notes on the known
morphological forms, record cards and notes
on how best to collect and preserve material
can be obtained by writing to either B.P.S.

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, ang
London SW7 5BD, or to A C Pigott. 10km squares in the BSBI Monitoring Se

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 129

EQUISETUM PARK

PJACOCK, 13 Star Lane, St Mary Cray, Kent BR5 3LJ

There is a number of problems in keeping horsetails healthy without letting them run
amok. Kept in pots, there are problems with watering control, growth over the top and
out of the bottom of the pots, silica and other deficiencies, and the root ball freezing
in winter with disastrous results.

| started by trying to confine horsetails to clay pots sunk to their rims in the garden.
| was unable to risk the more vigorous species as my wife threatened their total
extermination if any escaped from the confines of their pots. Fortunately Equisetum
hyemale, E. x moorei, E. variegatum and E.bogotense are very well behaved and have
remained content to fill their containers while taking in water through the sides and
bottoms of the pots.

For a long time | had the idea of sinking long drain pipes in the ground vertically. It
struck me that you could sink the pipes and also confine the roots in a waterproo
sink. | had it in mind to allow water to flow in from the top pool in the garden and
run out into a lower pool, but a tank could also be free standing. Before building such
a tank, however, care should be taken to consider what conditions horsetails will require,
as moving such a heavy structure, once constructed, will be, to say the least, problematic!

Some horsetails definately need shade and can suffer severe scorching in hot sun,
especially if they cannot draw up sufficient water; E. fluviatile and E. sylvaticum are
very sensitive to this. Others need to be in water or have very damp conditions. !t will
be shown, however, that quite a variety of conditions can be arranged in the same
We (See Fig. 1)

Water in Compost Various
al Concrete Cap
Concrete Tank
Two sizes of Drain pipe

sap 2” Plastic Pipe

————» Water out

Porous Sharp Sand Mortar

Cavities for Water

Figure 1 - Equisetum Park

| built a tank two and a half feet (75cm) deep by about two feet (60 cm) wide by three
feet (90cm) long, using a strong concrete mix with a silicon based concrete additive
to make it thoroughly waterproof. To avoid stagnation | fitted a two inch (5cm) plastic
drain pipe about six inches (15cm) from the bottom as an overflow. The outflowing

the concrete was set | made a 5 to 6 part sharp sand to cement mortar mut which
was water porous. At this stage | also included some apples at the bottom of the tank
to rot away and leave water cavities. Care must be taken, though, as it is inmportant
Not to allow the horsetail roots to escape their confines.

130 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

Into the mortar | sank various lengths of 5 inch (12cm) and 7 inch (18cm) drain pipes
cut into lengths from 15 inches (40cm) to 28 inches (70 cm). | used an angle grinder
to cut the pipes, bought damaged from a builder’s merchant. This is a hazardous job
on two accounts, namely, the danger of the tool and the dust created. If in any doubt,
| would recommend getting someone else to do it. An aesthetic arrangement of the
two sizes of pipe were then placed into the mortar, making sure each bottom is sealed.
| also included a two inch plastic pipe amongst the drain pipes so that most of the
water passed down to the bottom of the sump rather than to a few favoured tubes.
The porous mix was then placed around the outsides of the pipes to within three inches
(8cm) of the top.

| fitted a plug of the waterproof mix across the top to cap between the pipes so that
water could flow along the top and into various tubes in greater or lesser amounts.

From then on it was trial and error with various composts and which horsetails preferred
which situation. | have not lost any yet in two to three years, but E. fluviatile does
get badly hed, and, you Id probably h d anyway, E. arvense has escaped
into one neighbouring tube!

v

EDWARD NEWMAN (1801-1876) IN THE WELSH MARCHES
MARTIN RICKARD, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shropshire,
SY8 2HP

One of the first books on ferns that | bought back in the mid-sixties was History of
British Ferns by Edward Newman (1854). By today’s standards it is still an excellent
book giving much information not available before or since. One of the features of the
book was the fairly frequent mention of sites, mysterious to me at the time, such as
Ludlow, Leominster, Titterstone Clee, Aymestrey and Shobdon in the Welsh Marches.
About fifteen years later, by sheer good fortune, | moved into the heart of this region
andb di ing tt names for myself and thing f Newman’s ferny activities

in the area.

In 1826 Edward's parents (George and Ann) moved to Leominster from Godalming in
Surrey to join the family grocery business at 12 Broad Street, Leominster (now an estate
agent's). Although it seems that Edward never lived in the town, we know (Newman
1876) that at about 1830 he started planting ferns in his parent’s garden at Leominster,
presumably at Broad Street. Then in 1836, with his brother Henry, he transplanted them
all into one spot which he called his fern garden, adding a few species collected In
Wales. He further developed the collection in 1837, 1838 and 1839. He was surprised
how easily all the species could be cultivated (Newman, 1876). A full account of his
fernery at Leominster is given in the introduction of A History of British Ferns (1840),
reprinted in 1844, but left out of later editions. The garden was enclosed by walls on
all but the north side, and further divided by “close imitations of the most unpicturesque
stone walls that ever deformed the face of a hedge-less country”! (Newman, 1840).

Armed with the above information | hunted around the town of Leominster to try and

find his fernery. Research led me to 46, Etnam Street. George Newman moved here
from Broad Street in 71836 and stayed until his death in 1845, when it passed to Henry
(Edward's brother) until he moved out in 1855. The house was lived in by various members
of the family until 1901 when Henry returned there to live until 1908, when he died.
Sadly, for me, the house has now been converted to a children’s home and the back
garden is barren. It is, however, partially surrounded by walls and | feel pretty sure
that this was the site of the 1836 fernery. Certainly in living memory (c. 1919) the
garden was still well cared for.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 131

Research into the Newmans in Leominster is rather complicated, and | am very grateful
to Mrs Blanchard for unravelling all the relationships for me. There are several addresse
which were inhabited by members of the family during the middle to late nineteenth
century. One is the greengrocer’s shop at 12, Broad Street, together with 14 Broad
Street - both with little scope for a garden. Others were Newlands House, a Swiss
chalet type building in spacious grounds on the western side of the town and, nearby,
The Vista. Sadly, Newlands House was demolished earlier this century for the building
of a housing estate, but even today evidence of the estate can be seen in the abundant
amen hederifoli I hout the site and, i d f lants of Polystichum

ad eect s ’ vg , r
setiferum ‘Divisilobum’. | have not yet been able to trace The Vista.

Rumour has it that there was a good grotto at Newlands House well stocked with ferns;
however, | am beginning to question this because, not far away on the Barons Cross
Road, the final ex-Newman residence | have traced still survives. This is Buckfield which
was built in 1863 for Josiah Newman (another of Edward's brothers) when he moved
from 14, Broad Street. On Josiah’s death in 1885 the property was taken over by his
son, Henry Stanley Newman JP. It is a magnificent property, typically Victorian, now
divided into two homes. At the principal house entrance there is a long, glazed porch
with ornate ironwork and a superb stone fountain. At the other side of the entrance
archway there is one of the finest surviving Victorian grottoes that | have seen. This
was built in 1872 by Pulham and Sons of Broxhourne, Herts. A later member of this
firm, J R Pulham, was coerced into the secretaryship of our Society from 1948-50 by
W B Cranfield, although he was not a fern man.

The work of Pulham and Sons was recently featured on the BBC TV programme The
Victorian Flower Garden. The rockwork shown in the programme at Madresfield Court
in Worcestershire was constructed in 1878-9, although dated 1876 in Picturesque
Ferneries and Rock Garden Scenery by Pulham (c. 1877). It is remarkably similar in
style to the one at Buckfield Keep (as the half of the house with the grotto is called
today). Both are constructed of, mostly, artificial rock, presumably ‘Pulhamite’, which
was made up of little more than a core of miscellaneous rubble faced with a rock coloured
cement. At Buckfield, however, it does seem possible that the red sandstone rock is
natural Herefordshire stone. These ‘boulders’ were very skilfully arranged into strata,
giving the overall effect of a grotto in the best picturesque traditions. Pulham 's
description of the Buckfield Keep grotto suggests that, though small, it was one of his
more imaginitive efforts (Pulham c. 1877).

From the outside at Buckfield Keep there is little evidence of a grotto, apart from a
| ised bank and an h TT tory, glazed in typical Victorian
style, with a rock surround (Fig. 1, opp. p. 132). Straight on Is a small chamber where
the vine in the adjacent vinery was encouraged to spread its roots. This is entered via
a rock arch while, to the right through a short rock lined passage (Fig. 2, opp. Pp. 132)
is the larger chamber, measuring about 20 feet wide by 30 feet long (6 x 9 metres).
This is beautifully rugged in construction, including ‘geological faults’ in the rock strata.
There is a raised walkway at one end over a grotto, dripping well and pool, plus fe
small glazed area, presumably reserved for filmy ferns. At one time the roof was yan
but it has been open to the elements since about 1950; nevertheless, some ferns have
Survived, including:-

Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum’ Dryopteris oreades
Cyrtomium fortunei D. affinis subsp. borreri
C.caryotideum Selaginella kraussiana

Asplenium scolopendrium
Pteris cretica
Adiantum capillus-veneris

132 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

At one time the collection must have been very impressive, as the estate agent's house
sale details of 1914 mention ‘Dixonia’, ‘Antarchia’, (Dicksonia antarctica !) “Woodwardia’
and ‘Radicaus’ (Woodwardia radicans !).

The grotto at Buckfield Keep is part of a complex including several old Victorian iron-
framed glasshouses. Thanks to the continuous efforts of its owner, Mrs Blanchard, the
whole is in reasonable condition given its age, but it will continue to deteriorate all
too quickly, unless funds can be raised in the near future for major restoration work.

This grotto never belonged to Edward Newman but it seems probable that he was consulted
during its construction and planting four years before his death. We have it on record
that he had a severe illness in 1873 but recovered quite well until his final illness in May
1876. | like to think that he was fit enough during the last years to visit Leominster and
have some involvement in the establishment of the Buckfield grotto. Almost certainly, some
of the ferns there today are descendants of the original Newman collections of around
1830. Is this the oldest surviving private fern collection in Britain? | The owner of Buckfield
Keep, Mrs D Blanchard, is happy to let BPS members inspect this grotto for themselves
if they make a prior appointment: her telephone number is Leominster 612063.

There is one other grotto still surviving in Leominster. It is a smaller less sophisticated
Structure adjacent to Grange Court, which since 1939 has served as the Leominster

ouncil offices. This grotto was probably built by a Mr Neild or more precisely by his
wife, Helen, daughter of Henry (Edward's brother) with whom Edward had built up the
original fern collection back in 1836. Ornaments and possibly ferns from 46 Etnam
Street were used in its establishment. The Neilds, like the Newmans, were Quakers.
Grange Court has another Newman collection; it is illustrated in History of British Ferns
1854, page 257, as Leominster market-house. A year later, 1855, the building was
dismantled and moved to its present site by a Mr Arkwright (of the Spinning Jenny
family).

Although Edward did not live in Leominster he presumably used it frequently as a base
for exploring the local countryside. The place names mentioned at the beginning of
this article are within 15 miles of the town. Further evidence of his local rambles can
be found in his accounts of Herefordshire Ferns (Newman, 1842) and Butterflies and
Moths (Newman, 1869-70). It is a source of continual pleasure to me when | explore
Shobdon Hill or search around Aymestrey quarry to think that Edward Newman walked
there too. In many cases his records can still be confirmed.

Acknowledgements

| would like to thank Mrs Blanchard for permission to examine her grotto and for —
many facts about the Newman family in Leominster. | would also like to thank Mr
Bentley-Taylor for alerting me to the existence of these Leominster grottoes.
References:

NEWMAN, E 1840. A History of British Ferns. London.
NEWMAN, E 1842. County Lists of British Ferns, (Herefordshire). Phytologist, 1,398.
NEWMAN, E 1844. A History of British Ferns and Allied Plants. London.
NEWMAN, E 1854. A History of British Ferns. London.
NEWMAN, E ( 1874). A History of British Ferns. Fifth or People’s edition. London. ee
NEWMAN, E n.d. An illustrated Natural History of British Butterflies and Moths (first

1869-70). London. inted by
NEWMAN, T P. 1876. Memoir of the Life and Works of Edward Newman. London, reprin

W Classey, 1980.

PULHAM, J (c. 1877). Picturesque Ferneries and Rock Garden Scenery. London.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

towards entrance

Fig. 2. Grotto at Buckfield Keep; passage from main chamber

133i Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

Fig. 3. Davallia mariesii (\eft) Fig. 4. Phanerophlebia pumila
and Polystichum vestitum (right)

! tum
Fig. 5. Plecosorus spinosissimum Fig. 6. Polystichum neolobatu!

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 133

SOME HARDY EXOTIC GARDEN FERNS NEW OR
UNCOMMON IN CULTIVATION IN BRITAIN (Based on a talk
given at the autumn indoor meeting at Kew, 1991).

MARTIN RICKARD, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shropshire.
SY8 2HP

During the one hundred years since our Society's formation fern growers have tended
to concentrate their efforts and garden space on the cultivation of our British species
and their varieties. There is, of course, nothing wrong with that and | am a very keen
grower of as many cultivars of our native species as | can raise or find. However, in
the last few decades, propagating material from more exotic species has b available
and the temptation to explore the potential for hardy introductions from overseas has
become irresistable to many of our members.

My initial interest in growing hardy exotic ferns was boosted by meeting Gerry Downey
of Bicknacre, Essex in the early 1970s. Living not far apart, we got together and exchanged
plants fairly frequently. | was most impressed by the range of his collection, including
many ferns I’d never seen before, e.g. numerous woodsias, many Northern American,
European and New Zealand native species, as well as a large number of non-hardy
types, including filmy ferns and young tree-ferns. At around this time my interest was
further stimulated by the enquiries of another member, Richard Rush, who was actively
in contact with fern growers around the world, bulding up a register of ferns grown
out of doors in their respective temperate regions. Richard’s research eventually led
to the appearance of his excellent book, A Guide to Hardy Ferns, published by the Society
in 1984. | am quite sure this book had a worldwide impact on fern growers, encouraging
more and more experimentation with introductions into our gardens.

Obviously, quite a lot of hardy ferns had been in cultivation for many years (see Reginald
Kaye’s book Hardy Ferns, 1969), but if a recent explosion of interest in Britain can be
traced back to any one factor it is almost certainly the extraordinary collecting ability
of Christopher Fraser-Jenkins (CRF-J) and his influence on growers like Gerry Downey,
Richard Rush and me. Throughout this period, while researching into various taxonomic
problems, notably in Dryopteris, he has been all over the world collecting propagating
material from hitherto untested species of temperate zones as well as upland regions
in the tropics. His material has, unselfishly, been made available to the three of us
at various times, as well as to the Royal Botanic Garden Kew, Chelsea Physic Garden
and other members of the BPS, including a good collection installed at the Savill Gardens,
Windsor. A lot of Christopher's collections, from potentially umpromising areas, have,
Surprisingly, become established and proved to be hardy over the last few winters at
oa Notable examples are many high altitude species from Mexico, Hawaii and the
imataya.

When | experiment with planting out new species | tend to play safe, and intially
recommend the following simple technique:

Plant Out during the growing season, late June to October, the earlier the better, to
give the plant maximum time to settle before winter. Of course, choose soil of the correct
PH; if the fern’s pH preference is unknown aim for a slightly acid substrata, i.e circa
PH 6.5. Choose a shady site in the garden out of the prevailing wind, preferably on
@ slope. If no natural slope is available, try making artificial banks and mounds. Install
the plant with its growing axis at 45 degrees, with its roots under a stone and the
Crown protected by the overhanging rim of the stone, so that its fronds grow out more
Or less horizontally. By this system the plants look natural and the crown is protected
= excessive winter wet and cold. With prized specimens, straw, or dead lady fern

onds, etc., placed over the growing point throughout winter is not a bad idea. Some

134 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

species have the irritating habit of breaking dormancy during our seemingly inevitable
false springs; in this case the insulation provided by straw etc. can prove doubly useful.

If an experimental planting fails, try again when further material is available. Don’t
automatically assume that the species is not hardy; remember there are many reasons
why a plant can die!

The following list of apparently hardy species represents only a minute fraction of the
ultimate potential for hardy exotic ferns, which could be as high as 2000 species in
our lowland British climate (more in the mild south-west), but it will, hopefully, stimulate
other members to explore this rich source of interesting plants for our gardens.

Adiantum poirettii - Mexico, via CRF-J. Each year | am frightened that this fern won't
reappear but, so far so good after 4 years, it has! It is a most delicate maidenhair with
yellow tinted indusia. 8 inches (20cm) tall. (See Fig. 1, opp. p. 133).

Adiantum x traceyi - North American hybrid between A. jordanii and A. pedatum. Judith
Jones brought me this plant many years ago and it has thrived. It is not evergreen
with me but it certainly lasts longer in leaf than most other adiantums. Fronds are
large, 18 inches tall (45cm), sub-palmate, intermediate between the parents.

Arachniodes denticulata - Jamaica, Mexico, via CRF-J. Hardy for four years now, a
remarkably delicate fern with quadripinnate fronds up to 12 inches (30cm) tall with
me. Almost wintergreen. (See Fig. 2 opp. p. 133).

Arachniodes standishii - Japan. Hardy in a neglected Herefordshire garden for many
years. Unlike other arachnioides in appearance and formerly kept separate as
Polystichopsis standishii. 24 inches (60cm).

Blechnum chilense - S. America, or is it B. magellanicum?! | don’t know, but gardeners
generally seem to accept that the most commonly grown large blechnum is B. chilense.
There are, however, two distinct equally hardy forms in cultivation; perhaps one is B.
chilense and the other B. magellanicum? Very handsome, but rarely exceeding 20 inches
(50cm) with me. In sheltered gardens in the south-west etc. the combined height of
rhizome and fronds can reach 2 metres.

Blechnum minus - New Zealand. Long grown by Reg Kaye, it is presumably a calcifuge
but does very well in a neutral soil on top of Westmorland limestone at Silverdale.
A broad-fronded, pinnate, pale green species, up to 12 inches tall (20-30cm), with a
creeping rhizome.

Davallia mariesii - Japan. Hardy in neutral rock work. The only Hare's Foot Fern .
Proven hardiness but the related Davallia stenolepis may be worth trying outside in
a sheltered spot. 8 inches (20cm). (see Fig. 3, opp. p. 133).

Denstaedtia appendiculata - Himalaya, via CRF-J. A pale green species with finely —_
quadripinnatifid fronds up to 3 feet tall (1 metre). Deciduous. Unlike D. punctiloba |
IS Not invasive. An exciting new introduction, hardy for the last two winters.

Dryopteris crispifolia - Azores. Named and introduced into cultivation by Dr ty see
(Gibby, 1984). Perfectly hardy and large growing, 30 inches (80cm), spreading frond,
superficially similar to Dryopteris dilatata ‘Crispa Whiteside’.

Dryopteris lepidopoda - Himalaya via CRF-J. About 24 inches tall (60cm), very apn:
to D. wallichiana but has the great advantage of all new fronds being flushed a

red colour until fully uncurled, as in D. erythrosora.

Dryopteris tokyoensis - a distinct species from Japan. Fronds erect, pale
30 inches tall (80cm) in Prof. Reichstein’s southern Swiss garden. Pinnate or

green, up 1
bipinnatifid.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 135

Dryopteris wallichiana - Himalaya, Mexico, Hawaii, etc. Well established in cultivation
but usually as a dark scaled form. The precise origin of this form is obscure but it is
presumably Himalayan? Mexican specimens introduced by CRF-J with paler scales were
formerly separated as D. parallelogramma but these have now been sunk into D.
wallichiana. | have seen this fern about 6 feet tall (2 metres) in Prof. Reichstein’s garden
in southern Switzerland, but rarely taller than 3 feet (1 metre) with me.

Onychium contiquum - Himalaya, via CRF-J. Possibly the most finely divided of all ferns.
12 inches (30-40 cm). Fronds quadripinnate with ultimate segments almost linear.

Peranema cyatheoides - Himalaya. Noted as hardy in the nineteenth century but not
seemingly in cultivation until reintroduced by CRF-J. Resembles a small untrunked tree-
fern; its diagnostic character is the sorus suspended on a stalk. 24 inches (60 cm).

Phanerophlebia macrosora - Mexico, via CRF-J. A tall, 30 inch (80 cm), pinnate fronded
relative of the cyrtomiums with a long stipe covered with papery scales, particularly
near the base. Pinnae longer and narrower than most cyrtomiums. Only a few fronds
are produced in early spring and autumn; possibly production is controlled by daylength
(or drought?).

Phanerophlebia pumila - Mexico, via CRF-J. A small, 12 inch (30 cm), simply pinnate
fern related to the cyrtomiums. Pinnae margins serrate, pinnae few and widely spaced.
Produces more leaves annually than P. macrosora. (See Fig. 4, opp. p. 133).

Plecosorus spinosissimum - Mexico. A high altitude fern perhaps related to Polystichum.
Collected by CRF-J. It is a very scaley plant with lanceolate fronds, hardy here for four
years. Very distinct. So far fronds only 12 inches long (30 cm) with me, but often twice
as large in the wild. (See Fig. 5, opp. p. 133).

Polystichum longipaleatum (P. setosum) - Himalaya via CRF-J. Magnificent large glossy
fronds, 18 inches (45 cm), covered with pale brown bristles. Young fronds resemble
bunches of hairy caterpillars!

Polystichum neolobatum - Japan. | was given this by Anne Sleep t hardy in Yorkshire.
Here in Herefordshire it has suceeded well with its capping of straw over winter. A
beautiful glossy deep-green species, fronds lanceolate, bipinnatifid with a very hard
texture, spiny to touch. 15 inches (40 cm). (See Fig. 6, opp. p. 133).

Polystichum nepalense - Himalaya, via CRF-J. Fronds pinnate and not unlike a more
robust P. lonchitis, seems to be hardy here, foliage wintergreen so far. 12 inches (30
cm).

Polystichum squarrosum - Himalaya, via CRF-J. Virtually indistinguishable from
P. neolobatum, but, if | haven’t confused my labels, fronds of this species are reddish
when young. 15 inches (40 cm).

Polystichum stenophyllum - Himalaya, via CRF-J and others. A charming dwarf pinnate
species, fronds 6 inches (15 cm) long by less than one inch broad (2 cm), each with
a bulbil near the tip. The fronds have a slight yellowy tint.

Polystichum vestitum - New Zealand. Hardy here in Herefordshire for several years,
but remains small, 10 inches (25 cm). In the mild climate of Inverewe in north-west
Scotland this species grows to an enormous size, perhaps 30 inches (70 or 80 cm).
Rachis and stipe very scaley. (See Fig. 3, opp. p. 133).

Pteris wallichiana - Himalaya. Grown for very many years as a magnificent specimen
plant by Lt-Col. Philip Coke at Stinchcombe in Gloucestershire. It is quite unlike bracken
and not likely to be invasive. The lamina is fan-shaped (rather like Adiantum pedatum)
held horizontally at the top of a naked rachis, about 3 feet tall (1 metre). Deciduous.

136 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

: . |
Stegnogramma pozoi - Spain, France and tropical Africa. Hardy with me in a humid,
sheltered spot. The graceful pendulous, pale green, pubescent, lanceolate fronds are
most attractive growing from a sheltered rock crevice. Deciduous. Calcifuge. 12 inches
(30 cm).

Thelypteris erubescens - Himalaya, via CRF-J. Thelypteroids are not usually considered
important garden plants, but this species could prove the exception if initial indications
of hardiness are confirmed. The shuttlecock of fronds over 3 feet (1 metre) long are
graceful in their own right, but there is the added attraction of aerophores (breathing
structures) at the point where each pinna joins the rachis. Needs a moist shaded site.

Woodwardia fimbriata - a native of the Pacific Northwest, introduced to me by Judith
Jones. A handsome erect species, up to 4 feet tall (120 cm), quite unlike the standard
species of woodwardia with spreading fronds.

Woodwardia unigemmata - a beautiful near relative of W. radicans over which it has
several advantages. W.unigemmata is hardier, surviving unprotected here for at least
four winters (although remaining small); with protection it becomes enormous with 6
foot (2 metre) long spreading fronds, most with a single bulbil at its tip. New fronds
are richly flushed with red.

Space precludes making the above list any longer, but | hope it gives some idea of
the range of hardy ferns potentially hardy in our British gardens.

References:

GIBBY, M. 1984. Dryopteris crispifolia - a beautiful fern for the garden. Pteridologist 1,13.
KAYE, R. 1968. Hardy Ferns. London.

RUSH, R. 1984. A Guide to Hardy Ferns. London.

SHORTER NOTE

Collectors’ Corner

Following up Barry Thomas's Shorter Note in the 1991 Pteridologist 2. 2, p.80, it may
be of some interest to record an amusing happening last summer.

Judith Jones, our Seattle, USA member and owner of Fancy Fronds Fern Nursery, stayed
with me for two weeks after the International Fern Symposium held in July, during
which she lectured twice. We spent the time, partly in the West Country, seeing ferns
in the wild and visiting fern gardens. A visit was paid to Peter Boyd’s Museum in Barnstaple
(see Pteridologist 1.6, 1989). One of Judith’s strong interests is in antiques and sii
found much to interest her in the Museum, particularly artifacts with fern motifs. One
which particularly interested her was a Victorian chamber-pot, artistically decorated with
fern fronds. One of her ambitions, we learned, was to possess such an antique.

Later, before she ret { home to the USA, | took Judith to visit a large antique emporium
in an Essex village, a few miles north of me. An energetic time was spent here and
after making many purchases we descended to the ground floor to pay for them. eer
this was being done | had time to gaze idly around me, when my eye was arrest
in a startling manner - on a shelf above my head reposed a chamber-pot and, surprise,
surprise! - it was very beautifully decorated with fern fronds! Very cautiously (I wes
what would happen) | drew my friend's attention to it. Pandemonium broke loose, tne
sales personnel were startled and Judith was like a dog with not two tails but twenty
- there was no holding her!

morabilia exhibited
September 1991,
hibits!

J WwW DYCE

As a postscript, it is interesting to add that, among the Society’s me
at our Centenary celebrations at our birthplace in Kendal, Cumbria in
two chamber-pots, beautifully decorated with fern fronds, were among the ex

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 137

FERNS OF THE ENGLISH LAKE COUNTRY - a new fern garden
develops at Brantwood, on the shores of Coniston Water
E.S. BEAMISH, Brantwood, Coniston, Cumbria LA21 8AD

Brantwood, the large house to the East of Coniston Water with ‘one of the best views
in England’, is perhaps best known as the home of the great Victorian patriarch, John
Ruskin. However, the Brantwood estate has an industrial history stretching back to
Medieval times and the remnants of a natural history stretching back 5000 years or
more.

Brantwood House was built in the 18th
century - a small Lakeland villa which
has since been much enlarged. The
house and 10 acres of woodland were
sold in 1852 to W.J. Linton (see Fig. 1)
- one of the finest wood engravers of
the times. He was involved, in the 1830s,
with the ‘radical republican fringe of the
Chartist movement’ and was writing for
ephemeral, more or less subversive
magazines, whilst still producing superb

disillusioned with politics and moved
from London, first to Ravenglass in
Cumberland and then to Brantwood,
which was then in Lancashire. With his
usual impractical and haphazard zeal,
Linton set up a printing press to publish Fig. 1 W.J. Linton

another crusading magazine, the
‘English Republic’. However, as with many of his earlier ventures, this publication was
short-lived, party due to the inaccessibility of Brantwood from the printing suppliers
and the railway.

As so often happens, Linton has his best memorial, not in what he thought was his
most significant work, but in one of his hobbies. Whilst at Brantwood, Linton researched
and wrote a small, but exquisitely illustrated book, The Ferns of The English Lake Country,
published in Windermere in 1865. It is from this work that the inspiration for a new
‘Linton Fern Garden’ at Brantwood is being drawn. It was felt that the gardens, though
largely to be designed around the principles and ideas of John Ruskin, also owed a
memorial to Linton, the first serious gardener, writer, artist and botanist to live here.

Last Easter, it was decided to reopen the Ice House - a cave blown into the rock of
the hillside by local quarrymen, lined with brick and mortar and used for storing ice
throughout the year. The areas around the Ice House were densely overgrown with
Rhododendron ponticum, presenting a rather dank and gloomy approach to the ice House
tunnel. In the archives at Brantwood there exists an etching of this area of the garden,
showing its originally open woodland character. It was, therefore, decided that the steep,
rocky slopes above and around the Ice House with their naturally moist, acidic
soil would be an ideal siting for a collection of fern species and cultivars based —
those listed by Linton in The Ferns of The English Lake Country. This project is being
undertaken in three sections, with the help of The Friends of Ruskin’s Brantwood’ and
other volunteers. The first bed, above and surrounding the Ice House, has been planted

138 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

with a collection of the indigenous ferns recorded by Linton as being found in the Coniston
Valley, (see Appendix). Bed 2, further up the slope, will contain a selection of Cultivars
developed from the parent ferns in Bed 1. This area will be divided by an old pathway
into, on one side, the more spectacular forms and, on the other, the ‘quieter’, less
eyecatching ferns. A winding path leads on to the third area, which will contain examples
of the other fern species mentioned by Linton as being found in the ‘Lake Country’,
surrounded by a selection of their progeny. In this top bed, with its more gentle slopes,
we also hope to take visitors in amongst the ferns to encourage a wider appreciation
of these plants as individuals - the usual reaction to them often being ‘Oh yes - ferns!’
It is, therefore, going to be important that our labelling be accurate and easily legible
and that any other interpretive material be simply written, but interesting and informative.
If any of you, and particularly those in the Lake District area, are able to help with
sorting out nomenclature and the relationships between the fern species and cultivars,
| would love to hear from you. At present, we plan to label using the names that Linton
quotes and the up-to-date names, as well.

The more involved we become with this project, the more we are realising the immensity
and scope of our small corner of the fern world. | have discovered the presence of
three editions of Linton’s book - the second edited by Barnes and the third by Whitwell.
| have yet to get hold of these last two editions, but gather that they are increasingly
full of information, particularly about the many cultivars identified by the end of the
last century.

We are also hoping to create a collection of mosses, as groundcover to set off the ferns.
The propagation and cultivation of these is another subject, as yet to be investigated.

Our collection of ferns will gradually evolve over a number of years, being initially restricted
by the large number of cultivars not available commerciallly. We will certainly be happy,
in the future, to participate, with both spores and plants, in the British Pteridological
Society exchange schemes, but will rely somewhat, in the early years, on the generosity
of those with suitable plants to spare.

For anyone coming to the Lake District, we would be pleased for you to visit our Linton
Fern Garden, and would welcome any advice or comments on our work. It is proving
an exciting and immensely stimulating project for all involved.

Appendix
Ferns mentioned by Linton as being found in the Coniston Valley.
Botrychium lunaria Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Blechnum spicant Hymenophyllum tunbrigense
ryptogramma cri. Hymenophyllum wilsonii
Dryopteris dilatata Osmunda regalis
Dryopteris aemula Phegopteris connectilis
Other ferns mentioned by Linton as being found in the Lake Country.
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Dryopteris carthusiana
Asplenium ceterach Dryopteris filix-mas
Asplenium x alternifolium Dryopteris submontana
Asplenium marinum Ophioglossum vulgatum
Asplenium ruta-muraria Oreopteris limbosperma
Asplenium se ndrium
Asplenium septentrionale Polystichum aculeatum
nium trichomanes Polystichum setiferum
Asplenium viride Polystichum lonchitis
Athyrium filix-femina Pteridium aquilinum
Cystopteris fragilis Thelypteris palustris
Dryopteris x brathaica Woodsia ilvensis

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 139

THE IRISH RECORDS FOR OAK FERN, GYMNOCARPIUM
DRYOPTERIS (L.) NEWMAN, A CAUTIONARY TALE
D SYNNOTT, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin

Oak fern, Gymnocarpium dryopteris (L.) Newman, has been reported from nine Irish
counties. A number of these records are certainly insecure and only five were accepted
by Praeger (1901) for /rish Topographical Botany, apparently based on the assessments
of Moore and More (1866) and Colgan and Scully (1898). The situation was unchanged
when Praeger (1934) published his vice-county census in The Botanist in Ireland. Since
then there have been reports of the species in Antrim (Stelfox, 1949) and Cavan (Jermy
et al, 1978, and Clapham et al., 1987). Apart from some garden grown specimens
only the Antrim records are supported by herbarium specimens though there can be
little doubt as to the accuracy of at least three of the other sightings.

The first Irish record for the oak fern appears in Wade (1804), ”...three branched polypody.
Found in the stony parts of Turc mountain, Killarney; and among the rocks at the fall
of Mam Turc, Cunnamara, Joyce country side”. Mackay (1825) adds, “Foot of the Mourne
mountains near Tollymore Park”. “Tollymore” was to become “Tullamore, County Offaly”
in Moore's, Nature Printed Ferns (1855). Mackay (1836) calls the plant, “tender three-
branched Polypody” and gives the Irish record as, “Dry stony places in mountainous
countries. On the Mountains of Mourne; Turk Mountain, Killarney; Mam-turk, Cunnemara,
etc.”, and goes on to give an accurate description of the plant. The “etc” is apparently
superfluous. All of these records were dismissed as errors based on beech fern by Moore
and More (1866), “We fear that the stations in Districts 1 and 8 belong to P. phegopteris”.

David Moore had found oak fern growing high up on Knocklayd, Co. Antrim, in 1836.
There are three fronds of Moore’s Knocklayd collection in the general herbarium at
Glasnevin and four, two each in volumes 5a and 5b, in his Hortus Siccus of the Antrim
flora, also preserved at Glasnevin. All of the fronds are sterile and one, in volume 5a
of the Hortus Siccus, has a small piece of rhizome attached.

to Newman, or “sparingly” according to Moore and More. Stewart and Corry (1888)
considered the plant extinct on Knocklayd, and Stewart and Praeger (1895) make the
following interesting comment, “... a more unlikely habitat for this fern than the bare
slopes of Knocklayd could not be imagined, ...could it have been planted there, as P.
Robertianum was on Carlingford Mountain?”. Johnson (1893) explains, *...in 1878 my
brother and | planted a quantity of Polypodium calcareum on Carlingford Mountain...
| write this note to let it be known ... that P. calcareum ... is not indigenous”.

Stelfox (1949), in his report of exciting later finds, records a further possible sighting
of oak fern on Knocklayd. Charles Oldham recalled seeing it there in May 1913. He
was not aware at the time that oak fern was rare in ireland, being familiar with it
in North Wales. Oldham refused to allow his fifteen year old recollection to be published,

(1949) states, “Personally | have never since doubted that he saw the oak fern on
Knocklayd, somewhat below the summit and on the north face of the hill’. Moore
mistakenly reported the altitude as 1800 ft.; the summit of Knocklayd is 1695 ft.

The Knockagh locality listed in Dickie (1864) is an error for Knocklayd.

a ig ss py ae aE Davi ee a a GI
apart from the Knocklayd specimens. It was collected at Castle Howard Park (County
Wicklow) in July 1846. The specimen has a printed label which gives the habitat of
oak fern as, “Dry stony hills”, a reflection of Moore's only contact with the plant in
a wild habitat in Ireland, but the specimen is undoubtedly from a cultivated plant.

- . barkharilim

140 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

Oak fern was next reported from County Leitrim, “‘Benbo mountain, near Manorhamilton,
in Leitrim!, at 800ft above the sea, the late Mr. J. Wynne” (Moore and More, 1866).
The use of the exclamation mark is not explained but probably denotes, as in later
conventions, that a specimen was seen by the authors. A collection of fern specimens
made by Wynne survives at Glasnevin. It includes Irish, British and Continental specimens,
attributed to Mr. Mackay, Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Bishop, Capt. During and J.A.W. (Wynne),
and among them are oak fern specimens from Inverness, Ingleborough and Wales, the
last initialled, “J.A.W.”. The collection cannot be dated but it demonstrates that Wynne
was sufficiently interested in ferns to have identified the oak fern correctly. Wynne also
reported beech fern from Glenade, Co. Leitrim (Moore and More, 1866) where it still
Survives.

Praeger (1934a) comments, “The Leitrim station for the oak fern (Benbo) was also
examined in 1933 without success. The record is puzzling, for Benbo is a bare peaty
hill of metamorphic rock with very little outcrop of rock and no suitable chinks where
the fern might lurk, nor any gullies or glens”.

Robert Warren made the next addition to the oak fern record. His report of the plant
is in More (1872), ‘Near Lough Talt! on the Ox Mountains, Sligo”. Warren (1897) gave
further details of the Lough Talt record in a comment on Colgan’s (1896) notes on the
flora of the Ox Mountains, “It (oak fern) used to grow on the road side between some
Stones at the base of the fence nearly opposite the Police Barrack, where | found it,
wil cnas fronds to my est 1 and valued friend, the late A.G. More, and afterwards
showed him some plants taken from that site, and growing in the garden here”. There
was no sign of oak fern in its Sligo station when Praeger searched for it in 1933. He
reported (Praeger, 1934a), “No trace of the oak fern was seen in the fences (mostly
old stone-faced) either on the road which passes the now ruined barrack, the newer
road immediately below, or the short road connecting the two - only Cystopteris fr agilis,
Asplenium trichomanes, A. adiantum-nigrum, A. ruta-muraria, Scolopendrium, Athyrium
and Lastrea filix-mas’’.

Warren was a friend and correspondent of A.G. More. He lived at Moyview, six miles
north-east of Ballina, in County Sligo. On a visit to Achill in 1873 More became ill
and noted in his diary for 6th August, “On return | found my friend R. Warren come
to meet me and take me back to Moyview for a visit’. More remained at Moyview
for a time and was there again in August 1875 (Moffat, 1898).

The Clare record is in the same category, perhaps no more than a garden escape. It
is, “Roadside between Broadford Village and the Cliffs of Moher, T.H. Wright” (Colgan
and Scully, 1898). An obituary of Thomas Wright appears in the Gardeners’ Chronicle
for 5th October 1889. He was a member of the Society of Friends and described as
a distinguished botanist and pteridologist and a large contributor to the Flora of Cork
(i.e., Allin, 1883). Some of hi pl peci ive inth llection of Thomas Chandlee
at Glasnevin (see, e.g., Linaria repens) but there is no specimen of the oak fern.

All of the Kerry records are dismissed by Moore and More (1866) as errors based .
misidentifications of beech fern. The Muckross specimen in Taylor’s herbarium (Newman,
1844) is likely to be from a cultivated plant.

The Wicklow records for oak fern, “At Sheenabeg near Aughrim, very sparingly, er
G.H. Kinahan” (Colgan and Scully, 1898) and, “Hill overlooking Glendalough, 1879, a
Marshall” (Marshall, 1899), are discussed by Brunker (1950) who attributes the fir

record to a lapsus calami, since the site is occupied by another rare fern, ——
billotii, and the second record to a trick of memory, being reported twenty years | al
the supposed sighting. Marshall's record (1 899) was reported in a review, with —
records, of the second edition of Cybele Hibernica, which gave rise to a ‘agieeer
exchange of criticisms in the Journal of Botany for 1899 (pp. 269-272, 7

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 141

456-458). In their reply to Marshall's rash criticisms they conclude with this piece of
advice which is perhaps still helpful to visiting botanists, “We trust that he will continue

with our island flora may have the effect of converting him to our scepticism”.

Apart from the very dubious sighting of oak fern on Knocklayd in 1913 mentioned by
Stelfox (1949) there have been two reports on the species in Ireland this century. In
a very successful investigation of the Garron Plateau in 1949, Stelfox found “a nice
clump of oak fern ... about 12-15 fronds” on the bank of the Pollan Burn (Stelfox, 1949),
and comments, “| must agree with Dr. Praeger that the plant is more likely to be due
to a chance wind-borne spore from Scotland than the last remnant of an Antrim colony”.
He continues in optimistic vein, ‘Nevertheless, if it occurs in a chink of rock by the
Pollan Burn, th why it should not in a similar situation alongside
any river or stream in N.E. Ireland - or N.W. Ireland for that matter”. The Pollan Burn
plants were still there in 1975 (Hackney, 1982).

The other recent record for the oak fern is a dot (22/39) in the Fern Atlas (Jermy et
al., 1978) for the Bruse Hill area of County Cavan. This Cavan record is repeated in
Clapham et al. (1987) but is an error (Curtis and McGough, 1988).

Conclusions

In the first half of the nineteenth century oak fern certainly grew on Knocklayd in Country
Antrim. Several other records for it were errors based on sightings of beech fern,
Phegopteris connectilis (Michx) Watt. In the second half of the century oak fern was
seen in Leitrim, Sligo and Clare by reputable botanists who had their records accepted
by the distinguished compilers of botanical records of that period, Moore and More (1866),
More (1872) and Colgan and Scully (1898). Specimens were apparently collected from
each of the three counties but no vouchers survive. Two Wicklow records are thought
to be based on a slip of the pen and a faulty recollection. Curtis and McGough (1988)
suggest that oak fern became extinct in County Wicklow as a result of overcollecting
but there is no evidence for this and | prefer to accept Brunker’s view that the plant
was in both instances recorded in error for the county.

The twentieth century records include a very dubious sighting on Knocklayd, Co. Antrim,
an erroneous report from Cavan and an accurate and well documented find on the
Garron Plateau in County Antrim.

remnant of an Antrim colony it seems best to regard the species as a short-lived colonist
in Ireland. Indeed, wind-borne spores from garden plants might give rise to wild plants.
Oak fern became established at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, in the early
1980's on peaty humus between rocks on a recently constructed wall near the rockery
at a time when the fern was not in deliberate cultivation at the Gardens. The fern
was grown at Glasnevin as early as 1804. In his catalogue of plants grown at Glasnevin,
Underwood (1804) describes oak fern as a hardy perennial, “flowering” June to
September, and gives it the English name, “Branching polypody”. He does not give any
country of origin for the plant though he does so for thirty-two of the fifty ferns listed
in the catalogue, of which fourteen are from Ireland.

We know from the above records that oak fern was also grown at Castle Howard Park,
County Wicklow, in the 1840's and also apparently at Muckross, County Kerry, mnare
it was collected by Thomas Taylor who died in 1848. No doubt it was widely cultivated
in Ireland as in Britain in the middle and later part of the nineteenth century during
what has become known as the Victorian Fern Craze. It is a beautiful plant, and would

142 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

certainly have been sought by avid fern growers. Lowe (1865) states, “Nothing can

exceed the exquisite beauty of this plant, nor the refreshing colour of its most vivid

green fronds ... it must remain one of the most beautiful species of our cultivated ferns
.. there is a delicious coolness in the colour of the fronds that is refreshing...’

Page (1982) points out that oak fern frequently grows with beech fern, whose ecology
and geographical range in Britain and Ireland (!) it closely parallels, growing in upland
oak-birch woodland, descending to nearly sea-level in the West of Scotland, often with
Oxalis acetosella, Viola riviniana and Anemone nemorosa, also occurring with similar
woodland species in moist rocky pockets amongst mossy screes on mountains with
Adoxa moschatellina, coer radia oppositifolium and Alchemilla alpina. Beech fern
in Ireland is usually found in mountain rock crevices. Upland oak-birch woodland is
scarcer and the flora of our mossy mountain screes has less of an alpine facies than
in Scotland. Suitable niches for oak fern are correspondingly fewer. Pioneer plants have
seldom survived for long. The Pollan Burn record represents the longest surviving Irish
population and the only one to be found in a natural habitat which might give the plants
a greater chance of surviving and expanding to the relatively small number of suitable
niches available. In fact the plant has shown no signs of increasing. Its status is precarious
and it may already have disappeared from the site.

Oak fern appears to be an occasional invader from Scotland or from the shelter of Irish
gardens. It has successfully established itself on a number of occasions in wild places
but only for a limited period in any one station. It has failed to spread and can doubtfully
be listed as a permanent member of the Irish flora.

References

k.
CLAPHAM, AR. TUTIN, T.G. and MOORE, D.M. ‘1887. Flora of the British ie oe

CURTIS, T Gi F. and McGOUGH, H.N. 1988. The Irish Red Data Book. Dublin
DICKIE, G. 1864. A Flora of Ulster and Botanist’s Guide to the North of Ireland. Belfas
gecneeie “ie a H.R., FARRELL, L. and PERRING, F.H. 1978. Atlas of hana of the British

JOHNSON, We 1893, Polypodium calcareum, at Carlingford, not indigenous. /rish Naturalist Me.

LOWE, E.J. 1865. Our Native Ferns. London

MACKAY, J.T. 1825. Cata alogue of the indigenous plants found in Ireland. Transactions of the Royal
ris ademy 14: 103-1

MACKAY, J.T. 1836. Flora Hibernia. Dublin.

MARSHALL, E.S. 1899. Remarks on the Cybele F Hibernica, Ed. 2. Journal of Botany 37: 269-272.

MOFFAT, C.B. 1898. Life and letters of Alexander Goodman More. Dublin.

MOORE, D. and MORE, A.G. 1866. Cea iaginne towards a Cybele Hibernica. Dublin.

MOORE, T. peo The ‘ferns of Great Britain and Ireland (nature ondon.
printed). Li
MORE, A.G. 1 1. Proceedings of a Royal Irish Academy 1
science a 293.
NEWM E. 1844. History of British ferns. London

aio : A 1982. The fap of Britain and Ireland. Cambri ridge. 2%
meee R. LI. 1901. Irish Topographical Botany. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy

PRAEGER, R. LI. 1934. The way that | went. Dublin

PRAEGER, : ine 1934a. New stations for ee plants. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 5: 33-36. ‘s

STELFOX, A.W. 1949. Notes on some plants found in the Carnlough District and on the Garro
Plane u. Co. Pi otota sie Freeh ae Rintse 9: 317-

STEWART, Sy A.a id CORRY, T.H. 1888. A Flora of the North- East of Ireland. Belfast. ”

STEWART. SA. and PRAEGER, R. LI. 1895. A supplement to the “Flora of the North-East of Irelan
of Stewart and Corry. Proceedin ings of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club 4: 133-236. soit

UNDERWOOD, J. 1804. A c catalogue of plants, indigenous and exotic cultivated in the bow

arden Coo to The Dublin Society, at Glasnevin. Dublin.

Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992) 143

WADE, W. 1804. Plantae rariores in Hibernia inventae: or habitats of some plants, rather scarce
and valuable, found in Ireland. Transactions of the Royal Dublin Society 4: i-xiv, 1-214.
WARREN, R. 1897. Flora of the Ox Mountains. /rish Naturalist 6: 26-27.

BOOK REVIEW
FERNS IN YOUR GARDEN by John Kelly, 1991. Souvenir Press. pp. 176, 260mm
x 200mm. Price £18.99

This book is very well-written by a real fern lover. There is very much good sense in
it, spoilt only by the fact that many old errors are perpetuated. In such an acceptable
fern book, which is going to be popular and authoritative with readers interested in
growing ferns and in bringing new recruits into the cult, the author has missed a golden
opportunity to correct them.

There are nine chapters, covering all aspects of the subject, from ferns in gardens,
in woodland, in rock gardens, in mixed borders and in pots. His potting information
is very good and sound. His garden planting procedures are similar to mine, but wit
one extra excellent instruction (p. 35) which | shall adopt in future - first fill the hole
with fairly HOT water; this should give the roots a better chance to settle down quickly.
Another suggestion which | shall adopt in future writings is to use the word persistent
instead of evergreen when referring to fern fronds which survive the winter in fresh
condition.

The chapter which, to me, contains much questionable information is Chapter 6, Fern
shades and changes. The author has chosen a bad example, in Osmunda, for a fern
which produces two kinds of fronds, fertile and sterile. In this species the fronds do
not look different, only some finish their apices with very soriferous pinnae. A much
better example to illustrate the two kinds is Blechnum spicant in which they look and
behave quite differently, the sterile ones outspreading with broad green pinnae and
the fertile ones rigidly upright and very narrow.

The author persists in referring to Polystichum setiferum ‘Plumosum Bevis’ as
Pulcherrimum Bevis’. For 100 years this fern was thought to be a variety of P. aculeatum.
In P et. L . iW 5 1 rt £ sate Hod Disicrh ; m

very small and very se va ulc
which is entirely different from ‘Bevis’ which, at the time of its finding, was authoritatively
considered to be a plumosum but, unfortunately, the wrong name got published and
it was not thought worthwhile to change it. BUT, in moving the variety into P. setiferum
it became imperative to make the change. (See the BPS Bulletin 2, No.1, 1981).

The excellent quality of the illustrations in this book is beyond praise and both the author
and his wife must be congratulated on their photography. The book is worth possessing
for this alone and it is, therefore, the more disappointing that this is the part of the
book which contains most of the errors. | would respectfully suggest to the author that,
if the book runs to a second edition - as | am sure it will, he refers it first to some
one who is a recognised authority on fern variety naming.

The book finishes with a chapter listing, with short descriptions, not only British fern
species but also many foreign hardy ones which can add to the attraction of the fern
garden. The Appendix includes a short chapter on Fern Diseases and Pests.
| noted with great pleasure that many of the photographs were taken in the King s
Gatchell, Ottery St Mary, Devon garden of my good friends Kenneth and Dolsheen Adiam
to whom the book is dedicated. This adds to the pleasure | have in giving the book
a place on my fern bookshelves.

J.W. DYCE

144 Pteridologist 2, 3 (1992)

SHORTER NOTE
Selected abstracts from 1990 and 1991 Fern Gazettes

Over this period there were three papers on diseases of ferns. In 1990 Hick and Preece
give a very interesting review of rust diseases; many are more common than you may
think, especially on Asplenium scolopendrium. Woods, in 1991, gives further information
on rusts on ferns in Mid-Wales, while the third paper, by Irvine, McElwee and Burge,
also in 1991, shows how curl tip disease of bracken has the potential for use in biological
control of bracken.

Cytology and taxonomy receive a lot of attention. In 1990 Rasbach and Reichstein gave
an account of the cytologically non-h g genus Anog ; variations bet
geographically distinct populations suggest there may be additional taxa awaiting
description. Walker (1990) gives an account of Gleicheniaceae in Costa Rica. If the
Cultivation of these unusual ferns could be mastered, at least one of the species discussed
here, G. costaricensis, might be hardy in Britain, as it was collected at an altitude of
3100 metres. Rasbach, Rasbach and Bennert (1990) give new records and new cytological
results for the fern flora of Madeira, where Asplenium adiantum-nigrum and A. x ticinense
are recorded for the first time. In 1991 the systematic status of Matteuccia intermedia
was discussed by Kato, Suzuki and Nakato; recent information has shown that M.
intermedia is not a hybrid but a distinct species related to Onoclea orientalis, a new
name is therefore proposed - Onoclea intermedia.

Three new hybrids are described. One, Asplenium x artanense by Rossello and Cubas
(1990), is a new diploid hybrid from Mallorca, Spain, which has probably resulted from
a cross between A. sagittatum and A. trichomanes subsp. inexpectans. It is a striking
plant superficially similar to the long known, but very rare, x Asplenophyllitis hybrids.
The second is a new natural hybrid in the genus Pteris from the Kumaun Himalaya
described by Pangtey, Samant and Verma (1990); one parent of this hybrid, Pteris x
khullarii, is thought to be P. wallichiana. Finally, Bennert, Rasbach, Rasbach and Viane
(1991) announce the discovery of Dryopteris x furadensis, a new endemic fern hybrid
from Madeira; it is probably a hybrid between D. aitoniana and D. maderensis.

Several interesting accounts of pteridophyte distribution are given. Pickering and Wigston
(1990) discuss the occurrence of Lycopodiella inundata on china clay at Lee Moor, Devon.
Six new populations of Isoetes x hickeyi in Canada are reported by Brunton and Britton
(1991). Young and Leon (1991) give a valuable account of the diversity, ecology and
distribution of high-elevation pteridophytes within the Rio Abesio National Park, in the
Peruvian Andes (2300 - 4200 metres); several of the species from the alpine list are
hardy in Britain; it would, therefore, be interesting to test others when material becor®
available. Variation between ecotypes in Equisetum variegatum in Britain is discussed
by Stark (1991). This was research part-sponsored by the BPS Greenfield Fund.
From fossil evidence, Thomas and Quansah (1991) argue the palaeobotanical case that
the genus Selaginella should be divided into at least two genera.
Reviews, 1990:
Flora of the British Isles by A.R. Clapham, T.G. Tutin and D.M. Moore.
Ferns and Fern Allies of Canada by W.J. Cody and D.M. Britton.
New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants by P.J. Brownsey and J.C. Smith-Dodsworth.
1991: ‘
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Systematic Pteridology by K.H. Shing
and K.U. Kramer.
South African Ferns and Fern Allies by J.E. Burrows.

MARTIN H. RICKARD

BRITISH FERNS AND THEIR CULTIVARS
A very comprehensive collection is stocked by
REGINALD KAYE LTD
SILVERDALE, LANCASHIRE
CATALOGUE ON REQUEST

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and Plants for the cool greenhouse

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A wide range of hardy and greenhouse ferns, especially Adiantums
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Send £1 for catalogue

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Send two International Reply Coupons for Catalogue
Judith |. Jones,
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LAIFS Fern Journal bimonthly includes fern lesson,
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Annual dues: $15 domestic, $19 overseas surface, $24 overseas airmail.
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The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops, SY8 2HP

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The British Pteridological Society

PTERIDOLOGIST
Contents
Volume 2, Part 3, 1992
MAIN ITEMS: |
President's Letter Jack Bouckley 97
Tribute to Reginald Kaye on his 90th Birthday J W Dyce 97
Aquatic Ferns Jack Bouckley 99
The Taxonomy and Identification of Australian and
New Zealand Dicksonia Tree-ferns CNPage 102

Concerning some Pests and Cultural Problems that can
adversely affect the growth of Ferns in Conservatory, ;
Greenhouse or Home John Woodhams 104

The Glaslyn Bracken Cutter B A Thomas and J Williams-Davis 108

Colour in Hardy Ferns AR Busby 110
Ferns in the Home AR Busby 112
Equisetum Fungicides? Michael G Searle 116
More Adventures with Spores Peter H Hainsworth 118
Blechnum spicant ‘Concinnum Druery’ JW Dyce 121
Raising Ferns from Spores Neil Timm 122
Dryopteris dilatata ‘Jimmy Dyce’ Judith Jones 126
Affinis Watch Clive Jermy and Anthony Pigott 129
Equisetum Park Pat Acock 129
Edward Newman (1801-1876) in the Welsh Marches Martin Rickard 130
Some Hardy Exotic Garden Ferns New or Uncommon 4
in Cultivation in Britain Martin Rickard 133
Ferns of the English Lake Country ES Beamish 137
lrish Records for Oak Fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris, :
a Cautionary Tale D Synnott 139
SHORTER NOTES: |
Divide as a Rule A R Busby
Dicksonia antarctica and Dicksonia fibrosa - a correction — Rickard
Deformed Ferns at Otterhead Prim
Ferny Doylies Michael pte Searle
Centenary Day on Whitbarrow Ray Smith
Collector’s Corner J W Dyce
Selectd Abstracts from 1990 and 1991 Fern Gazettes Martin Rickard
BOOK REVIEWS:

Illustrated Field Guide to Ferns and Allied Plants
Cultivation and Propagation of British Ferns

History of British Pteridological Society

British Pteridological Society Abstracts and Reports
A World of Ferns

Ferns in your Garden

The Pteridologist Volume 2 Part 2 was published on 15 May, 1991 ee
ubtahed ty the British Pteridological Society =

Volume 2 Part 4 199

THE
BRITISH |
Ee

© prenipoLocist

Edited by J
a=. MH Rickard

,

—~ o

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Officers and Committee for 1993
President: J.H. Bouckley
President Emeritus: J.W. Dyce, MBE

Vice-Presidents: J.A. Crabbe, C.N. Page, M.H. Rickard, G. Tonge
Honorary General Secretary A.R. Busby, ‘Croziers’,
and Archivist 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD
(Tel: Coventry 715690)

Assistant Secretary (Membership); and Miss A.M. Paul,
Editor of the Bulletin: Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Treasurer: Dr N.J. Hards,
184 Abingdon Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 9BP

Meetings Secretary: A.C. Pigott,
43 Molewood Road, Hertford, Herts. SG14 3AQ

Editor of the Fern Gazette: Dr. B.A. Thomas

Botany Department, National Museum of Wales,

Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NP.

Editor of the Pteridologist: MH. Rickard, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes,
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2HP

assisted by J.W. Dyce

Committee: R.G. Ackers, Miss J.M. Camus, R. Cooke, Mrs. D. Fortune,
S. Munyard, Mrs M.E. Nimmo-Smith, N.R. Schroder, G. Stark,

R.N. Timm, J.R. Woodhams

Fern Distribution Recorder: A.J. Worland, Harcam, Mill Road, Barnham Broom,
Norwich, NR9 4DE

Spore Exchange Organiser: Mrs M.E. Nimmo-Smith, pale Chesterton Road,
bridge, CB4 1AH

Plant Exchange Organiser: R.J. Smith
184 Solihull Road, Shirley, Solihull, Warwickshire B90 3LG
Booksales Organiser: S.J. Munyard, 234 Harold Road,

Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 5NG
Trustees of Greenfield and Centenary Funds: _J.H. Bouckley A.R. Busby, Dr N.J. Hards,

The BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY was founded in 1891 and today continues aS @ cee
for fern enthusiasts. It provides a wide range of information about ferns ns through,

de

professional. The y's , the Fern Gazett and Bulletin, are pee
annual. Fern Gazette publishes matter chiefly of vantedeebies interest on inter! nternational pteridology. ie
the sh topics of more general appeal, and the Bulletin, Society business and meetif ey o
is open to all inter Pargr-moaee in ferns and fern-allies. SUBSCRIPTION RATES (due 0
St embers £12.50, Personal oma receiving the go

for all journals - an extra £4.00, or for those not rouning the Fern Gazette £2.

sean to ium Si legs ndrium ‘Laceratum Kaye’.

and Bulletin are. hangar

: Back number: F chase om cock
a 18 S0rLane St Mar Cy. Kent ey te from pha ;

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

This issue is dedicated
to the memory of
REGINALD KAYE

1902 - 1992

Ordinary Member of the British Pteridological Society
Honorary Member

Recipient of the Stansfield Medal

President

Vice-President

RARS

1929-1975
1975-1992

1975
1963-1966
1967-1991

Reginald Kaye with his Honorary Master of Science degree, with Jeremy Kaye and

Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra

146 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

PRESIDENT’S ANECDOTE

| first met Reggie Kaye when my main horticultural interest was Alpine plants but even
then | realised that he was quite a lot more knowledgeable than the majority of plantsmen
| had encountered up and down the country.

But Reg could never remember my name!!!

The day dawned when my garden pursuits advanced to the study, collecting and growing
of ferns and it did not take me long to realise that the author of one of the best-known
fern books was the same person who owned the Alpine nursery where some of my
plants had been purchased. So over | went to Silverdale - this time to buy some ferns
and it was then that Reggie showed me round his fantastic garden.

After a few more visits, Reg still could not remember my name!!!

Some time later | wrote to him to ask if a few of us could visit his nursery and garden.
| signed the letter with my Christian name, enclosed a S.A.E. and received a reply soon
after inviting us over. So on the day, as arranged, a couple of car loads arrived at Silverdale
and there standing near to his sale room was Reggie, complete with pipe. It was quite
obvious that he recognised me as he walked over and said in a quiet voice “Hallo,
which one is Jack who wrote to me?”’.

| feel sure that had my name been “Didymochlaena trunculata pseudo ‘Jacques’ ” he
would have remembered.

It was certainly an uplifting experiénce to be in his company and he will certaily be
missed by many.

JACK BOUCKLEY

EDITORIAL

he studied astronomy and navigation, became involved in amateur dra
in, and producing, a number of plays. In later years he took up painting, 4 pastime
he was able to share with his wife, Marion, as they spent many happy hours together
attempting to capture the essence of the Lakeland countryside.

Of course, it is his interest in ferns which most concerns us here. Reg’s work directly
for the Society was less important than some others, notably Jimmy Dyce bide pei
Jermy, but he made a very significant contribution towards keeping fern growing ae
the public eye, culminating in the publication of his excellent book Hardy Ferns in] but
Details of ferns raised and introduced by him are given elsewhere in this page Bi
he was also a leading enthusiast of alpine and other select herbaceous plants, 2 pe
shared by his son Jeremy. Work in non-fern areas is outside the scope of this sae
but in passing it is worth saying that his private garden housed one of the best collect

of alpines. A

Today we are fortunate that Reg was able to pass much of his knowledge pine
grandson, Dominic, and that Dominic is planning to perpetuate the tore peer
Silverdale. At the time of writing (March 1993) Dominic is in Seattle, Washington

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 147

USA, working with our member, Judith Jones, learning how fern nurseries are run
over there. When he comes back he will be even better qualified to look after, and
multiply, all the priceless treasures that Reg accumulated at Silverdale. We hope he
will be as successful as his grandfather - a tough act to follow.

One aspect of Reg’s nursery work was the trade displays he mounted at flower shows.
These were of the highest standard, often incorporating tons of Westmorland limestone.
Unfortunately, | do not have a record of his shows and medals but | do know he was
a regular exhibitor at Southport and had at least one stand at Chelsea, in 1939.

My wife and | were able to attend Reg’s funeral along with six other Society members.
It was a strange occasion. People were not upset, there was a general feeling of well-
being, it was as if Reg was present and approved of the proceedings! We were all
so happy that Reg, at the age of 90, had been able to receive his Honorary Master
of Science Degree from Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, only two months before
his death. (See frontispiece). A fitting climax to the life of one of the great fern men.

This issue of the Pteridologist is, therefore, dedicated to the memory of Reginald Kaye.
Although not exclusively given over to articles of relevance to Reg, | hope it will serve
as just one more happy memory of a man who gave so much pleasure to his family
and so many of his friends in the British Pteridological Society.

(For more details, see his obituary in BPS Bulletin, 4, 129: 1992).

REGINALD KAYE
JW DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT

It is now over six months since my old friend, Reginald Kaye, died in August last year
in his 91st year. | still miss him sadly, although practically the whole length of England
separated us, and in the latter years of our lives (| am now 88) we were able to see
very little of each other. Mental laziness, one of the penalties of old age, also contributed
and slowed down our correspondence and interchange of fern knowledge.

This led to a great tragedy - on medical advice Reg had to give up his efforts to write
and publish a second edition of his book, Hardy Ferns. Martin Rickard had already been
helping Reg with some of the hardy exotic species new to cultivation so, on hearing
of Reg’s decision to abandon the book, Martin and | volunteered to ‘ghost write it
for him. Soon afte ds it hat Reg sent all th ,
and photographs, to me. The parcel never reached me and, as | did not want it to appear
that | was hurrying him, it was six months later before we contacted each other and
learned of the loss. By this time the “trail had gone cold” and the Post Office could
not help us. However, the book is too valuable to the fern world and, with the help
of the publishers, Martin and | are now working on an enlarged second edition which
will be a lasting memorial to our departed friend.

| did not get to know Reg until after the 1939/45 War when | was given the task
of bringing our Society to life again after a lapse of 8 years. He joined the BPS in
1929, some years ahead of me, and was already well “into ferns in the pre-war years
while | was still struggling in the beginner stage. Association with Reg and with my
fern mentor, Percy Greenfield, the pre-war Secretary of the Society, rapidly increased
my fern knowledge and a friendship with Reg was begun which lasted for over forty
years. Away from his fern nursery, which was very time-demanding, we saw very little
of each other. That nursery has been a very powerful magnet which has drawn me,
and many others, to Silverdale over the years. Reg did make time to give lectures on
his ferns, illustrated by his superb colour slides - he was an accomplished photographer

148 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1 993)

and a skilful artist, on canvas as well as in stone in the garden. His magnificent fern
rock garden in Silverdale remains as a monument to his skill in the last-named
accomplishment. He made time, too, to do a lecture tour on ferns in the USA, where
he was feted by the many fern enthusiasts in that country who love our British fern
varieties.

On the occasions, regrettably all too few, when | could visit him in Silverdale it was
an inspiration to see his extensive fern collection and drool over his many treasures.
An unforgettable time was spent by the late Bert Bruty, from Kew Botanic Gardens
where he was in charge of the Fern Houses, and me, many years ago, when we volunteered
to give Reg a week’s free labour to bring the collection back into shape after an unavoidable
period of neglect. This was not a labour but an education and my knowledge of British
fern variation improved vastly as a result.

| could tell of many more happy times spent with Reg and his wife Marion who was
also a skilled painter, but space forbids. | am left with many happy memories and a
greatly increased knowledge of ferns from my long association with Reginald Kaye.

FERNS INTRODUCED BY REGINALD KAYE
MARTIN H RICKARD, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops. SY8
2HP

During his 60 plus years as a nurseryman Reg Kaye raised very many new forms of
our British ferns; he also was given new forms by other enthusiasts and rescued ferns
from oid collections. Of these new forms many, inevitably, closely resembled earlier
finds but a few were distinct and of sufficient merit to justify selection, propagation
and naming. Over such a long period of time it is impossible to give a comprehensive
account of all Reg’s introductions but with the help of his son, Jeremy, and grandson,
Dominic, | have compiled the following list. | would be very happy to hear of any additions.

Adiantum pedatum ‘Miss Sharples’. The history of this cultivar is that it was amongst
a collection of plants amassed by Miss M Sharples on whose death Reg was offered
the contents of her garden as the ground was to be built on. The plant was labelled
‘Miss Sharples’ as being its source. Reg was unable to trace its provenance. A Dutch
nurseryman called at the nursery, presenting bottles of brandy all round and asked
permission to get a few spores from the fern garden. He was left to collect any he
fancied. He raised a large stock of ‘Miss Sharples’ and they were distributed far and
wide. Bright golden green in spring. Earliest listing | can find is 1982, but | believe
Reg first had it in 1965.

Asplenium scolopendrium (Crispum group) ‘Kaye’s Splendour’. The sole plant phe
for survival at Silverdale after it was described in the Pteridologist in 1988. A beautifu
form, fronds deeply cri d | haped, | fear it is now extinct. Raised from ‘Crispum

VCC Ty Vllopeu aid silayvey,

Moly’.

Asplenium scolopendrium (Crispum group) ‘Kaye
|

‘s superb’. See Pteridologist 1988. A
tall deeply crisped form raised from ‘Crispum Moly’.

Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Ingeborg’. Named after a Dutch lady who admired it in the
nursery. An erect ramose marginate cultivar.
Kaye ferns.

Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Laceratum Kaye’. The most widely known of the et

It was discovered on a wall in the Silverdale nursery as a couple of chance spore pe
in 1953 or 1954. Jimmy Dyce pointed it out to Reg but it is quite possible ie kee
had noticed it earlier. Apparently comes 100% true from spore. First descri a
illustrated in the British Fern Gazette in 1956; the Latin cultivar name is therefore cor
and legal.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 149

Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Sagittatum Cristatum Superbum Kaye’. A selected form of
‘Sagittatum’.

Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Stagshorn’. A selected form of ramo-marginate type.
Athyrium filix-femina ‘Angustato-cruciatum Kaye's Variety’. A selected cruciate form
where the narrow frond is cruciate throughout its length.

Athyrium filix-femina (Grandiceps group), described as ‘Crispum Grandiceps Kaye’ in
Pteridologist, 1985. Achance sporeling in the nursery in 1948. See account in Pteridologist
1985 for full history and description. Listed in the 1989 catalogue, but not available
for sale!

Athyrium filix-femina ‘Grandiceps Kaye’. | wonder if this is distinct from ‘Crispum
Grandiceps Kaye’.

Athyrium filix-femina ‘Nudicaule Cristatum Kaye’. An extraordinary form of grandiceps
completely lacking any pinnae. Listed in his 1980 list as A. filix-femina ‘Nudicaule
Cristatum Kaye's Var.’ - a very finely dissected dwarf form. This cultivar still lacks a
legal name.

Anthyrium filix-femina (Percristatum group) - marked ‘XXX’ in the garden by Reg as
a sign of special quality. Probably a sporeling at the nursery.

Athyrium filix-femina (Plumoso-cristatum group) ‘Kaye's sporeling’.

Athyrium filix-femina ‘Sabine’. A delicately cut dwarf crested form.

Athyrium filix-femina ‘Semicruciatum’. Listed in the 1957 catalogue. Fronds cruciate
in terminal half only.

Dryopteris dilatata ‘Crispa Whiteside’. Resurrected from Robert Whiteside’s collection.
A beautifully crisped form of Dryopteris dilatata. See Pteridologist, 1984. First offered
in 1983.

Polystichum setiferum (Brachiatum group) ‘Eaves Wood’. A wild find in Eaves Wood
not far from Silverdale. Brachiate forms in P. setiferum are very uncommon and | believe
this is the only extant form. The fronds are crested. As is usual with brachiate cultivars
this is slightly inconstant.

Polystichum setiferum ‘Broughton Mills’. Found in the Lake District at Broughton Mills
by Jimmy Dyce and Reg in 1968. Such a good cultivar would need two of the finest
fern men to find it! A beautifully crisped dwarf congested form. There is Some confusion
over whether or. not this cultivar is crested; in the 1982 catalogue Reg says it is lightly
crested. Close examination of my plants reveals that the tips of the pinnae are twisted
to superficially resemble small crests; however, the tips are not crested. | think this
discrepancy might be explained if small crests develop if plants get bigger. A gem.
Polystichum setiferum (Divisilobum group) ‘Goffey’. Sometimes called Mrs Goffey but
listed by Reg in 1957 as ‘Goffey’. Possibly not originally from Reg but | always think
of this magnificent fern as one of his. Broad fronds spread horizontally with extremely
finely divided sharp pointed pinnules, three feet across.

Polystiochum setiferum (Divisilobum group) ‘John Jeremy Kaye’. A wild find within a
quarter of a mile of the nursery by Jeremy Kaye. Probably a chance spore from the
nursery.

Polystichum setiferum ‘Foliosum Superbum Kaye’. A beautiful plumose form. Each pinnule
slightly sickle-shaped and foliose.

Polstichum setiferum (Tripinnatum group) - marked XXX in the 1983 list. Obviously
a particularly good form.

150 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

In addition to all these cultivars, Reg was also responsible for bringing many hardy
exotic species into cultivation. For example: Polystichum falcinellum, Athyrium palustre,
Asplenium fissum, A. lepidum. No doubt there are others.

Most important of all was the fact that Reg maintained such a superb collection of
fern cultivars at Silverdale. Without his collection many fewer ferns from the past would
be in cultivation today.

HONOUR FOR JIMMY DYCE

All members will be delighted to know that our President Emeritus, Jimmy Dyce, has
been invested as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Buckingham
Palace by Her Majesty The Queen in February this year. The Honour was given in
recognition of Jimmy’s services to the British Pteridological Society.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 151

Jimmy was not trained as a scientist; in fact he followed a career in banking, an
unpromising platform for someone who was eventually to become known and respect
by pteridologists across the world. Of course we all take an interest in a chosen hobby
for any one of a thousand reasons! for Jimmy it was his background in Scotland which
held the key to ferns. The interest grew and he joined our Society in 1936. Thank goodness
he did! Jimmy’s persistence was probably the sole factor which ensured its survival
through the very difficult period after the Second World War. Relatively few fern activists
survived the war and most of those that did were old. An unanimous decision was
taken to let the Society fade quietly away. | can just imagine Jimmy haranguing all
those old men, refusing to let it die! The outcome of a meeting in the then President's
(W B Cranfield) office in London was that if Jimmy wanted to keep the Society going
he had to do the bulk of the work. Determined as ever, he set about writing to all
the pre-war members putting them in the picture and inviting them to rejoin. Within
a very short time he had rebuilt the Society to about 100 members - enough for survival
in the short term. Of course Jimmy did not let it rest there and over the next few decades
he continued to work tirelessly for the Society, for a long time personally holding all
its Offices, excepting that of Editor of the Fern Gazette. A full record of his periods
of service in the various posts was given in the Pteridologist for 1985.

For me, the key to Jimmy’s recognition now is the unselfish way he has dedicated
so much of his life to ferns, and particularly to our Society, for no personal profit. He
did, of course, gain an immense knowledge of all matters relating to ferns, especially
the cultivars of our British species, and meet many wonderful people around the world,
but it was all done at his own expense, without the resources of a museum, university,
or any research grants at his disposal.

| am sure all members will join with me in thanking Jimmy publicly for his enormous
efforts on behalf of our Society; the honour is richly deserved. lam also sure that those
members who enjoy a glass of malt whisky - or wine - will join with me in drinking
to Jimmy's health! Long may he continue to give so generously of his time to the Society.

MARTIN H RICKARD

BOOK REVIEW

HARDY FERNS MICHAEL JEFFERSON-BROWN . Pp 96, 28 Col. plates with

additional line drawings, 1992. Ward Lock, London. Price £12.99. ISBN O-7063-
069-4.

Here we have another book written by a horticulturalist who is not a fern specialist.
It is a good introduction to hardy ferns for British gardens, with many concepts of fern
garden design new to me. It will be particularly useful as it covers most of the commonly
available fern species and cultivars. There are errors in the systematic section, e.g. some
cultivars are attributed to the wrong species and some out-of-date names are used.
Such details are important to a specialist but | suspect they are of little poneaquence
to the general gardener. The colour photograpt perb but the cap different
The author, or publishers, have only occasionally made an attempt to name ferns in
many of the photographs, and even then have made one or two howlers; for example,
a beautiful stand of Matteuccia struthiopteris is labelled Dryopteris filix-mas! It is a pity

know where to see these ferns. John Treasure’s beautiful garden at Burford House
near Tenbury Wells features strongly and there are even seven photographs taken in
my garden here at Leinthall Starkes!
At £12.99 this book fills a niche as a reasonably priced, useful guide to garden ferns
for the general gardener. It is not really a book for the specialist.

MARTIN H RICKARD

152 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

SPLITTERS AND LUMPERS
J. W. DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT

The title of this article may possibly appear to be a strange one to some of my readers.

In these days when ferns have become more popular plants again, many enthusiasts
are learning to grow their own from spores, and there is a danger that some of them
will become “‘splitters”; that means growers who enthusiastically give special names
to ALL their good progeny which show differences, usually quite marginal, from named
varieties of the past which are still being grown. This enthusiasm should be held in
check, and special names should be considered ONLY if the fern(s) concerned exhibit(s)
very ptional distinctive qualities. They should become “lumpers’’, which means giving
the plants section names only, such as cristatum, plumosum, divisilobum, etc. The wide
range of existing very good varieties in all sections of variation is such that it is only
very, very occasionally that anything exceptionally better is likely to be bred.

In the last century, during what is called the Victorian Fern Craze, splitters proliferated!
It became, literally, a craze with fern collectors to give special names to every plant
they collected or bred which differed in only the slightest degree from the species form.
Even the most ragged depauperate specimens were named - they were name collectors,
not fern collectors. Their ambition was to increase the number of named plants in their
collections! Nowadays, we don’t want that kind of collector - they did immense harm
to the fern cult and their activities did much to kill off the Fern Craze. In the old fern
books we see many examples of their work - even in those of the more reputable writers!

In 1987 | published in the Pteridologist my Classification Table of Fern Variation. This
places into divisions, groups and sections all kinds of variation existing in the British
ferns and gives a useful framework into which to fit the many very similar varieties
which are grown today, many of them old varieties which have lost their name tags
and others newly bred by enthusiastic breeders.

A closely allied problem existing today is a practice prevalent in some commercial
establishments, and in the past with some amateur breeders - labelling their sporelings
from named varieties with the names of the parents. This has led to a lot of confusion
in variety nomenclature. When a fern varies from the normal species form its progeny
will, with some exceptions which breed true to the parental form,include a range of
forms, varying from that of the species itself and on through the variety form to.
plants which are very distinct improvements on it. These plants are so very different
from the parent that they cannot possibly be labelled with the same name. Unless they
are sufficiently distinctive to be given names of thier own they should be called ‘Progeny
of - ’, or ( - group)

A good example from the past is Druery’s first sowing of spores from Polystichum setiferum
Plumosum Bevis’. About 100 sporelings resulted, among them three which were
Superlative quality - ‘Plumosum Drueryii’, ‘Plumosum Gracillimum’ and Pune
Gracillimum Cristulatum’. Many of the plants were little better than, or no i
on, the parent but all or most of them got into the hands of other growers and oe
labelled ‘Drueryii’. Consequently, today there are many quite different p ae
masquerading under the name, some of them quite difficult to distinguish from Paeie
Bevis’ itself, others very good varieties although not up to the standard of ber
‘Plumosum Drueryii’. | possessed quite a few of them - some now grace Martin ~
garden, where they receive the care | can no longer give them.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 153

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF BRACKEN IN THE U.K.

SIMON V. FOWLER, International Institute of Biological Control, Silwood Park,
Ascot SL5 7TA, U.K.

For several years, we have been conducting research on the possibility of introducing
foreign insects to help to control bracken. This method of biological control is relatively
novel for the U.K., despite beinng successfully used in many other parts of the world.
Some apprehensionn at the possible introduction of foreign insects for bracken control
in the U.K. is therefore not surprising, particularly from members of the public with
a keen interest in pteridological matters. Many members of the British Pteridological
Society may have seen brief news articles in the press concerning this biological control

oa J t May mn r oJ

and conference proceedings. This article is intended to explain what classical biological
control involves and why it is a safe and sensible approach to the bracken problem,
but first, why is bracken a problem?

The bracken problem in the U.K.

Estimates of the land area covered by bracken in the U.K. range from 3000-6000 square
kilometres, with the most serious infestations in upland regions in the west and north.
In some areas bracken is still spreading and the changes in land use and deforestation
that may be responsible for the increased invasiveness of bracken have been wi
documented. Bracken can be a weed for a variety of reasons. Losses to upland agriculture
are caused by poisoning after consumption of bracken by stock and by the loss of grazing
land to bracken encroachment. The heather moorland vital for grouse management is
under threat from bracken in many areas and bracken also provides shelter for the
sheep ticks that transmit louping ill virus to both grouse chicks and sheep. Sheep ticks
are also implicated in the transmission of Lyme disease to a range of animals including
man. More direct affects on man may also exist from the carcinogens identified in bracken
foliage and spores. It has been suggested that higher levels of stomach cancer in some
areas of the U.K. may be linked to drinkinng water originating from bracken covered
slopes or to a generally high level of exposure to bracken. Bracken can also be a weed
of amenity and conservation areas, making access difficult or displacing other more
desirable plant species. Existing efforts to control bracken largely consist of ploughing,
regular cutting, crushing or the use of herbicides, especially asulam. However, all these
methods are expensive and require safe access to the land by agricultural machinery.
Bracken often infests steep or rocky slopes making aerial application of herbicides the
only current option for control - costing around £100/hectare. Without follow up
treatments, re-spraying is necessary within 5 years. Indeed, asulam can be so effective
at preventing new frond growth of bracken in the year after application that large areas
of bare bracken litter are exposed. Rehabilitation of sites need to be a very important
part of conventional bracken control programmes and also adds to the cost, particularly
if fencing is needed to prevent access by grazing animals. As well as the expense, any
large scale use of herbicide for bracken control raises environmental concerns.

Classical biological control of weeds

Classical biological control of weeds uses introduced herbivores, such as insects

or plant pathogens, to reduce the vigour of an undesirable plant species. This is in

example of the augmentative approach, relevant to brac . ‘
University on the possibility of formulating pathogens of bracken in the U.K. as a
mycoherbicide spray.

154 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

The ecological basis of classical weed biocontrol is that the abundance of many plants
in the natural environment is controlled by natural enemies, and that many insect
herbivores and plant pathogens are extremely host specific. Dutch elm disease provides
a familiar example among pathogens. Note here that eradication of a target weed b
a host-specific herbi is neither ecologically possible usually desirable. In a classical
weed biological control programme, if the weed declines in abundance the specialist
herbivores will inevitably also decline because of a decrease in suitable food.

The first major success in weed biocontrol was the introduction of the moth, Cactoblastis
cactorum, into Australia which resulted in a reduction in infestation of prickly pear cacti,
Opuntia species, over 60 million acres during the 1920's. Since this early success, there
have been at least 729 weed biocontrol programmes using invertebrates or fungi, against
140 weed species worldwide. One analysis concluded that 39% of programmes had
led to substantial control of the target weed. Most biological control programmes to
date have involved the introduction of highly specific insect natural enemies of the weed,
but recently host-specific pathogens have been used to control weeds successfully.
Classical biological control can combine environmentally friendly weed suppression with
excellent benefit/cost ratios.

Stages in a classical biocontrol programme
Background work

Initial research should ensure that sufficient is known about taxonomy and biology of
the weed, and that the plant represents a suitable target for classical biocontrol from
economic and environmental/ecologica!l viewpoints. The study of the native U.K. fauna
attacking bracken was particularly important because the plant is itself a native. Classical
biological control is usually aimed at alien weeds, but native weeds can be targets if
appropriate agents can be found in other parts of the world. Knowledge of the economic
impact of the weed (negative and positive) in the U.K. is required to justify the initiation
of a biocontrol programme on a purely cost/benefit basis. For example, losses to upland
agriculture in England and Wales due to bracken have been estimated at £3-9m Oe
annum. The total estimated cost of the research already conducted and still required
to lead to a full field release of one agent is £0.5m. Thus the total cost of the biocontrol
programme for bracken to date only represents 6-20% of the annual losses caused by
bracken to farmers in England and Wales, disregarding the other impacts of bracken
which are harder to quantify economically. Obviously, the impact of bracken on natural
or semi-natural environments, particularly land valued for conservation or recreation,

is also important. Care is needed because conflicts of interest may be pian a
racke

reduction of weed infestation may be more serious, particularly if control is rapidly

ing
: r

edges of bracken stands. For bracken biocontrol, the most serious issues are WNé he

the native flora and fauna that utilise bracken stands will be affected and the

to ensure that there is no risk to any native or ornamental plants related to bracken.

Field surveys

al biocontro!

Despite the near-global range of bracken, suitable areas for obtaining potenti
e taxonomic

agents for bracken were restricted by the need to match the climate and th
type of bracken to that in the U.K. The only country fulfilling these criteria, and —
a bracken fauna distinct from that in the U.K., was South Africa. Field surveys I" Sou
Africa revealed a range of possible agents, but two moths were particularly Pr

; . pee ; has
a pyralid (Panotima and angularis) and a noctuid (Conservula cinisigna). Panotima

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 155

stemboring larvae that can cause an entire frond to collapse. Conservula larvae consume
bracken foliage early in the season. Both species are substantially different from the
existing U.K. bracken fauna, reducing the chance of native U.K. parasites and predators
targeting the newly released moth larvae. Rearing the stemborer in quarantine proved
difficult, so attention centred initially on Conservula (see photos. opp. p. 156).

Host specificity testing

Establishing the host specificity of potential agents is the most important time-consuming
part of any weed biocontrol programme. In the bracken programme 71 plant species
& :

. The
concentrated on plants closely related to the target weed occurring in the U.K. as natives,
crops or ornamentals. There are no native ferns in the same family as bracken, but
we still attempted to test at least one species from each family of ferns present in
the U.K., as well as a range of crops and ornamental species. The pteridophyte species
tested against Conservula are given in Table 1, including species tested in the U.K.
and in South Africa.

Table 1 - Pteridophytes used in starvation tests with Conservula cinisigna

larvae
Total No. of Total No. of
larvae tested larvae tested
LYCOPODIACEAE CRYPTOGRAMMACEAE
uperzia selago 57 Cryptogramma crispa 5
Lycopodium clavat 25 THELYPTERIDACEAE
SELAGINELLACEAE pect omoite sot >
Selaginella kraussiana 65 oo
ASPLENIACEAE
SCHIZAEACEAE litis scolopendrium 80
Mohria caffrorum 30 Asplenium aethiopicum 30
HYPOLEPIDACEAE ATHYRIACEAE ;
Pteridium aquilinum aquilinum 221 pei 9 a sess mj
: ; noclea sensibilis
Hypolepis sparsisora Cystopteris fragilis 25
PTERIDACEAE Matteuccia struthiopteris 50
Pteris cretica 60 DRYOPTERIDACEAE
P. dentata 30 Dryopteris filix-mas 100
é 30
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE ee a
Ophioglossum vulgatum 35 P. setiferum 65
P. lucidum 30
ADIANTACEAE Gymnocarpium dryopteris 60
Adiantum pedatum 80 Rumohra adiantiformis 30
. poirettii 25
Pellaea rotundifolia 70 catia asad 61
P. viridis 35 aggressions
Cheilanthes hirta 20 POLYPODIACEAE
Polypodium vulgare 183
DAVALLIACE. oe OSMUNDACEAE
Nephrolepis cordifolia 30 Osmunda regalis 87

As usual, the host range testing of larvae of Conservula began with simple no-choice
tests where first instar larvae were offered one of the test plant species and given the

but also from many ecological studies of native insect herbivores all over the world.

156 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

testing was deemed unnecessary. These results indicate that both species are fully specific
to bracken, confirming field observations in South Africa in which larvae were never
found on other fern species growing nearby to bracken. Another concern is that even
if the agents are specific now, will they alter their food preferences when released
into a new environment? Although we are all too familiar with garden pests that can
feed on many plants, in fact most insect herbivores are so specialised that evolutionary
change to include additional plant species in their diet is extremely rare. In over 90
years of weed biocontrol, providing the appropriate host range tests have been conducted,
there have never been any examples of biocontrol agents unexpectedly attacking non-
target plants. When we applied for permission to release Conservula, English Nature
(as the Nature Conservancy Council) accepted that the results were sufficient evidence
for host specificity. However the Interim Advisory Committee on Introductions (Department
of Environment) did request that some limited further host range screening be conducted
within secure field cages, revealing a degree of caution that in our view reflects the
novelty of weed biocontrol to the U.K. rather than any genuine risk.

Current status of the classical biocontrol programme against bracken

Permission to release the first agent, Conservula, into secure field cages, under a set
of conditions, has been given by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the Ministry
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). The conditions attached to the relase are
(i) that we ensure that imported Conservula are pathogen free (ii) that Conservula larvae
are tested against several additional non-native genera of ferns commercially available
in the U.K. (iii) the design of the secure field cages is agreed with MAFF and DoE,
and (iv) 36 species of crop/ornamental plants are exposed to Conservula in the field
cages.

The cages will allow detailed monitoring of the impact of Conservula larvae on bracken
and some of its existing U.K. fauna under semi-natural conditions. The resulting data
will be used to model and predict the wider impact of Conservula on bracken in the
U.K. The impact of Conservula in conjunction with other control methods will also be
investigated, particularly cutting and spray application of asulam. An integrated approach
to bracken control is likely to be more successful than the control attempts of the past,
particularly given the vigour and invasiveness of bracken. We expect that the impact
of introduced biological agents on bracken will be insufficient to achieve control
independently, but by reducing the carbohydrate reserves in the rhizomes over large
areas of bracken, more successful local control may be possible using the standard
methods of cutting or herbicide application. After classical biological control, bracken
would still remain in large quantities in the U.K. countryside where it had not com
Subjected to a range of control measures. Of course, if frond density were reduced in
some of the large monocultures of bracken as a result of biocontrol, this would —
certainly improve the environment for nearly all the animals and plants that are currently
found associated with bracken in the U.K. One issue that will need to be resolve :
the recent claim that two additional subspecies of bracken exist in the U.K. If ——
rarer bracken taxa do exist, the possibility of them being harmed by a biocontrol eo
needs to be weighed against the potential benefits of bracken biocontrol by the
before deciding whether to allow a full field release.

Monitoring the release, establishment and potential impact of Conservula on a
will be a vital part of any continued programme, and should make full use of page:
knowledge of bracken biology and the large number of entomologists and K. should
amateur and professional, in the U.K. Any release of Conservula in the U. : logical
be gh g ae 1 and studied introduction of a herbivorous insect for biolog
control to date. At this stage, final research towards the introduction of the
agent, Panotima, could also be initiated.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 156)

Fig. 1. Conservula larva Fig. 2. Conservula cinisigna
- adult moth on bracken crozier
- wing span 1.5 inches (3 cm)

the propagating table

Fig. 1. Trays of 180 plugs containing sporelings on

157i Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

fat Ee Sell Se but ie Msg eg i an “y ope ee yt
‘ ~ eg e* fA ate st ae Py

Cast iron Coalbrookdale ‘Fern and Blackberry’ seat

a
Figs. 1 & 2 Within the conservatory at Ampthill.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 157

Further information on bracken and the biocontrol programme can be obtained from
Dr S.V. Fowler or from recent publications (and references therein):

References:
BURGE, M.N. & KIRKWOOD, R.C. 1992. The control of bracken. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology
12: 299-333.

THOMPSON, J.A. & SMITH, R.T. (eds) 1990. Bracken biology and control. Australian Institute of
Agricultural Science Occasional Publication No. 40, Sydney, Australia.

RESPONSE TO SIMON FOWLER’S ARTICLE - AN
ALTERNATIVE VIEW
RUSSELL SMITH, 6 Settlebeck, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5JJ

One can accept the assurances offered by Dr Fowler regarding the possible use of the
moth Conservula to attack Bracken, and yet ask if releasing it would be a sensible thing
to do

Bracken is unquestionably a pest species when it invades valuable farm land, and it
will remain one, though on a smaller scale, as ‘set-aside’ proceeds. (There must be
quite a number of farmers who will happily accept compensation for setting aside land
where Bracken is troublesome). Away from farmland, Bracken is often we' ,
aesthetically or ecologically: on southern coasts it provides shade for bluebells and other
desirable plants where woodland has disappeared, and its scenic contribution on our
fellsides has been welcomed from Dorothy Wordsworth’s day to our own. There is no
case for controlling it there; we have too many upland sheep as it is, and do not need
to make space for more.

You cannot control a moth’s travels, tell it where to go and which plants to eat. Innate
cussedness (which Dr Fowler has apparently not assessed) will surely mean that
Conservula would leave farm Bracken alone and chew away at the aesthetically desirable
colonies. This assumes, of course, that Dr Fowler is correct In his unprovable assumption
that the moths will confine themselves to limiting Bracken growth, and will not emulate
Cactoblastis and decimate it, country-wide.

Far better, it seems to me, to concentrate on developing a Bracken-specific chemical
control, or even to continue with asulam, strictly regulated by Government dictate rather
than by the cost of using it. | hope the Society will say so, loudly.

COMMERCIAL FERN GROWING IN HOLLAND: THE
EXAMPLE OF ROYAL LEMKES & SONS”

WIM OUDSHOORN, Lisserdijk 333, 2165 AC Lisserbroek, The Netherlands

The firm of Lemkes and Son, at Alphen aan den Rijn is one of the major fern growers
in the Netherlands. It is at present managed by J.J.C. (Hans) Lemkes, great-grandson

of H.J. Lemkes who founded the nursery in 1882. On the occasion of its century Lemkes
i by Her Majesty Queen Juliana to

ty and to many countries abroad
including Central America, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan and the U.S.A.

The company offers a wide range of ferns for the temperate garden and the cometh
produced for the Floriade in 1982 illustrates 75 of these in colour. House plants like
j olense, P. grande and Adianntum cuneatum
‘Brilliantelse’ are also grown, the latter variety being so popular that oe plants
are produced annually. One plant of Adiantum can produce ten grammes of spores
per year - enough to produce about 100,000 plants for sale. 1991
*An abbreviated version of a presentation given by the author at the B.P.S. Symposium, July ,

158 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

The collection and storage of spores is an important task. They are stored in the dark
at a temperature of 6°C and under such conditions most species can remain viable
for five years. The substrate used to grow prothalli is moss peat. At least 250 boxes
(30 x 54 cm) are sown with spores weekly, sometimes as many as 500. The amount
of spores sown per box is measured by weight, depending on the species it can be
from 10 milligrams to 2 grams and is shaken onto the substrate through a sieve. The
planter wears a mask to prevent inhalation of the spores. The boxes are kept in the
greenhouse under 20 hours of light (2800 lux) per day, at a relative humidity of 95%
and a temperature of 23°C.

Detailed records are kept of all spore gatherings, sowings and, later, plantings, on
computer. Observations about the rate of growth, attractive varieties and sales figures

are also put onto the database for future programme planning.

The time between sowing and the production of young sporophytes ready for their next
planting varies from ten weeks to 18 weeks. Apogamous species are fastest. Small
clumps of sporelings are planted in seedling trays which hold 84 or 180 unit plugs.
Planting out requires dexterity and is done in shifts: hygienic handling is essential. Mostly
women are employed for this purpose, on a part-time basis; a rapid planter handles
1500-2000 plants per hour. The propagating trays are filled by machine, at a rate of
250 per hour, the soil mix being one of peat (obtained from Finland), artificial fertilizer
and 20% perlite. Most of the young plants are sold in these trays, thereby requiring
only a single transplanting. Planted trays are placed on aluminium rails on a propagating
table (108 trays per table) (see photo. opp. p. 156). Under the trays are tubes for feeding
CO2 and heating tubes are placed beneath the tables themselves. The tables are really
water-tight tray d pl be irrigated with water (maintained at 21°C. and containing
liquid food) on a flooding and ebbing system. Each table holds 800 litres of water when
flooded. Returned water is aerated and the pH checked to maintain 5.5 to 6.0. Oxygen
and nutrient content and pH is monitored electronically. The nutrients contain enough
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur with the following
trace elements: iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc and molybdenum. In addition some
extracts of algae are added to give unknown microelements. Over the table is a ‘tent
of plastic to give the plants extra moisture during the first 3-4 weeks; after that they
are ‘hardened off’ by removing the plastic. Tables are on rollers and can be compacted
or parted to form a gangway when plants have to be tended. In this way the maximum
area in the greenhouse is covered by the tables and plants.

In the open greenhouse the day temperature is kept at 20°C., dropped to 19°C. at nite
and the relative humidity is kept between 75-85%. These conditions are maintained
by large suspended fan units in which the air is sucked in at the bottom and vented
horizontally at the top. Into the air current water is atomised at high pressure (30 atm/
bar) to maintain humidity and in summer air intake can be cooled by as much as
4-5°C. if necessary. Intake from the outside air is filtered for insects using gauze. This
will reduce the actual area of the intake and flow of fresh cool air.

To overcome this the area of gauze is proportionately greater than the window area.

Another parameter monitored is carbon dioxide content of the greenhouse air and eer
CO (from pure gas cylinders) leads to an increase in assimilation, and thus ie
of the plants. CO content of the air is measured by a selector at eight different ae
in the greenhouse and valves are automatically opened to allow in the correct amou
of gas. Gas levels are recorded daily to check against growth rates.

day and the

Fr — a eer 18hrs/
om mid-September to mid-May natural day-length is increased to diates with

lights switched on if the outside light level is below 2000 lux. Lemkes irra
SON lamps (high-pressure sodium lamps) which give 2500 lux per sq.m.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 159

lf general nursery hygiene is strict pests can be kept to a minimum. In an operation
where peat and other decaying plant remains are common Sciara flies, generally known
as fungus gnats, which have a short and rapid life-cycle, can be a major pest; they
can enter when doors are open, or on clothing of operators. At Lemkes chemical
insecticides are not used in the nursery but these gnats can be caught on glue tubes
fixed in the ridge apex of the greenhouse. Sciarids are particularly a pest of prothalli
on which the small maggots often feed. Those houses or frames containing the growing
prothalli are maintained at a higher air-pressure so that airflow and air currents are
always moving out of the container (the so-called vacuum system), and flying insects
cannot fly in against the current.

Propagation by spore is the most cost-effective method for commercial growers but there
are occasions when one wants to reproduce a variety that market research shows is
a good seller. The best way to achieve this is by tissue culture where very small amounts
of actively growing tissue is grown on gelatin plates. Lemkes has only a small laboratory
for such activity and when necessary, contracts out large-scale requirements. Tissue
culture is needed or is best for: sterile species/hybrids, varieties which are not obtained
from spores as “true to type”, species badly affected by fungi, and new varieties where
results are needed quickly for a marketing drive. The Boston Fern (Nephrolepis) cultivars
are particularly well suited to this kind of propagation.

Lemkes exports considerable quantities of young fern plants in boxes containing six
trays, each with 180 plants - 1080 plants which weigh about 13 kg. They have given
much thought to find a system which ensures safe transport of the product at minimum
freight charges. For air freight, in which a kilo of lead is charged at the same rate
as a kilo of plants, an optimum weight/volume ratio package has been designed.
Temperature changes are the main problem and plants are well-insulated. The package
now used ensures the plants arrive at the customer's door in good condition and they
can be unpacked and, whilst still in their inner packing, can be placed in a nursery
to acclimatise before their ultimate re-potting.

CAST IRON FERN SEATS
MARTIN H RICKARD, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops. SY8 2HP.

Through the Victorian period and the early years of this century ferns touched on —
aspects of everyday life. Recently, the Pteridologist has featured two articles on plates
decorated with ferns, but many other items featured fern motifs, including garden seats.

Pteridium aquilinum or Bracken. The blackberries are confined to small diamond-shaped
boxes along the top of the seat back. The Coalbrookdale foundry did not make only
one type of ‘Fern and Blackberry’, there are, in fact, 30 or more different versions. ta
available were single seats, doubles, 3’ 5” and 4’ 9” long, and trebles, 6’ long. sie
or all of the longer models have a decorative frieze of cast iron along the front, u

the seat. Most models were available with a pine-wood seat, an oak-wood sped or a
iron seat. Ex-factory seats seem to have only been available in green, chocolate or es
- apparently never white. Curiously, it is rare to see one of these seats in any on
other than white today. While quite rare, these seats can be found in — aie
fairly easily, priced at anything from £400 to £1400, depending on dealer and co — :
Don’t be put off though, one of these in your garden is not just a museum piece,
is unbelievably comfortable!

Two other fern designs were made at Coalbrookdale; today these are very rare. | have

160 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)
only ever seen pictures of these models. ‘Osmunda Fern’ is a beautiful seat (see Fig.
1), made up with panels of typical Osmunda regalis fronds; it does not look as comfortable
as ‘Fern and Blackberry’. This was available as a single, double, 3’ 4” and 4’ 11” long,
and treble 6’ 5” long. Seat and colour options were the same as ‘Fern and Blackberry’.

by : wd !

VN AL
AH) Wi) 0d
\

PaD/
soar

arate

a: Sire \ a:
re OTs
Vth ee
meee

ee 2
ARO SYS
. ‘s rv 2 “

Oat ee Sr,

D ach '( Uo) See ee ene
vey . ere = aia

ot ae <a

Cie re “

Fig. 1. Osmunda Fern
The final design is by far the most beautiful, it is called ‘Osmunda regalis’. Although
| have only seen the company engraving it is obviously a work of art (Fig. 2). The back
panel has no partitions and is one incredible collage of osmunda fronds with strands
of, what look like, foxgloves. This model was available with small shelves which fixed

to the arms. Versions offered are similar to the other designs, except no single seater
appears to have been made.

“J
ts

uh
1)

Fig. 2. Osmunda Regalis % k

: ar

Cast iron manufactured at Coalbrookdale is supposed to carry the Coalbrockie® =

~ 4 modified diamond about 4 cm high. In fact, many seats which look to be yas

Coalbrookdale do not have a mark, so this is not an infallible guide to panies
Forgeries complicate the issue, | have seen one probable cast iron forgery but u

) ' can
€rn copies are made of aluminium or some other very lightweight alloy. If you
lift it, it is probably not cast iron.

um
(Figs. 1 and 2 are reproduced with the kind permission of the Ironbridge Gorge Muse
Trust)

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 161

SPACE AND TIME ECONOMY IN FERNING
MICHAEL CRADDOCK, 40 Russell Drive, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2TX

Two hours a week and a minute sandy garden are the cause of much anguish and
frustration. With imagination, thought and, ideally but not necessarily, a conservatory,
these drawbacks can, however, be overcome to successfully grow many different ferns
from all over the world.

A conservatory obviously enables the growth of a much wider variety of ferns, as well
as being an ideal place for germinating spore and the growing of sporelings. Also it
gives considerable joy in winter months when garden plants are dormant; it is therefore
an invaluable asset if the space can be spared.

Within the conservatory (see Figs 1 and 2 opp. p. 157) we have benches both sides
with shelves above; benches are base lined with builder's plastic sheeting with upturned
lip edge, and onto this is put an inch (2.5 cm) or so of builders sand which is then
covered by capillary matting. The sand can retain a considerable amount of water and
keep the matting moist for long periods. Gravel trays are used extensively on all shelves,
22 inch (50 cm) square trays on lower shelves and oblong 42 x 15 inch (105 x 38
cm) trays on upper shelves; these also have capillary matting in the bottom for even
distribution of moisture. These trays are excellent for holding many pots, perhaps 40
spore pots on one tray.

Benches and trays prepared in this manner make watering easier as the whole bench
or tray can be watered directly, saving time watering each pot individually. By using
peat based compost the plants will take up moisture from below as required.

When it comes to being away from home for a few days, especially in summer months,
plants can easily dry out quickly; an extra soaking of the bench will eliminate any short
term risk of drought, or whether someone else, however good their intentions, remembers
to do it right. The humidity created from the benches can be considered an extra bonus
to the well-being of the plants.

As we all know, ferns will grow within the home, but how many suitable places are
there, even with artificial light and humidity creating devices? Even the most ~—
and tolerant of ferns will eventually succumb to the hostile i tunl t

in one of the few best places.

So with the facility of a conservatory many of the less suitable places can be brought
alive with ferns, changing them periodically back to the conservatory to r ejuvenate and
return to their former growing glory. At this point it may be said that many unlikely
ferns, such as male fern, look and last well in the home, so there is plenty of choice.

Watering in our conservatory is with rain water collected in three butts from its own
roof. Relative humidity is usually around 80% in summer, time controlled artificial lighting
by fluorescent tubes enhances daylight in such places as under benches.

Shading in the summer months is provided by old venetian blind slats, one slat every
3 feet (95 cm) or so, screwed to the roof rafters in one direction and others slipped
between in the opposite direction. This method enables different parts to be shaded
heavily or lightly as required by just slipping in more or fewer slats. These can be removed
in minutes on the arrival of shorter days and decreasing sun.

Winter heating in the conservatory is provided by a small gas boiler which is set to
maintain a minimum temperature of 55°F (12°C), this being a temperature —
most plants will continue to grow slowly and therefore still provide interest and activity,
even though it may be well below freezing outside; the boiler, by the way !s not a
costly item to run.

162 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

Pests cannot be completely non-existent in such an environment, but if new additions
are thoroughly checked and a watchful eye kept, no pest should become a problem.

Corner cutting, regrettably, is practised to save time although no problems have directly
resulted to date!

Beyond the conservatory there is a small unit used mainly for storing plants. Spores
don’t give you the desired three or four of the required fern; one gets none, millions,
loads of gatecrashers or various combinations. So there is an odd-ball lot in here, some
waiting for a place to be found in the garden sometime, and others that would find
the garden too cold, such as tree-ferns and woodwardias. A small electric heater keeps
this area just frost free in winter. It has a similar arrangement with trays decked on
shelves.

Our minute sandy garden has, in most parts where there are ferns, had builder's plastic
sheeting laid to a depth of 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm), to retain moisture. The sheet
is punctured with suitably placed drainage holes to prevent the soil becoming too
waterlogged. The hose pipe, even if not banned, cannot compete with the plastic sheet
which seems, so far, to work very well.

Contentment for me cannot be found in a few ferns and at the risk of being frowned
upon by the school that believes the true beauty of an individual plant may be lost
when crowded out by others, our ferns have been planted much too closely, in order
to have as many as possible. There is no such thing as too many and a place can
be found somewhere for more. Most, at present, are in a relatively juvenile state so
probably some will need relocating later, but many ideas float around, its just a time
problem.

It is hoped this story may inspire others with small awkward gardens to step back and
think again what can be done, as the delights are indescribable from that first crozier
pushing through in the spring to the green carpet in the spore pot.

| would like to take this opportunity to thank the BPS and all those pteridologists who

have given their time and advice to Linda, Trish and myself over the last two and a
half years.

SHORTER NOTE

Remembering Reg
The Master has gone Will come, ere sun or rain
In latter months, slowly waning We should not mourn :
Like a setting sun Through them he joins us once again
Yet, his ferns do raise His legacy is everywhere
Their croziers firmly still Abundant - and will stay
And proudly spread their For they will be here for many a day
Fronds as was his will And so the Master has gone
The sori shed their spore Ah yes, sadly, in a way
To rest and flourish ever But just try telling that :
Would he have wished it To my Asplenium Scolopendrium
Other, oh no - never ‘Laceratum Kaye’

And like the dawn the ferns RAY SMITH

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 163

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY - THE CRANFIELD COLLECTION
MARTIN H RICKARD, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops. SY8 2HP

| don't think too many people would disagree that the ferns accumulated by Reginald
Kaye at his Silverdale Nursery make up the most important collection of cultivars of
our British ferns in existence today. Over the years from the 1920s to the 1990s Reg
raised many new cultivars from spore and bought collections from many of the old
pioneer growers, saving many of the classic cultivars from banishment to oblivion. Over
this period notable acquisitions to the Silverdale garden include ferns from Percy
Greenfield, Robert Whiteside, Mr Penny and John Stormonth (Kaye, 1991). Reg also
acquired individual! plants from many other sources right up to the time of his death
in August 1992.

Sadly, however, the big one got away. That big one was the collection built up by William
Bathgate Cranfield over many years from the beginning of this century until his death
in 1948. Cranfield was President of the British Pteridological Society from 1920 until
1948. At some time, probably in the late 1930s or 1940s, Cranfield offered his collection
to Reg for £500 (Kaye, 1991); an enormous sum of money, roughly equivalent to the
cost of a semi-detached three bedroomed house in London before the war. Such a sum
was out of the question to Reg, or anyone else, so the collection was willed to the
Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley. The story of its subsequent demise has
been told several times recently by Jimmy Dyce (eg Dyce, 1990), and is reinvestigated
in this issue (Rickard, 1993). In short, only a relatively small number of plants were
actually collected from Cranfield’s garden at Enfield; those which remained were offered
to local gardeners and the rest were flame-gunned so the ground could be cleared for
vegetables. It is a tantalising thought that some treasures may still exist in the vicinity,
anonymously tucked away in private gardens! The loss of the bulk of this enormous
collection was clearly a severe blow to the fern cult in this country. If only Reg had
been able to buy it!

Cranfield’s collection was frequently referred to in the early volumes of The British Fern
Gazette. Therefore, from this source alone we have quite a good idea which ferns he
grew, how he grew them and the appearance of his garden.

Cranfield was a relatively rich man and was able to buy any collections that came on
the market, perhaps out-bidding other growers? Or perhaps he was given first refusal?
Either way, most of the better collections ended up at Enfield. Notable acquisitions were
the Moly collection (pre-1910), the Henwood collection (complete except for a few
distributed as sourvenirs in 1937), as well as plants from Harris at Bristol (originally
in the A M Jones collection), T Bolton of Warton, Dr Stansfield, C T Druery and, almost
certainly, C B Green. It was always tempting to think that Cranfield was given, or bought,
Druery’s collection, but | have only recently found proof, thanks to Peter Barnes of Wisley
drawing my attention to Druery’s obituary in The Garden. There Cranfield states, ‘While
his death creates a gap which no one can fill, it is some source of consolation that
his entire collection of British Ferns and numerous notes and writings have passed
into my possession, which will, | hope, enable me to continue the work he had followed
with such enthusiasm and success during the latter part of his life.” (Cranfield, 1917).

In addition to acquiring so many collections, it must not be forgotten that lat bog
did a tremendous amount of spore sowing, raising many first class cultivars of his own.

The garden at Enfield extended to about 4 acres. Many of the ferns were sist
a series of bays, each was.21 feet wide by 27 feet from back pes ae gener
by a privet hedge. These bays were set up in 1912 when Cranfield cleared a — fs)
land to the north of his spinney. By the late 1940s Jimmy Dyce tells me that the ea
had been replaced by low walls. The bays were under the shelter of lofty trees bordering

164 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

a woodland area. Each bay consisted of a short path, surrounded horse-shoe fashion,
by wide sloping beds, here and there furnished with stepping stones. There were seven
of these bays, five devoted almost exclusively to cultivars of Polystichum setiferum, one
to Asplenium scolopendrium and one to Athyrium filix-femina. Behind the bays Cranfield
kept seedlings for trial.

Nearby, in a spinney, a wide range of ferns were grown, while in another site, by a
cottage, cultivars of Dryopteris were concentrated. Other more treasured items, including
the small aspleniums, were kept in a greenhouse. Because polypodies grow to greater
perfection with protection they were grown in a cold frame in his ‘orchard’. Another
frame was devoted to dwarfs - mainly Asplenium scolopendrium, another to blechnums
and yet another to other Asplenium scolopendrium varieties.

Thanks to the recent rediscovery of a collection of the notebooks at the Royal Horticultural
Society Gardens at Wisley, it is now possible to build up a complete picture of the
treasures in Cranfield’s fern collection at around 1915.

This collection includes five notebooks, surprisingly in Druery’s handwriting, describing
Cranfield’s collection. In The British Fern Gazette, 1915, Druery reveals he was invited
to Enfield by Cranfield to take stock of his collection of British Fern varieties, with a
view to their systematic classification and proper naming. Druery comments that he
imagines the collection to be practically the most representative, the choicest and most
up-to-date of those in existence at the time, presumably the summer of 1915. It is
therefore logical that notebooks in Druery’s handwriting listing all Cranfield’s ferns should
exist. One of these notebooks gives locations of ferns in a garden, obviously Cranfield’.
| believe the other four notebooks, which are smaller, simple alphabetical lists, were
written at the same time.

The four smaller notebooks are well organised, each dedicated to a single group, ie.
Lastrea (Dryopteris, Oreopteris etc.), Athyrium filix-femina, Polypodium vulgare, and
Polystichum. There is no book listing all the aspleniums.

For records of aspleniums and other genera we have to rely on the larger notebook
which gives the composite record of the entire collection and its distribution in Cranfields
garden at Enfield. These lists describe his collection before he acquired Druery’s ferns.
Subsequently Cranfield updated the notebooks at various times with additions. It is easy
to distinguish Cranfield’s writing from Druery’s. Druery’s writing is very neat and usually
easily interpreted, unlike Cranfield’s which is grotesque and very difficult to read - even
if it does have the advantage of being very easily recognised!

From all these books we therefore have a good record of Cranfield’s collection. a0
list below summarises the highlights among the hardy ferns in 1915 when Druery a!
his inventory; tender ferns are another story!:

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum - only two notable cultivars: ‘Caudifolium’ and ‘Grandiceps -
Asplenium obovatum - ‘Microdon’ - a hybrid, not a cultivar.

Asplenium scolopendrium - 152 distinct forms listed. Most notable are th
‘Crispum’, 62 in all! Treasures in the ‘Crispum’ group which are now lost or un
are ‘Cowburnii’, ‘Grande Moly’, ‘Splendens Moly’, ‘Gray’, ‘Fimbriatum Croppe was
course, many more. There are, however, interesting omissions - for example, be

no ‘Crispum Fimbriatum Stansfield’. Other than crispums the range of varieties pee
fairly predictable with similar forms of most being available today, one exception,
extinct, is ‘Viviparum O'Kelly’.

- * ’ . mentii
Asplenium trichomanes - 5 forms including the long lost treasures ‘Incisum Cle
M

and ‘Incisum Moly’.

<=

ntioned
Athyrium alpestre - one variety ‘Cristatum’, a cultivar | have never seen me

anywhere else.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 165

Athyrium filix-femina ~ 109 named forms listed. Most are still grown today as original
or progeny - eg ‘Clarissima’, ‘Frizelliae’, ‘Gemmatum’, ‘Kalothrix’, ‘Victoriae’,
‘Uncoglomeratum’ and several of the ‘Plumosum’ group. However, there are several
plumosums unknown now, eg. ‘May’, ‘Hodgson’, ‘Horsfall’, and ‘Stansfield’. He also grew
‘Elegans Parsons’ the parent of the ‘Plumosum Superbum’ range raised by Druery. in
about 1916, he lost ‘Girdlestonii’, one of the most beautiful forms which was illustrated
by Druery (1910); it is presumably extinct today.

Blechnum spicant - 9 forms. ‘Serratum’ and ‘Cristatum’ forms are grown today,

in addition Cranfield grew ‘Lineare Barnes’, ‘Trinervo-coronans’ and ‘Imbricatum’. Similar
forms could reappear in sowings.

Dryopteris aemula - 1 cultivar - ‘Cristata’. Known until fairly recently but, sadly, now
lost.

Dryopteris affinis - 20 cultivars. Most still in cultivation, either as original clones or
sporelings. There were only two cultivars apparently unlike any we know today -
‘Fimbriato-cristata’ and ‘Percristata Apospora’.

Dryopteris dilatata - 15 cultivars. Again nothing of great interest, apart from the form
of ‘Foliosa-cristata’ originally collected in the Azores - this is now presumed to be a
form of D. azorica. It would be interesting to know if this cultivar is still in cultivation.

Dryopteris filix-mas - 39 forms. Again, as above, most still in cultivation either as original
clones or sporelings.

Dryopteris oreades - 9 forms. Again, nothing greatly different from anything currently
in Cultivation.

Gymnocarpium dryopteris - only one cultivar - ‘Plumosum’, which is not uncommon
today.

Oreopteris limbosperma - Cranfield grew 12 cultivars, all are now extinct although we
do have a narrow form recently found in the Radnor Forest not unlike Angustifrons
Whitwell’. Other treasures on his list included ‘Filifera Wiper ', ‘Plumosa Dr Stansfield
and ‘Grandiceps Smithies’. These may not have survived until the 1940s as Cranfield
admitted to having difficulty with growing Oreopteris, although ‘Plumosa’ was still in
good form in 1932.

Osmunda regalis - Surprisingly, apparently only one cultivar, ‘Cristata’.

Polypodium vulgare agg. - 71 forms. Surprisingly he had very few forms not set
today. Exceptions are ‘Grandiceps Parker’ - grown fleetingly by Reg Kaye in the

- and ‘Cambricum Hadwinii’.

Polystichum aculeatum - \n Cranfield’s day cultivars of Polystichum . and
Polystichum aculeatum were not always correctly differentiated (eg pet tee she
was put under P. aculeatum). | believe Druery only grew about 5 or 6 forms of genui
P. aculeatum, of these none were first class.

Polystichum lonchitis - only one cultivar - ‘Cristatum’. Probably now extinct, rT.
iS a crested form of P. aculeatum var. cambricum in the Reginald Kaye collection,

could have been incorrectly placed under P. /onchitis in Cranfield’s day.

dia | ip ay sip
3 of his 39 divisilobums), ‘Plumoso-divisilobum Grimmondiae’, ‘Plumoso-divisilobum

166 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

Magnificum Edwards’, ‘Plumoso-divisilobum Pellucidum Stansfield’ (to mention 3
plumoso-divisilobums out of 35 in the collection), ‘Falcatum Moly’, ‘Hirondelle’,
‘Plumosissimum Birkenhead’, ‘Plumosum Patey’, ‘Plumosum Wollaston’, ‘Pulcherrimum
Mrs Thompson’, ‘Pulcherrimum Variegatum Moly’ and ‘Revolvens’.

Pteridium aquilinum - 2 cultivars both still in cultivation.

Thelypteris palustris - one cultivar, ‘Polydactyla’, recently a similar form was offered
on the BPS Spore List.

So there we have an outline of Cranfield’s collection at Enfield in 1915, including about
50 of the best named cultivars now believed to be extinct. Of the 760 or so named
cultivars known to be in the collection in 1915, we would need to add quite a few
more to allow for subsequent additions from Druery, Henwood and other collectors.
It would, perhaps, be a reasonable guess to assume the total collection peaked at
something like 1000 different named cultivars.

Unfortunately, Cranfield does not seem to have given many plants away. Between 1900
and 1910 he did give a collection to E A Bowles in nearby Waltham Cross, and much
later a small piece of Polypodium australe ‘Grandiceps Parker’ to Reginald Kaye (which
died). Otherwise the final bequest to Wisley is the only gift | have been able to trace,
apart from a few of his lesser varieties given to Jimmy Dyce in 1939!

Despite the almost immediate loss of P. australe ‘Grandiceps Parker’, a visit to Reginald
Kaye's garden in Silverdale is a pilgrimage for today’s fern enthusiasts - just imagine
what it might have been like if this collection had not been the one that got away!

Acknowledgements

| would like to thank Jimmy Dyce and Peter Barnes for making available much of the
information summarised above.

References:

See W.B. 1917. The Late Mr Charles Thomas Druery. The Garden, Aug 25,
17.

DRUERY, C.T. (1910). British Ferns and their Varieties, Routledge, London.

DRUERY, C.T. 1915. Mr WB Cranfield’s Collection, The British Fern Gazette, 3, 10.

DYCE, J.W. 1990. Polystichum setiferum ‘Lineare Hirondelle’. Pteridologist 2; 32.

KAYE, R. 1991. The Story of the Reginald Kaye Fern Collection in The History of the
British Pteridological Society 1891 - 1991, London.

RICKARD, M.H. 1993. The Cranfield Collection and Wisley. Pteridologist, this issue.

SHORTER NOTE
Ornaments from Ferns

This year (1992) | was fortunate to be able to join an expedition to the heart of Irian
Jaya, the Indonesian half of New Guinea. Our base camp was set up beside the highest
“ lage in the area at 2430m altitude (c. 8000 ft). The village people belong 0 the iar
tribe, and their dress was very botanical with the women wearing skirts made ba
Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) and the men wearing gourds (Cucurbitaceae).

Only the men wear armlets (above the elbow) and tight bracelets (forced over the hand
with the help of Pig-fat as lubrication). The men weave these armlets and i
from the vascular bundles of a fern (Dicranopteris, illustrated on p.95 in A World 0
ferns, Camus, Jermy & Thomas). These fibres are naturally light-coloured, but they ©
be Stained darker by steeping in anaerobic mud. The different shades are woven into
attractive designs.
JOSEPHINE lM. CAMUS

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 167

POLYSTICHUM SETIFERUM ‘DIVISILOBUM BLAND’
(PLUMOSO-DIVISILOBUM ‘BLAND’)
JW DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex 1G10 1LT

Following up my article in the Pteridologist in 1990 (Vol. 2, No. 1) | have to report
that two more forms in this section of variation in Polystichum setiferum have been
found.

First, for the benefit of newer members who have not seen my previous article, | have
to explain that, although the variety was named Divisilobum Bland, (Fig. 1) it is, in fact,
a plumose divisilobe. The plumose form is characterised by having larger and much
wider pinnae than divisilobum, with the result that they overlap, making the fronds
three-dimentional and greatly enhanced in beauty.

Found in the wild in Ireland about 1910, Bland is very much superior to all other grown
divisilobes and has been regarded as the sole representative of its kind. Recently, a
very beautiful divisilobe was discovered during a visit to the fern garden in
Buckinghamshire of our member E W Wright (Fig. 2). It was not until it was examined
more closely later on that it was realised that it was more than a divisilobe - in fact,
a plumose divisilobe. This was an exciting discovery, and | suddenly remembered that
| had a rather similar setiferum variety growing in my garden, which | had never really
scrutinised closely. It came to me very many years ago from the garden of our member
Lt-Col P G Coke (Fig. 3) when he lived in Gloucestershire. A much more close examination
showed that this too must be classified as a plumose divisilobe.

The result is we now have three varieties in this very rare section of variation in P.
setiferum, instead of only one. It should be added, however, that Bland is still the best
one and continues to be the type of plant for the section. Pinnae from the three forms
are depicted here.

a
SORE : 3
xy.
WP :
| i ’
>) 8 Hy i
sti ms A miso “
Es } ace
' f
1g Me PK 4

Fig. 1. Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum Bland’

Fig. 2. P. setiferum (Plumoso-divisilobum group) ex E.W. Wright

Fig. 3. P. Setiferum (Plumoso-divisilobum group) ex P.G. Coke
(All pinnae fromm basal third of frond)

168 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

BPS PLANT EXCHANGE
PETER HAINSWORTH, Station House, Achnashellach, Strathcarron, Ross,
1V54 8YR. Scotland.

After sending and receiving a number of parcels through the plant exchange myself
* this year, a problem or two came to light and a few more were suspected. Rosemary
Hibbs and | thought it might be a good thing to collect experiences from others taking
part. We discovered that at least 50 parcels were exchanged, with, usually, several
plants in each, so the exchange is certainly well appreciated. Quite a number of new
members took part and they, understandably, were not very clear about what was being
offered. Some had quite a surprise when they received little sporelings! There were
a few embarrassing situations over payments too.

Most difficulties came under the headings of -

1) The purpose of the exchange.
2) Size of plant offered.

3) Packing.

4) Payment of expenses.

1) The purpose of the exchange

This is to give members an opportunity of widening their collections and to provide
good homes for members’ surplus plants. These may be of any size from tiny sporelings
(which some members do not have time, experience or facilities to handle) to crowns
from established plants. Most people send reasonably well established plants, from 2-
3” pots, which may or may not be big enough to plant out in the garden straight away.
So recipients should consider growing them on for another year. Garden centre sized
plants are not normally offered. We don’t particularly want to compete with them -
if only on the grounds of expense.

2) Size of Plant

We think it would be very helpful, therefore, if members would indicate approximately
what they are offering and suggest the following code, on an experimental basis -

a) Crowns, i.e. pieces with roots, split off or divisions of large plants. Mark these “C”.

b) Sporelings, from a box or potted, one or two years old from the first frond. Rates
of growth vary enormously between species so we suggest giving the length of the
fronds to cover this. Mark them “Sp.1”, or “Sp.2” for first and second year plants
respectively and add 4” or whatever the length is. If they have been potted for some
months and developed a reasonably good root ball add “P’’.

¢) Occasionally members may want to dispose of larger potted plants, in which case

the size of pot will do, or well established outdoor crowns. Not recommended because

of the weight and postage. Occasionally, too, rare plants may be offered. Indicate

R and be sure to agree a price for such items before despatch! Some members

may wish to dispose of fronds with bulbils, rhizomes and miscellaneous bits but aga!"
not really recommended except between friends.

Probably 95% will fall into the first two categories and should not present any classification
problems. Inevitably some plants will fall between sizes, err on the smaller size perhaps,
but we are not selling them so we don’t have to worry about the Trade Description
Act. However, please don’t send detailed descriptions of your plants - think of the organiser,
and there isn’t room on the list anyway!

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 169

3) Packing

This is probably the main deterrent for members who might offer plants. It can be quite
a lot of bother and that may be no guarantee that plants will arrive in good condition.
A package has to withstand being thrown across a room into its appropriate bin at
the sorting office. Plants must be tightly packed in their containers so that they cannot
move. Another essential, unless you have plenty of time, is that a parcel needs to be
quickly assembled from readily available materials. S hing around the t for plastic
bags, tape, wrapping paper and a box to fit is a time wasting chore.

A few simple rules may help -
a) Don’t let paper or cardboard touch damp compost, it goes soggy in 24 hours.

b) Pots, by their shape, are nearly impossible to pack firmly and their hard edges damage
other plants.

c) No empty spaces around plants. They allow plants and packing to move around and
get damaged.

d) Loose compost around the roots invariably drops out and creates empty spaces.

| use a “strait-jacket’” method of sending plants, which might look a bit cruel to the
recipient but | am told that they recover well after a day or two. It is quick, light and
inexpensive. | am fortunate in having a plentiful supply of Sphagnum (bog moss) which
makes ideal padding and can be stored indefinitely. (Stock up when you next get the
chance). Shredded polythene, or bits of that cobwebby material used for crop protection
would do. It needs to be soft, pliable but not lose its strength when moist. Below |
give the method | use in some detail because it is the details of an unfamiliar task
that get overlooked and you have to start all over again.

1) Take the plant out of its pot, shake off loose compost, wrap a little padding around
its neck and fronds. Slip it into a small polybag or on a rectangle of polythene and
roll it fairly tightly into a small sausage, with a dab of sticky tape to hold it.

2) Lay the several small sausages on a piece of stiff corrugated cardboard of appropriate
size (ex supermarket box), printed side up so that you can write the address on the
plain side. Form the small sausages into one large sausage, spacing out the root
balls and putting the two largest at opposite ends.

3) Roll tightly in the cardboard to form a strong cylinder, two layers of cardboard thick.
Roll your letter in at this stage and tape down. Fold the ends in for larger parcels,
it adds strength but not necessary for very small ones. Slitting down the ends for
an inch or so helps, then cover them with wide parcel tape. No need for wrapping
Paper or envelope, just write the address on the cardboard.

Very small plants can be wrapped and padded with damp kitchen roll then in a polybag

and put in a matchbox or pill container.

Other members have equally satisfactory methods, usually dependent on materials and

Containers available. The common theme is firm packing.

4) Expenses

Postage must be reimbursed obviously, count the stamps before throwing the packaging
away.

We are in this for fun so no hard and fast rules can be drawn for this. For most people
time is valuable and pensation for collecting, labelling and packing is appreciated.
Some of us even have to travel a long way to a post office but usually manage Sor

other job at the same time! Perhaps 25-50p per plant would be reasonable, according

170 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

to size, and rounded off to the nearest pound. Or the donor can give a guide. We don't
want donors to feel that the exchange is not worth the bother, especially those who
have much to give. Most requests arrive within a fortnight of the publication of the
lists and it may lead to better distribution for donors to wait this time before sorting
out the orders. The first envelope opened may have a request for five of one kind, a
donor's entire stock. It is also easier to pack several parcels at one time. Many members
pay by cheque. This is expensive for small amounts - first or second class stamps would
be acceptable to most people. The best device is to swap your plants at meetings!

A few other points. Several beginners asked for a good but inexpensive book on fern
cultivation for beginners. | am assured that Jimmy Dyce’s ‘The Cultivation and Propagation
of British Ferns” at £3.00 is the thing to have. (Out of print, but a new edition should
be available by the time the Pteridologist is distributed. Ed.). Following on from this
if you are offering out of the ordinary items and have access to specialist information,
a photocopied sheet of details is enormously helpful.

Many young ferns change their appearance markedly as they grow, so if you have doubts
be patient. But they could still be wrongly named - fern spores are notorious for getting
into the wrong packet or pot on account of their small size and lightness. You are not
allowed to breath while handling them!

As long as it is something new it will be interesting. If you have lots already - well
there is always next year’s plant exchange.

SHORTER NOTE
Verification of a record of oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) from the Burren,
Co. Clare.

Coincidental with, and quite unaware of, Donal Synnot’s production of his paper
(Pteridologist 2: 139-143, 1992) in which he discusses the Irish records of the oak
fern, and remarks on the apparent non-existence of a voucher for the Co Clare record,
| produced the following note.

Oak fern is not recorded for the Burren in D. A. Webb & M. J. P. Scannell’s (1983)
Flora of the Burren & Connemara, Cambridge University Press. In March 1990 whilst
engaged in cataloguing the Ulster Museum’s pteridophyte collections | came across an
1876 specimen of this species from the S. A. Stewart herbarium numbered H1939-
1941, which is labelled on the original label “near Roadford, Co Clare (in the wild district
of the Burren) sparingly, Thos. Wright Jnr Aug 1876’. There are two good, large fronds
on the sheet, which were mounted or remounted in 1941 by staff of the then Belfast
Municipal Museum & Art Gallery. This record is actually already in the literature - see
Colgan, N. & Scully, R. W. (1898) Cybele Hibernica second edition, Dublin, page 452:
Roadside between Broadford (sic) village and the cliffs of Moher, Clare; T. H. Wright -
Note how Roadford has become, incorrectly, “Broadford” in this publication; Roadford
's at RO797, 2km NE of Fisherstreet according to the Topographical Index in Webb &
Scannell (1983, above). The same record is repeated, with the incorrect name “Broadford
in Praeger, R. L1. (1901) Irish Topographical Botany Dublin. So far as | am aware there
'S no place called Broadford in Co Clare.
Miss M. Scannell, to whom | showed the specimen in early 1992, has commented
that she and her co-author had probably ignored the record on account of the absence
of any further information and the apparent absence of a voucher.
PAUL HACKNEY
(Dept. of Botany, Ulster Museum, Belfast BT9 SAB)

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 171

GROWING HARDY FERNS WITHOUT SHADE
A R BUSBY, 16 Kirby Cornner Road, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD

The popular gardening press often seems to suggest that ferns can only be grown in
shady gardens. This is a pity because it imposes unnecessary limitations on those
gardeners that would like to grow a few ferns in their gardens. | cannot deny that ferns
grown in damp shade can provide superlative examples if well-grown, but | am firmly
of the opinion that, if one chooses carefully, many ferns can be grown in quite open
sunny positions. Time spent studying our native ferns in their numerous habitats will
quickly confirm this.

The most obvious example is the common bracken. This is often encountered in sunny
hedgerows, on canal and railway embankments. It also clothes acres of sunlit hill-sides.
Admittedly, in such conditions it has a much shorter stature and less lush fronds. This
is the price we may have to pay if we are to extend our fern planting into the more
sunny spots in our gardens, for growing our ferns in this way will have the same effect
on most of them. Our common male fern, Dryopteris filix-mas, can be found in even
more extreme habitats, such as fissures in cliffs and brick walls, as if to emulate the
truly mural aspleniums. Other species, such as the parsley fern, Cryptogramma crispa,
the hard fern, Blechnum spicant and even the oak fern, Gymnocarpium dryopteris are
occasionally found on south-facing screes. All apparently show a tolerance for hot sunny
places, as long as they have their roots in cool moist soil.

The one group of ferns that | would recommend for growing in borders with limited
or no shade, is the scaly male fern, Dryopteris affinis and its varieties. | have grown
various D. affinis forms in a very hot front garden for the last eight years with no losses.
At midsummer they are in full sun from 6 a.m., until the cooling shade of the house
reaches them at about 2 p.m. They do not gain the stature that their more fortunate
brothers attain in more equable conditions and they do look somewhat leathery by early
September, but they thrive and provide much pleasure throughout the summer. If you
are Cursed with a sunny garden, plant D. affinis and its varieties.

Some years ago, | was obliged to plant a fern border in what | considered to be a very
unsuitable position. It was open, sunny and wind-swept. It was planted with varieties
of Dryopteris affinis, D. filix-mas, D. dilatata, Polystichum setiferum and its varieties,
Osmunda regalis, and two or three varieties of lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina. All but
the latter have done well. In addition, | planted Blechnum penna-marina, Hypolepis
rugulosa and Polystichum munitum. Again, all three have done well, especially the
hypolepis, which seems to thrive in the sun. This border is subjected to some eight
hours of Sunlight at mid-summer.

Success with ferns in such situations is largely due to the composition of the soil. |
have come to the conclusion that heavy, sticky clay is the fern-growers best friend.
It is both moisture retentive and fertile. Throughout a long, dry period, the surface will
bake hard; it will shrink and crack but it NEVER dries out. | have found that once the
ferns are well rooted into the clay, the fern border requires little or no watering. Matters
can be improved further by late winter mulching with bulky organic materials. Watering
is restricted to those ferns that have been planted for less than two years. After two
years they can fend for themselves. Water in late evening and NEVER spray the fronds,
it's @ waste of time and water. Only when established ferns are showing obvious signs
Of distress do | relent and water them.

For those that garden on thin or sandy, free-draining soils, growing hardy ferns without
any shade would be a risky business. Careful and elaborate preparation of the soil is
€ssential to ensure moisture retention in the driest summer. The proposed fern border
must be well prepared by incorporating generous amounts of bulky organic material.

172 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

Good garden compost, stable manure, leaf-mould, spent hops, spent mushroom compost,
coir fibre and, risking the wrath of the bogophiles, sedge peat can be used to provide
the moisture retaining sponge called humus, so essential for a healthy soil. Never let
a season commence without a liberal application of a surface mulch. Ensure that the
soil is wet before you apply it.

It is my experience that as long as most of these ferns can draw on an inexhaustible
supply of moisture, they will tolerate long periods exposed to sunlight. To ensure a
cool moist root run, consider the use of stones placed around the plants. This is especially
effective for hart’s tongue ferns, and with the correct choice of stone, will look most
decorative. Stone cover is the essential ingredient that ensures the survival of ferns
on mountain or quarry screes.

The hart’s tongue fern, Asplenium scolopendrium, will tolerate some sunny hours but
it will tend to be smaller and paler, and lack the lushness of plants grown in shade.
However, the golden form, Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Golden Queen’, really needs a
bright situation if it is to show off its gold colouring to its best advantage. Plant it in
shade and it will lose its variegation.

Based on my own experience and situation | have compiled a table of what | consider

to be the sunlight tolerance of hardy ferns. | omit those | do not grow. For light soils,

| Suggest you halve the hours of tolerance.

Ferns that will tolerate six to eight hours of sunlight:

Dryopteris affinis, D. filix-mas, Polypodium australe and P. interjectum, Hypolepis sp.,

Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Cryptogramma crispa.

Ferns that will tolerate three to four hours of sunlight:

Polystichum setiferum, P. aculeatum, Dryopteris erythrosora, Blechnum penna-marina,

Polystichum munitum, Osmunda regalis.

Ferns that will tolerate one to two hours of sunlight:

Adiantum pedatum, A. venustum, Athyrium filix-femina, Oreopteris limbosperma.

Given Sufficient moisture, most hardy ferns will tolerate a little sunlight, but | would

provide total damp shade for Matteuccia struthiopteris and the extremely fine forms

of Athyrium filix-femina.

So do not allow a lack of shade to prevent you from growing a wide selection of hardy

oe Prepare the soil well and experiment with the commoner species and varieties.
here are many hardy ferns | have not mentioned but most are worth trying.

PROPAGATING VARIETIES OF POLYSTICHUM SETIFERUM
FROM BULBILS.

A R BUSBY, 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD

On the ‘Divisilobum’, ‘Acutilobum’, and ‘Multilobum’ forms of the soft shield fern,

P olystichum Setiferum, bulbils appear as dormant ‘buds’ in the axils of the fronds’ rachides
and pinnae.

Occasionally, bulbils on old fronds that are in close contact with the soil will root
e

: , usually we have to provide the opportunity for bulbils to roo
form plantlets. 4 ee

bio var done by pegging down the frond with bulbils with wire ties so that it rei
contact with the soil and still attached to the plant. Alternatively, the frond can
removed from the plant and pegged down on compost in a seed tray. After watering,

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 173

it can be placed in the shade of a wall or in a cold frame. The bulbils should be well-
rooted in about six months. The rooted plantlets can then be separated and either grown
on in pots or planted out in a shady nursery bed. Fronds that are removed from the
plant and pegged down in a seed tray will require regular attention, particularly watering,
from time to time as the frond must not dry out.

| have devised a way to root bulbils with the minimum of attention and this has proved
to be highly successful.

Prepare a small area in a shady part of the border or a cold frame by forking over
the surface to a depth of an inch or two (25-50mm) with a hand fork. If your soil is
light and free draining, incorporate a handful or two of peat or peat alternative to retain
moisture, and then water the area well. Now lay the frond on the surface making sure
that the bulbils are in close contact with the soil but not covered by the soil, and lay
a sheet of glass on top of the frond. The weight of the glass keeps the bulbils in close
contact with the soil, maintains moisture in the soil and allows light to the developing
plantlets.

| have found that, with this method, rooting occurs in four to five months and they
require little or no attention. Once the bulbils are well rooted (test for this by lifting
the glass and gently pulling at the rachis) cover with a plastic propagating cover to
provide room for the bulbils to produce their fronds. The cover can be dispensed with
once the bulbils can be seen to be growing well. Finally, after two or three weeks without
the cover, carefully lift the bulbils avoiding any damage to the roots, and with a sharp
knife or secateurs, separate the plantlets by cutting through the old rachis. They can
now be potted up or transferred to a nursery bed for growing on.

| have tried this method using a polythene sheet held down with stones instead of
using a sheet of glass, but the results were poor. The weight of the glass keeping the
bulbils in close contact with the soil seems to be the significant factor in producing
well rooted plantlets in reasonable time.

ON ‘CURLIES’
EDWARD WRIGHT, Hall Place, Wycombe End, Beaconsfield, Bucks. HP9 1NB

My great uncle Edward Goddard was in the timber trade in Hull and sometime between
1903, when my mother was married from Ferriby Hall where she had been brought
up by her aunt and uncle, and World War I, built a substantial house nearby, The Red
House, Swanland Hill, North Ferriby, North Humberside. He was a pioneer of rock
gardening and built a fine rockery at his new home, including among the plantings
@ considerable range of ferns and, more particularly, the hardy varieties which were
Still traded by the nurserymen of those days. My elder brother (Willy) and | had developed
an interest in ferns as far back as the 1920s - Gymnocarpium dryopteris, for instance,
could be found on Sunday walks from Prep. School on Oliver's Mount at Scarborough.
We therefore kept an eye on Uncle Ted's collection when he remarried, and when the
Red House was inherited by my mother we raided it extensively and replanted the catch
at our family home, Tower House, also at North Ferriby (see phot. opp. p 181), before
the Red House was sold. My brother maintains that Uncle had most of his plants from
Backhouse of York although | have had some leaning towards Pennells of Lincoin, largely
because the Goddards had Lincolnshire connections. Be that as it may, he and | filled
Out the collection with some judicious purchases from Backhouse in the 1930s and
kept the Majority going happily until World War Il.

After the war when we each got married and set up house for ourselves, he in London
and | for two decades in the East Riding, we literally split Uncle Ted’s ferns and established

174 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

matching collections in our own gardens. There were a couple which refused to split:
a Polystichum setiferum ‘Congestum’ cultivar (very dark and small resembling
‘Obtusissimum’), which he kept and possibly Polystichum x bicknellii which we had
collected in Dorset in 1929, which fell to me and | still have. The latter may be simply
P. aculeatum, however. The two collections survived various moves, in his case from
one garden to another in London and thence to Dorset (The Old Rectory, Seaborough),
although he nearly lost the P. setiferum resembling ‘Obtusissimum’ in his London days.
My collection had another move in East Yorkshire before transfer to the Home Counties:
first to Taplow where some were left and since 1979 to Hall Place, Beaconsfield where
they still reside. | have split some with a neighbour for safety’s sake and have often
thought of a secure long home for some at least of the scarcer survivals. Since ferns
began to come back onto the market | have bought several from the late Reginald Kaye
and exchanged a few with him too; more recently | have traded with Fibrex Nurseries
where the stock has always been a temptation to a lover of ‘curlies’, the term for ferns
which was adopted in the family from a nephew’s description as a small boy.

recently he had thought to be extinct. | therefore contacted Martin to see if we might
arrange for an exercise in recovery by members of the Society from my garden here
at Beaconsfield and eventually, after a reconnaisance visit by him in June and a wettish
summer, it was arranged for a dozen or So senior members of the British Pteridological
Society and wives to spend an afternoon with us in October. Naming of names would
perhaps be individious, but no apology is needed when | say that Jimmy Dyce himself
graced the proceedings.

What did they find? The main attractions were Polystichumn varieties which do pretty
well here and there was a ready market for crowns of a P. setiferum cultivar resembling
Hirondelle’ and a very fine ‘Plumoso-divisilobum’ which came from Uncle Ted's (see
Separate note by Jimmy Dyce p. 167). Unfortunately there were only single plants available

very large and busy producing more crowns for the future; but not just yet. We are
therefore biding our time while expansion occurs.

The polypodiums (‘Polypodies’ surely as Druery calls them!) also attracted attention. Uncle
ed's garden had produced several good cultivars, two grandiceps, probably ‘Grandiceps

sounding the roots! The cultivar ‘Bifido-multifidum’ is being nursed for the future

mvs removal to a more congenial position just in time, having gone back badly where
it was.

A welcome cup of tea, gingerbread all round and the final ‘auction’ of bagged ferns
made up for the cold wind to make it a more than worthwhile exercise - and others
willing hands had done all the digging and dividing!

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 175

THE CRANFIELD COLLECTION AND WISLEY
MARTIN H RICKARD, The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops. SY8 2HP

It is well known that Cranfield opted to will his ferns to the Royal Horticultural Society
Garden at Wisley rather than pass them on to a true enthusiast (Also see Rickard,
1993). | believe Cranfield should have realised that public gardens are not the places
for large specialist collections of any herbaceous plants, but was the move as disastrous
as the stories suggest? Were the ferns really left uncollected at Enfield? What happened
to the plants which did make it to Wisley? These questions have been at the back of
my mind ever since | learned that Reg Kaye attempted to buy the collection. Now, thanks
to a wealth of material brought to my attention by Peter Barnes of Wisley and the chance
to talk to some of the students at Wisley at the time, fresh light can be cast onto some
of these questions.

From correspondence held at Wisley, | was fascinated to learn that Cranfield gave two
collections of ferns to Wisley, the first ‘in Keble’s time’ i.e. long before his death; most
of these died as they were treated as alpines. Despite this Cranfield did not learn any
lessons and in October 1947 he asked J S L Gilmour, Director of the RHS Garden
at Wisley, if he could come to Wisley to discuss his main fern collection, with a view
to giving it to Wisley. Clearly Cranfield had intended transferring the plants in his life
time but events overtook the operation and no ferns seem to have been transferred
until after his death - on 29th May 1948. On the 30th July 1948 Mr Hanger, the Curator,
visited Miss Muriel Cranfield at Enfield and collected a first instalment of ferns in pots.
On 2nd of November 1948 a note appears in the RHS Council's minutes, ‘The Director
of the gardens reported that the late W B Cranfield’s ferns had been received and planted’.
Also in a letter from Gilmour to a Mr Long dated 2.11.48, he refers to the ‘last load
of ferns as it is a whole lorry load on its own’. This suggests there was more than
one lorry load.

The next day, 3.11.48, Gilmour wrote to Miss Cranfield ‘Now that the collection of ferns
has arrived safely at Wisley and has been planted in the Wild Garden, | am writing
once again to send you my very best thanks for this magnificent gift... . The ferns
look extremely fine in their new position.’

On 24.3.49 Gilmour wrote to a wire supplier seeking labelling material for the ferns.
In his letter he says ‘We are most anxious to label a collection of nearly 1000 rare
ferns that were recently presented to the Society... ‘ Due to post-war neha? sa
materials were not immediately forthcoming but later an allocation of wire was perce
by Robert Adams, a student at the time, through an associate in the Surrey Agricultural
War Executive Committee.

In late August 1949 Muriel Cranfield finally visited Wisley to see her father’s collection
in situ. She wrote to Gilmour that ‘My uncle and I visited Wisley at the end of August
Specially to see my late father’s collection of ferns. Which we thought looked very happy
and in a delightful position, which they appeared to appreciate. We were sorry not to
See anyone to whom we could give a message of appreciation . . . Not long after Miss
Cranfield’s visit there was repeated trouble with the newly installed irrigation system
and, what was more, difficulty with the supply of water to the garden as a whole.

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as they deserve but this is in hand... .’. Pat

that by autumn 1949 they were all neatly labelled and looking good.

From the above correspondence it is clear that a large collection of ferns wa inde

transferred to Wisley, and at least initially looked in fine form in the Wild Garden. Irrigation
ad been installed and seemed to be working well.

s indeed

176 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

In support of Gilmour's statement that he had ‘nearly 1000 ferns’ we have a Wisley

notebook listing all the ferns and giving the location of each in the Wild Garden. From

these records we know that 730 plants of 279 different cultivars and seedlings were

planted out in eight beds in the Wild Garden in 1948. In addition there are rumours

of plants having been kept under glass. Altogether these plants could easily amount
000

,

to Gilmour's stated ‘near 1 :

Francis Hanger, who supervised the removal of the ferns, died in 1960, but | have contacted
several of the students who assisted him in 1948. With a few discrepancies, inevitable
after the passage of so much time, their combined evidence supports the idea that the
collection was substantial. For the record the following former students have been
contacted:

1948 intake:

Henry Noblett who collected some of the ferns from Enfield and collated one batch.

Pat Bance (who worked with Brian Savage, now deceased) who went to Enfield and
collated another batch.

Dick Robinson (who also worked with Brian Savage), who went to Enfield and collated
some of the collection.

Tom F Thompson who worked on the final batch.

1947 intake:

Robert Adams did not go to Enfield but as Assistant to the Director he did some work
with Mr Gilmour regarding the gift to the garden. Robert Adams was one of six students
taken on at the time.

Collectively, these students were under Francis Hanger. He was a rhododendron man
vet unfortunately, seemed to resent having to allocate staff to work on the Cranfield
erns.

Henry Noblett and Robert Adams find it hard to believe 730 ferns were collected. However
Dick Robinson can believe there might have been that many. One of the students involved
in the operation, Pat Bance, fortunately kept a notebook during his time at Wisley and
he confirms that there were three lorry loads (a 3 or 5 ton van). The first consignment
of 100 or so ferns was collected by Francis Hanger with assistance from students, while
the second two loads were larger and more casually stacked in the lorry; he believes
there were quite probably around 1000 ferns altogether although a lot were small.
Seedlings and other potted specimens from Cranfield’s frames and greenhouse were
collected by Mr Hanger and stored under glass at Wisley. Pat Bance recollects that

it ag two to three weeks to plant the collection - surely a strong indication of its
size?

Certainly the size of the area cleared, the evidence of Gilmour's and Muriel Cranfield’s
letters, the evidence of Messrs Robinson and Bance and the surviving Wisley list -
together with a plan of the planted area - are all strong evidence that a collection of
about 1000 ferns did in fact arrive at Wisley. In addition the area of ground given over
to the collection was more than large enough to house 1000 plants.

Contradictory evidence comes from Henry Noblett, Robert Adams as above, and Jimmy

yee. Jimmy visited the site with Percy Greenfield, early in the 1950s, soon after lt
was set up and he does not recall anything like 1000 ferns. Indeed the ferns that were
there were largely of no great merit, and many were simply labelled ‘Cranfield —
There can be no doubting Jimmy's record so how can we reconcile these contradictory
gate My only suggestion is that Jimmy’‘s visit was a year or two after the collection

‘as planted and it had already begun to deteriorate. Evidence from Robert Adams confirms

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 5 a

that weeds overtook the site and there were serious problems with the irrigation system,
so the decline was rapid. However, in September 1952 Pat Bance remembers the overall
appearance of the collection was still good - although there might have been some
gaps

In the Wisley file there is another list, part labelled 21.12.59 which includes 199 ferns
- all wintergreen, therefore suggesting that this was a list of living plants compiled
in winter (December) rather than some other inventory. So, was the collection in 1959
still as large as perhaps 300 ferns (including deciduous cultivars)? The ferns on this
list were the Cranfield ferns because the label numbers agree with the 1948 record.

Today it seems that perhaps only a dozen or so Cranfield ferns survive at Wisley, and
even then they are not separable from more recent acquisitions. | did wonder if the
collection’s rapid demise was due to them being transplanted or given to other gardens
but Robert Adams, who remained at the Garden for some years after the ferns were
planted, believes this is most unlikely.

Cranfield’s original collection included probably around 1000 different cultivars at its
peak (Rickard, 1993). However, in the final years the collection sustained serious losses,
as reported by Cranfield himself in a letter to Gilmour at Wisley on 17.10.47 - ‘Whilst
my collection has suffered very much owing to my several severe illnesses, shortage
of labour and the collapse of the roof of my fernery during the last winter, it is still
the finest in the country and embraces the life work of my men’. The actual number
Surviving at Enfield in 1948 is therefore questionable but reports that many were left
behind and eventually flame-gunned (Dyce, 1991) are no doubt true. | am sure various
pteridologists have inspected the old gardens at East Lodge, Enfield over the last 45
years. | am no exception! The site is largely undeveloped but the house is close to
dereliction and the garden is completely overgrown apart from the area where his fern
bays were sited - this is now a standing out area for a nursery long established at
the site. | did discover one just fern cultivar within the boundary of the old garden
- Pteridium aquilinum ‘Percristatum’.

Pat Bance tells me that some ferns were left at Enfield at Muriel Cranfield’s request.
She appeared with labelled sticks and marked about two dozen of the best plants she
wanted to keep. Some had already been removed and had to be replaced. What happened
to these plants? They were fairly certainly real gems as Miss Cranfield obviously had
a good knowledge of the ferns in the collection. Are these among the plants we believe
were flame-gunned, or were they passed down to other friends or relatives of the
Cranfields?

The ferns which actually arrived at Wisley, if Wisley’s own list is to be believed, included
many classic cultivars very rare or not known today, including:

Polystichum setiferum ‘Hirondelle’ (original clone), ‘Cristatum Moly’, ‘Divisilobum
Crawfordianum’, several plumoso-divisilobums, ‘Plumoso-foliosum Stansfield’,
‘Plumosum Green’, ‘Plumosum Patey’, ‘Pulcherrimum Dr Stansfield’ and ‘Pulcherrimum
Variegatum Moly seedling’. Athyrium filix-femina ‘Fimbriato-cristatum Garnett,
Cristatum Kilrushense Druery’, ‘Plumosum Horsfall’, ‘Plumosum Stansfield’, ‘Superbum
Plumosum crispatum’, ‘Superbum plumosum dissectum’ and ‘Todeoides’. Asplenium
Scolopendrium ‘Crispum Splendens Moly’, ‘Crispum Majus Moses’, ‘Crispum Fimbriatum
Lowe’ and ‘Drummondiae’. Some of these are still in cultivation but most must now
be presumed extinct. Why these were not detected by the trained eyes of Percy Greenfield
and Jimmy Dyce | do not know.

In conclusion, this enquiry has confirmed that a very large number of first class cultivars
were lost with the demise of this collection, either by being left at Enfield, or by various
misfortunes over the years at Wisley. It was clearly a serious loss to the fern cult. However,

178 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1 993)

thanks to the likes of Jimmy Dyce, Reg Kaye, Robert Bolton, Jean and Jack Healey
and several others, many of the choice older cultivars p to fellow enthusiasts.
This ensures their continued survival, and minimises the effects of the loss of Cranfield’s
magnificent collection.

ae +

In summary | hope these notes will clear up much of the uncertainty surround the
Cranfield collection and Wisley. We must all learn from this experience.

Acknowledgements

This account would not have been possible without the generous help of Robert Adams,
Pat Bance, Peter Barnes, Jimmy Dyce, Henry Noblett, Dick Robinson and T F Thompson.

References:

DYCE, J.W. 1991. The British Pteridological Society - The First Hundred Years in The History of
the British Pteridological Society, London.
RICKARD, M.H. 1993. The one that got away. Pteridologist, this issue.

SHORTER NOTE
Saved by a Fern

While the 1991 centenary celebrations were in full swing in the Lake District, | was
on the other side of the world and in a far from celebratory state - sitting under a
tarpaulin half-way up a mountain on the island of Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia, with
a dislocated knee and surrounded by tantalising ferns that | couldn't collect. The rest
of the expedition had continued to the summit leaving me with a porter, and the hope
that | would recover enough to be able to hobble back down the mountain on their
return.

After a week | felt quite cheerful because, with the aid of very stout walking stick,
| had managed the five metres down a boulder-strewn slope to the river by myself.

boulders gave me support to get knee-deep in the water. The river here was about
ten metres wide, and there was a small clearing on the other bank.

As | rinsed the soap off myself, | heard the sound of a large animal crashing through
the forest on the other side of the river, | froze, thinking it must be an anoa - a species
of forest buffalo endemic to the area - and hoped | would be able to get a good view
of it as it came down to drink. Unfortunately the anoa winded me and charged across
the river, head down and long, pointed horns aimed for attack! Time slowed right down
as | Stood there, unable to move away and thinking | surely should do something to
Stop it pinning me against those boulders with its horns.
The Cyathea saved my life as | gazed into the pupils of the anoa’s eyes. The tree fern
trunk was lying diagonally across the water in front of me, reaching from the bank
to the huge boulders, and deflected the charge of the anoa when it was barely a metre
from me. The anoa did not jump it, but ran on into the forest.

JOSEPHINE M. CAMUS

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 179

WOODWARDIA RADICANS ON CRETE
JAMES MERRYWEATHER, Biology Department, The University, York, YO1 5DD

| spent the first week of April 1992 based at the delightful ancient, crumbly port of
Chania on the north coast of western Crete. The most enduring memory of the week
was stench of rotting oranges in the mountains, for this was the time of the frantic
orange harvest and there was a glut. The growers just carted excess fruit as far away
from the villages as possible and poured them over the hillsides to form vast squidgey,
smelly screes. Occasionally | would see an enclosure full of sheep happily standing
on/in, and chewing their way through, piles of old oranges, an unfamiliar experience
for those accustomed to slow-witted grass munchers of the Yorkshire Dales!

| spent five days in the hot sunshine, walking miles through cool olive groves or out
in the heat of the upland garigue, accompanied by the sweet aromas of wild thymes,

Equisetum telmateia and Equisetum ramossissimum, which frequently grew together.
Each had features which caused me to stop awhile and think. At one site E. telmateia
had fertile spikes which, havinng shed their spores, were not wilting away as is familiar
to the Brit. abroad, but producing g ide t h . eee
spikes. E. ramossissimum frequently had a variety of shoot types, from the usual much
branched to sparingly branched. What was remarkable was that what | at first assumed
were spikes of an intermixed colony of E. hyemale turned out to be nothing of the
sort. They were relatively soft and not rough as expected. These were just fat, glaucous
unbranched fertile spikes of E. ramossissimum. Other common species | encountered
(apart from those mentioned below) were Aspenium ceterach, Cheilanthes fragrans and
Dryopteris pallida which looks very much as our D. submontana might do if it were
growing in woodland.

+

Anyone who has visited Greece in spring will know of the fabulous diversity of flora
available for exploration, and Crete adds to the usual with a plentiful supply of endemic
or Out-of-place species. On the last day (a day of gales and horizontal rain sent to contrast
with the previous luxurious sunshine) | hired a moped to range beyond the bus routes
and check out reports of one of these species, Woodwardia radicans, a fern of generally
Atlantic distribution, and Crete is about as far east as it has been found. As a guide,
| took with me a copy of a paper describing a fern collecting trip in 1971. (Brownsey
& Jermy, 1973).

The directions given were a little vague: “Between Néa Roumata and Skinés we found
the small waterfall noted by Dr Greuter as a locality for the Atlantic fern Woodwardia
radicans . . . wet, shady gully . . . Blechnum spicant . . . etc.” They had written that their
return to Chania was “brisk”, so | reasoned that the waterfall and gully must be near
the road. From Skinés onward | stopped the moped’s engine at every likely-lookinng
Spot to listen for trickling water. For several miles | continued in this manner, passing
through the villages of Hliaré and Langés. After Langés | crossed a little bridge with
a white parapet which traversed the main stream of the valley | was climbing and then
| heard water to the left of the road. A little pathway was trodden into the gulley here
and | was encouraged to think that other botanists might regularly visit the place -
no sheep nor Greek would have gone in here. | pushed past a rill dripping with wet-
Places-ubiquitous Adiantum capillus-veneris and there were three fronds (two plants)
of W. radicans, just a couple of metres from the road. The guide said there were more,
associated with Bechnum spicant further into the gulley. | didn’t find them. Perhaps
this was another gulley. | did find: Athyrium filix-femina, Asplenium onopteris, Pteridium
aquilinum, Blechnum spicant, and thirteen beautiful plants of Osmunda regalis. Greek

180 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

terrain, in my experience, has always been rather arid. This was like being in Yorkshire
woodland, if it weren't that the tree species were so different: a grecian oak, sweet
chestnut and cypress.

| continued up the road, despite deteriorating weather, crossed a second parapeted bridge
beyond which the road began to ascend in earnest, hair-pin bending over the mainstream
gulley. There were plenty of other likely ferny wooded gullies, but none so good as

| was amazed to find that the roadside bank, just across the stream, bore about twenty
large specimens. As | walked back towards the stream the bank became wetter and
Woodwardia gave way to Osmunda and that, in turn, was replaced by Adiantum. That

Ccoastward looking for the sun. It wasn’t there. Neither was | able to identify the Brownsey
& Jermy site for Christella dentata on the way, but | had seen enough to keep me
happy until my next visit to Crete - an inevitability!

References:

weer: P.J. & JERMY, A.C. 1973. A fern collecting expedition to Crete. British Fern Gazette.
: 331-348.

SHORTER NOTES

Decorative Bracken

| live within range of Heathrow and do a sort of availability gardening. Suitable looking
cuttings from bouquets are hopefully potted and put in the conservatory. Usually nothing
delightful little mossy, ferny areas in the garden which seems to attract seedlings, mostly
foxgloves at the moment.

However, this little fern (see opp) grew in its delicate green lacery, so | repotted it in
a basket about a foot in diameter with other hopefuls, including pelargoniums and

Thinking | would like to know more of my two-year old friend | searched Kew’s new
fern garden outside the Filmy Fern House, the House itself and, indeed, all the other
houses, but in vain. Intrigued and wanting to know more about it | asked during my

Al ch period in Kew Herbarium Library - but the books on pteridology were on the
oor a

| — fortunate to be introduced with my specimen to Peter Edwards who immediately
identified it as English bracken ‘reared in unusual conditions’.

| was able to give so little information, as | do not remember actually seeing it in ;
bouquet, so | realized it might have arrived in its spore stage. | gave the specimen
had brought to Peter Edwards and it was pressed for inclusion in the Herbarium collection.

The fronds that had grown along the floor were clustered together and to pick off a

PAT SCROPE-HOWE, F.R.G.S.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

Fig. 1.

Adiantum capillus-veneris in the porch
of Landewednack Church

. = A a ‘a>
9.2. A 7 é
splenium marinum in the porch Fig. 3. The serpentine lectern with fern carving.
of Landewednack Church.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)
181i

kground
now lost), bac

Ferns at North Ferriby c. 1938. Front right Polystichum setiferum tpi agg.. Asple lenium
right P. setiferum ‘Divisilobum’ plus various cultivars of Polypodium

Scolopendrium and Dryopteris

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 181

Garden Visits

During the past year | had the pleasure of travelling to many parts of the country and
one of the highlights of this travelling has been the viewing of quite a few ferny gardens
and meeting members of our Society at their homes.

Most of the places visited were gardens open to members and are listed in the pamphlet
of fern gardens which was sent to all members last January with the Bulletin, yet a
couple of these owners told me that very few BPS members visit them. Why not make
the effort - I'm sure that you will be made very welcome, and what better way is there
to pick up some very useful hints and tips from the horticultural-minded members about
the growing of a very wide variety of ferns in many different environments.

One garden, in particular, which | visited, in which there are some very nice plants,
is not owned by a BPS member but he is related to the famous Bolton family and it
was delightful to see some of the old fern collection and also some very old photographs
of meetings, personnel and ferns from the turn of the century. Two very interesting
features were some carved stone garden urns (see opp.) with fern motifs on each side
which was made by one of the Bolton family who was a stone mason, and also a copy
of one of C.T. Druery’s book “Choice British Ferns”. This was signed by the author
and presented to Tom Bolton, one of the founder members of the Society.

| can really recommend travelling round to these places. It may be a bit tiring at times
but it is very rewarding.

JACK BOUCKLEY

Ferns on Serpentine
We went to Cornwall to look at the strange Asplenium adiantum-nigrum that grows
on the serpentine of the Lizard peninsula. But we couldn't resist hunting for some of

in the wild for the first time. Unfortunately, we had reckoned without the elements,
and soon discovered that the 70 m.p.h. wind was bringing the sea to meet us - by
the time we reached the coastal path we realised that our journey would have to be
abandoned. Luckily for us the next day was more gentle, and we were able to scramble
around serpentine boulders hunting for Asplenium, compar! g fronds and checking spores
in the bright sunshine, and in the excellent company of Rose Murphy.

Our last day was very wet. As we were staying near the Lizard we decided to chase

with tripod and cameras, we explored the inside of the church. Some renovation peat
was in progress, and we were lucky to find the church warden present. He explain
to us that the rather grotesque pulpit and columns on the font are Victorian additions,

with something not too dissimilar to Dryopteris affinis (s.|-!) carved into the ee
rock (Fig. 3, opp. p.180). It was a very fitting end to our hunt for serpentine ferns!

MARY GIBBY, ALISON M. PAUL, JOHANNES C. VOGEL,

182 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

POLYSTICHUM SETIFERUM ‘PULCHERRIMUM’ -
THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS
JW DYCE, 46 Sedley Rise, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LT

In the Bulletin for 1961, Vol.2, No.3, | contributed a paper on Polystichum setiferum
‘Pulcherrimum’. Since then | have been devoting quite a lot of thought to this section
of variation in P. setiferum, and why ‘Moly’s Green Pulcherrimum’ still persists in surviving,
although in near-normal form, unlike the other fifteen wild finds made in the sixties
and seventies of the last century (the 19th), and the several raised from them by spores
and prothalloid growths. They all, with one other exception, had very short lives.

The section is characterised by considerable lengthening of the pinnules, particularly
the lower ones, into long, slender and falcate growths, deeply incised and often quite
twisted, expanding at the tips and terminating in prothalli.

by C Jackson who was the first to find it “a few years before 1862” in South Devon,
one by the Rev C Padley in North Devon, one by Padley’s sister, Mrs Agar Thompson,
in 1863 in South Devon, and one by Padley’s gardener, J Smith, in South Devon. Moly’s
and Wills’ finds were made in the border-land of the three counties. ‘Pulcherrimum
Thompson’ was recognised to be by far the best find and | reproduce here the frond
from the Jones Nature Prints. This frond also illustrated my previous paper in the 1981
Bulletin and our Editor Suggested that | find another of the pulcherrimum varieties to
illustrate this one. The only other pictorial record which appears to exist, apart from
a few unsuitable photographs in the early issues of the British Fern Gazette, is also
in the Jones Nature Prints - Moly’s last find, in 1876, which has fronds not nearly
So developed as ‘Pulcherrimum Thompson’. | am therefore reproducing here the Thompson
find again since it demonstrates best the qualities of the section.

of the upper variegated parts to give a fine pencilling effect. Unfortunately, with age
phe fronds became ragged and depauperate in their upper halves while the lower parts
retained the pulcherrimum distinctness.

All the others had short lives - as pulcherrimums. Some collapsed and died early; the
others were inconstant and gradually became more and more confirmed in their reversal

Ning mnnules very finely divided and elongated, and their tips, along with the pinnae
tips, extended into fine thread-like growths which, in many cases, expanded into pr othalli
)

183

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

*
¥ ‘

ete

+

Vly

Polystichum setiferum ‘Pulcherrimum Thompson’

184 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

All this happened before our Society was founded in 1891, and consequently there
is a great lack of information about it all. Druery had been active with his pen at the
time and | hoped, for details to augment my information for this article, to find him
giving vent to his fern enthusiasm by writing fulsomely about these exceptional varieties.
To my great surprise - and dismay - there is, in the eight huge volumes of his press
cuttings, not a single paper on the subject of the Pulcherrimum Section of P. setiferum.
This lack of information can be explained, perhaps, by the very bad reputation the section
had of reverting to normal setiferum.

Dr Stansfield confirms this lack in Volume 1 of the British Fern Gazette, 1912, when
he writes (at the beginning of a long article on the pulcherrimums, the first to be published
on the subject, but sadly lacking in detail) that the section has not been figured at all
in any books or publications, with the exception, in the Jones Nature Prints, of
‘Pulcherrimum Thompson’ and Moly’s last find of 1876. It is here that Druery does
make some amends for his silence on the subject by reproducing Col Jones’ notes on
the section, along with the Print depicting Mrs Thompson's find, in his British Ferns
and their Varieties, page 394. | am indebted to these notes to a great extent, as well
as to the few papers, giving scanty information, appearing in the Pre-Gazette Reports
of 1899/1905 and in the early volumes of the British Fern Gazette, for the details |
am able to give here of the various finds.

My plant of ‘Moly’s Green Pulcherrimum’, undisturbed for years, has produced about
a dozen side crowns. | divided it last year and moved the crowns to a more convenient
site, reserving the strongest one for installing in a pot so that | can give it more individual
attention in an endeavour to persuade it to produce at least part of a frond in character.
This plant is part of one which belonged to Dr Stansfield and with him, for many years,
it produced a full complement of fronds in character. He gave a selected crown to his
son-in-law, P. Greenfield, but with him it did not behave so well and varied from a
very good pulcherrimum to almost normal setiferum. Eventually, this plant was passed
on to me but has done no better, only occasionally showing a pinnule in character.
Several years ago | gave an offset to our member, Richard Cartwright, and one year
it produced for him a complete frond in character - one of only three times | have
seen such a sight! To the uninitiated eye my plant looks like completely normal setiferum,
BUT there is a subtle quality in the pinnules, very difficult to describe, which enables
the fern-man, who is familiar with it, to recognise this unique variety.

Why did this fern variety suddenly appear in numbers in this small area of England,
the West Country, for a short period of less than two decades? The whole area had
been assiduously hunted by keen and knowledgeable fern-men for very many years
before the 1860s, during the years of the Victorian Fern Craze, and many, if not most,
of the old famous varieties of P. setiferum known to us had emanated from the area.
If Pulcherrimum was there it would surely have been found. Then, suddenly, during
a short period beginning in the 1860s, sixteen plants were found, nine of them by Moly.
If one man, admittedly a Super-hunter, could find so many, how many more were NOT
found, tucked away in the more inaccessible places? Then they disappeared, just 25
Suddenly as they had appeared. No more were found although the search continued
as keenly ~ If not MORE so - than before, and we find Dr Stansfield writing in 1911
* Fern hunters, wake up! It is now over twenty years since a pulcherrimum was found
in the wild. The womb of Nature is inexhaustible and the seventeenth find may surpass
all its predecessors”. Another eighty-two years have passed since those words were
written and STILL we have not found the seventeenth pulcherrimum!

Why is this so? Keen fern-men who know the fern and are familiar with the area where
It was found - and that includes Martin Rickard and myself, and in the earlier post
war years my mentor, Percy Greenfield - have not been casual in their search for it.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 185

but to no avail. The variety appeared suddenly - and disappeared just as suddenly! -
Why? | have my own theory, which | am quite prepared to admit may be fanciful, to
explain the phenomenon. We know that there are two areas in Britain which are more
than ordinarily rich in variation among the local ferns - the West Country in the south-
west, Dorset, Devon and Somerset, and in the north, the Lake District. Botanists try
to explain this away by saying that the two areas concerned have been more intensively
hunted than elsewhere, but this is not true - during the Victorian Fern Craze period
the whole country was intensively hunted and in no other area did fern-hunters reap
such rich harvests. What is present in those two areas which stimulates gene change
in the ferns to produce mutant forms? Is it in the ground or in the air? It is possible
the ground has something to do with it - but, certainly, NOT in the case of P. setiferum
‘Pulcherrimum’, else we would still be finding the variety in the West Country. Whatever
it was - in the air? - it would appear to have had an influence on susceptible plants
of P. setiferum over a short period of time to create a temporary gene change, and
when the “influence” faded the plants reverted back to the species form. Was ‘Moly’s
Green Pulcherrimum’ “innoculated” more intensively and has not yet thrown off the
“influence”? A bit of imaginative thinking, | admit, and the botanists will scorn the idea.
- BUT, how can they explain it?

Meanwhile, we can only hope that, as Dr Stansfield wrote, “the womb of Nature is
inexhaustible’, and that whatever triggered the gene change which was responsible
for the creation of the pu/cherrimum varieties in P. setiferum will visit the West Country
once more and enable us, again, to enjoy the excitement of finding this superlative
fern in the wild.

BOOK REVIEWS

NEW FLORA OF THE BRITISH ISLES by Clive A. Stace. xxx + 1226 pp. 1992.
ISBN 0 521 42793 2. University Press, Cambridge. Price £24.95 ($59.95).

In the first 45 pages of this book you have a good guide to the ferns and allied plants
(and their hybrids) in the British Isles. Descriptions are clear and are all you need to
identify or confirm our British ferns. There are some very useful SEM pictures of the
megaspores of the three /soetes species, Transverse Section drawings of Equisetum
stems and line drawings of alien ferns. But this is not all.

For British- and European-based pteridologists who also have a broad interest, however
Slight, in other vascular plants, this book is something you should have. How often,
when botanising for ferns, do we come across a wild plant that is completely alien
'0 our ken - and about which we want to know more. When we are studying the ecology
of ferns that interest us, be they common ones like Dryopteris carthusiana or rarer
Species like Cystopteris montana, we are wanting to identify other plants that grow
with them. This book will help you to do that with clear workable keys (as far as |
©an ascertain with limited use) and a number of illustrations by Hilli Thompson and
Photographs of detailed parts. Other British Floras have done this but not at this cost
Nor with such comprehensive coverage of both native, casuals and aliens plants. This
‘S$ Not just a compilation of botanical descriptions by a botanical journalist but a work
that embodies the experience of many years of being an active research taxonomist,
an enthusiastic teacher, and a practising field botanist.

A.C. JERMY

186 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1 993)

ATLAS ECOLOGIQUE DES FOUGERES ET PLANTES ALLIEES by R. Prelli and
M. Boudrie, Editions Lechevalier, Paris. 1992. Pp 272, about 200 b&w
photographs on 124 plates, 175 x 240 mm. Laminated paper back binding.
Price about £35 (subject to exchange rate variations).

It keeps getting better! After two editions of R Prelli’s Guide des Fougeéres et Plantes
liées we now have a superbly illustrated guide to the distribution of the fern and
fern allies of France. The authors of this Atlas are to be congratulated for producing
the finest photographic record of the ferns of any one country that | have seen for
many years, and perhaps ever. Each species native to France, including Corsica, is
illustrated so clearly that identification of even difficult taxa should be possible with
very few errors. Divisions between species in Dryopteris, Polypodium, Diphasiastrum,
Asplenium, Botrychium etc. suddenly become sensible even to the amateur! The addition
of the first comprehensive distribution maps is an added bonus - each represents a
tremendous amount of work; remember France is four times the size of England!

Unfortunately, only 2 hybrids are included, Asplenium x alternifolium and Equisetum
x moorei; this is, presumably, a sacrifice to practicality as so many other hybrids are
too rare, or extinct, to locate and photograph in the wild. Their inclusion would also
have pushed the price of an already expensive book out of sight.

For me there is only one questionable feature of the book. That is the arrangement
of the genera by habitat: instead of by the standard systematic arrangements, however,
this is a personal preference and | do realise there are strong arguments in favour
of the system chosen here.

| suggest anyone with an interest in wild European pteridophytes should buy this book.
The text is in french, but all, bar one or two, of the native British species are included.
It is therefore possibly the best photographic record available of British ferns.

MARTIN H. RICHARD

THE CULTIVATION OF FERNS by Andrew McHugh. Pp. 144, 48 col. plates with
Suen line drawings, 1992. Batsford, London. Price £25. ISBN O 7134

Over the last few years we have seen quite a few fern books appear which have been
written by horticulturists rather than fern specialists. The resulting volumes are readable
and full of many useful ideas, but sadly can sometimes be rather unreliable at a factual
level. This book is no exception. It is beautifully illustrated and well laid out but the
inaccuracies negate its value as a reference book. When you see statements you know
to be wrong, eg. Asplenium septentrionale likes a calcareous soil or Blechnum penna-
Marina \s not hardy at temperatures lower than 5°C, it dents your trust in other statements
in the book. Similarly, spelling mistakes are common, eg Alsophyla for Alsophila, Pellae
for Pellaea, claytonia for claytoniana, Salvinea for Salvinia, arbora for arborea, nipponicum

times a year whereas, actually, it is six, while the BPS is credited with only two journals
annually instead of three.

| don’t doubt there is a great deal of valuable material in this book but | am afraid

it ls interspersed with too many inaccuracies for me to be able to recommend it.

MARTIN H. RICKARD

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 187

REPORT OF THE CENTENARY FERN COLLECTION
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANIC GARDENS AT
WINTERBOURNE

BRENDA & RAY SMITH, 184 Solihull Road, Shirley, Solihull, Warwicks, B90 3LG
Winterbourne House was built in 1903 by J.S. Nettlefold (of Guest, Keen and Nettlefold),
and the seven acres of garden was laid out by his wife Margaret (nee Chamberlain).
They owe much to the landscaping styles developed by Edward Lutyens and Gertrude
Jekyll at the beginning of the 20th Century. The property was later owned, and other
features added, by John Nicolson (of Bell, Nicolson and Lunt) who bequeathed the house
and gardens to the University of Birmingham in 1943.

The Gardens (now the Botanic Gardens) were managed by the Department of Plant
Biology but since 1989 have been maintained by the School of Continuing Studies whose
headquarters are at Winterbourne House. They include many features of botanical and
horticultural interest and act as a focus for the horticultural teaching courses provided
by the School.

A Friends Association was founded in 1989 and the Chairman Emeritus Professor Jack
Hawkes approached us in 1990 with the idea of planting a new fern border in the
gardens to complement the ferns already established which, while limited in variety,
included a fine collection of Osmunda, Dryopteris, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Asplenium
scolopendrium and Azolla. There is also a small collection of Adiantum raddianum and
Cyrtomium falcatum in a heated h keepi ith a collection of orchids

J . oe

Discussions then took place with the BPS Secretary, Matt Busby, other Midland Group
members and the Staff at Winterbourne, and agreement was reached on a suitable
area, which needed a considerable amount of work done in preparation. The staff worked
extremely hard over the winter of 1990/91 and by the spring had cleared a substantial
area of low ground, including the unenviable task of lifting bamboo and laying paths
to make the area accessible.

In May 1991 a working party consisting of Alan Ogden, Margaret and John Collins
and ourselves congregated at Winterbourne and the task of planting out the fern border
commenced, using specimens provided from our own collections. Soon plants were being
provided by others in the Societ 1 planting i { through the summer, culminating
in a Midland Group meeting there on the 1st September when with popular acclaim,
the collection was officially named the “Centenary Fern Garden”, commemorating the
Society's 100th anniversary. (BPS Bulletin Vol. 4 No. 2 p. 79).

Since this time the Winterbourne staff have also cleared a small sheltered area adjacent
to the greenhouse, which during the year has been planted up with “wintergreen” ferns,
namely, polypodiums, scolopendriums and polystichums, which is proving an attractive
addition and gives visitors something to see whatever the time of year.

The joint collection now consists of some 30 or so British and Foreign species and
Subspecies, including some that originated as a result of Christopher Fraser-Jenkins’
visits Some years ago to Mosman Peak, Jamaica and Lebong, Darjeeling. There are
also over 50 varieties of fern and there is room for more. Donations are more than
welcome although we have now reached a stage where we will need to be more selective
to avoid duplication. The Secretary has a comprehensive list of the Gardens’ fern contents
for anyone interested in adding to the collection.

Grateful thanks are due to the following for their contribution in terms of work done,

eonagig of plants, interest and support:- Clive Brotherton, Matt Busby, Margaret and
ohn Collins, Nigel Hall, John Mashiter, Vic Newey, Alan Ogden and the garden staff,

es also to Professor Jennifer Tann, Head of the School of Continuing Studies, and
meéritus Professor Jack Hawkes (currently President of the Linnean Society).

188 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

The fern collection can be seen by Members of the B.P.S. on weekdays between 10
am and 4 pm, by prior arrangement with the garden staff at Winterbourne, on 021
414 5590. The Gardens (not to be confused with Birmingham Botanical Gardens) are
also listed in the B.P.S. Guide, Where to see ferns, and are located at Edgbaston Park
Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2RT.

THELYPTERIS PALUSTRIS IN THE PEAK DISTRICT
IAN D. ROTHERHAM and PAUL A ARDRON, Museums Dept., City Museum,
Weston Park, Sheffield S10 2TP

Marsh Fern (Thelypteris palustris) has been discovered in the Peak District National Park
near Sheffield. Although the area has been well worked by botanists for more than
a century, this species has never before been found. Indeed the present discovery was
a chance find, the by-product of a detailed ornithol gical survey of the moor. The surveyors’
attention was drawn to a particularly interesting flush with extensive and dominant
Greater Tussock Sedge (Carex paniculata). Close inspection indicated that this was a
particularly rich community with Species such as Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) and
Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi). Such a community is very scarce in the eastern
Peak District, and those sites which do occur are often in poor condition due to drainage
and over-grazing. It was decided to re-visit the site later in the year.

This further visit was made on 11 July 1991, with the specific purpose of recording
plant communities and producing detailed species lists. The fern, Thelypteris palustris
was found in an area of around 30m by 50m. The community in which it was growing
was made up of Marsh Marigold, Ragged Robin, Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea),
Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), Marsh

carthusiana.

This location for Marsh Fern is particularly interesting in terms of the species’ national

locations in Wales and the Lake District, along with former sites in the meres of Shropshire,
Ches iré and Lanchashire (Jermy et al, 1978). Many of the latter have been lost to

District vegetation than previously envisaged, an exciting possibility which requires further

work. However, pockets of diverse or uncommon plant communities now being found

inthe Derwent and Ewden Val ys (both in the eastern Peak) id this suggestion

If this is the case, then it would further emphasise the catastrophic changes that have

followed human impact over the last four thousand years.

References

JERMY, A.C., ARNOLD, H.R., FARRELL, L. and PERRING, F.M.(eds.) (1978). Atlas of Ferns
of the British Isles, The Botanical Society of the British Isles/The Britis
Pteridological Society, London.

atone (1989). A List of the Fern-Allies and Ferns of Thorne Moors, Sorby Record,

, 2.

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 189

HENRY SEEBOHM - A 19th CENTURY PTERIDOLOGIST
M.J.P. SCANNELL, Raglan Road, Dublin 4.

Henry Seebohm (1832-1895) was a noted ornithologist. He published the History of
British Birds, the Birds of the Japanese Empire and other works. He contributed to /bis
and the Zoologist. He appears however to be unknown as a botanist and is not mentioned
by Desmond in Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists (1977).

In 1851 Henry Seebohm made a significant contribution to fern studies in West Galway
(Vice-county H 16). During a visit to James Ellis, a Quaker landowner who lived at
Letterfrack (L75), he climbed Bengooria (Diamond Hill, 1460 ft), engaged in ‘fox-shooting’,
and studied ferns. He published, ‘List of ferns found in Connemara’ in The Naturalist,
! (1851): 220-222. The list is ‘remarkably complete’. In the Flora of Connemara and
the Burren (Webb, D.A. and Scannell, M.J.P.) thirteen of the 29 species are noted as
the first records for vice-county H 16. Seebohm stated that he ‘gathered’ most of the
specimens ‘within a mile of the residence of James Ellis at Letterfrack’. The area -
SW of Killary Harbour is of varied terrain - low-level blanket bog, lakes, rocky headlands
and many sea inlets. The records are Botrychium lunaria, Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris
filix-mas, D. dilatata, D. carthusiana, D. aemula, Oreopteris limbosperma, Phegopteris
connectilis, Equisetum telmateia, E. arvense, E. sylvaticum, E. fluviatile and lsoetes
lacustris.

Recently a specimen was uncovered in DBN herbarium, National Botanic Gardens,
Glasnevin. The label is hand-written (Seebohm?). It reads,

Lycopodium inundatum L.
on a margin of a small lake the property of James Ellis, Esq near Letterfrack,
Connemara. Henry Seebohm Esq. 1855.

The lake in question may be Bunnaboghee Lough, situated on the north side of T71
in L7151. The date on the specimen indicates that Seebohm made a further visit to
Letterfrack. The roadside shore of this lake was worked by me in the course of work
for the Flora; a more detailed study may reveal the lycopod in L56. There are records
for Altnagaighera L76 and for Inishbofin LE&

Henry Seebohm states that he ‘gathered’ specimens, so he may have p dacollection
of plants. Most probably these specimens are in a British Midlands herbarium.

Henry Seebohm was a businessman. He was born in Bradford on 12 July 1832 of
Parents who had come to England from Germany in 1815. Early in life he settled in
Sheffield where he founded a successful steel company - Seebohm and Dieckstahl.
He died in London on 26 November 1895.

SHORTER NOTES
Deformed Ferns

Referring to Miss Primrose Peacock’s article (Pteridologist 2, 3, 1992) and based on
my Own observation, | endeavoured to examine the cause of the deformation.

Last July, during an excursion to the Maasvalley in Southern Belgium, | found on the
roadside in Romedenne a mixed population of Dryopteris filix-mas and Athyrium filix-
femina. All Dryopteris filix-mas plants showed normal growth, whereas some Athyrium
filix-femina fronds had frizzled ends. | first thought that the use of herbicides might
‘the Cause of the deformation, but this assumption seemed unlikely since the Dryopteris
filix-mas fronds were not affected.

oe from the Athyrium filix-femina ethology in Flore Generale de Belgique,
ha sa (1950) by A. Lawalree, that the fronds may be damaged by the Chortophila
ata fly

190 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

The description of the damage matches with Miss Peacock’s photography, and the
herbarium material | gathered. A white-yellowish larva lives inside the deformation. In
support of this theory | asked the Entomological Department of the Belgian Institute
for Natural Sciences to analyse the deformed ferns. They confirmed that the deformation
was caused by the Chortophila signata fly.

The above proves that a common fern like Athyrium filix-femina can still fascinate us.

(1 am grateful to Mr. P. Dessart of the Entomological Dept. of the Belgian Institute for
Natural Sciences, for his help in determining the Chortophila signata damage).

WIM TAVERNIER
Secret Door
Cystop If one feather was plucked
What your doing And with it a message
And see how the crevice Quilled on the stone face
Pieris | imagine its letters
In the crack Would be magical runes
And fragilis liiuminated only
As a summer breeze By the pale silver light
Bends the slender dark rachis Of a crescent new moon
Twists the light feathered fronds Revealing a chant
And holds you enchanted The musical key
By a schizophrenic rockface To a secret doorway
Of feather and stone. In the cold grey cliff.

GAVIN STARK

POEM

| scorn the doubts and cares that hurt
The world and all its mockeries

My only care is now to squirt

The ferns among my rockeries

GEORGE SIM 1847-1922 (submitted by PAT ACOCK)

FERN ANDY of CUMBRAE
JAMES W MERRYWEA THER, Biology Dept., University of York, Heslington, Yor k,
North Yorks. YO1 5DD.

A few miles north of Arran in the Firth of Clyde are two small islands, Wee and Great
Cumbrae. The smaller, a lump of basalt lava-flows created by Arran volcanoes in the
early carboniferous era, is essentially uninhabited. In contrast the larger island (a much
more complicated geological marvel) is a popular holiday centre, sadly now in decline
but, in Victorian times this was where the well-to-do of Glasgow would take their
recreation, having travelled “doon the watter” by paddle steamer. The charming little
town of Millport with its sandy beaches and rocky coves would throng with holiday
makers who, as today’s tourists, required ready supplies of ice-cream (still famous there
today), mineral waters from the “spa” at Fintry Bay, and souvenirs. The last included
ferns - most species are today still plentiful on the island - and a renowned supplier
was Fern Andy.

A photograph of him is in the collections of the local museum (Fig. 1) and on the =
we are told as much as is known of him:

| Fern’ Andy Sullivan stayed between Targets towards Fintry. It wasn’t really
@ Cave, just an overhang (canvas down front). He served in the American

Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993) 191

army when he was young. He had two cats. He sold the ferns in little baskets
that he made and decorated them with Acorns, fir cones etc. (He sold them
in town). Boys did shopping for him and when they asked for a pennyworth
of broken biscuits they got double amount.”

Until a few years ago Fred Jackson used to visit his daughter on ‘‘Coombray”’ as he
called it, and he reckoned to know every fern there. I’ve been going there on and off
since | was four, indeed I've been to this little paradise sixteen times in the past seventeen
years, and | feel | can now make a similar claim. To my great regret, | was never there
at the same time to share the island with Fred.

Andy has left most of the ferns, as far as | can tell, for most species that should be
there are there. The list is impressive for an island only 11 miles in circumference:

splenium trichomanes sp uadrivalens, ruta-muraria, A. scolopendrium, A
adiantum-nigr A. marinum, Polypodium vulgare, P. interjectum, Dryopteris filix-mas,
D. dilatata, D. carthusiana, D ula, D. affinis (the sub-species need doing properly),

Polystichum setiferum, Osmunda regalis, Hymenophyllum wilsonii (two rocks-worth),
Ip

which is turning into several as it ages, just above the eastern shore. In 1976 there
were hundreds of small plants on the newly built walls of the upland “loch” (reservoir)
known as Minnemoer. The walls are now invisible, the bank vegetation having grown
over and covered them. The Ossies have gone, but isn’t that a normal habit of young
Osmunaa, to colonise temporarily a habitat only fit for small plants? There’s also Equisetum
arvense, E. palustre, E. fluvialtile and E. x litorale.

‘Andy at home’

192 Pteridologist 2, 4 (1993)

The richness of the Cumbrae flora is obvious in June and July when the flowers of
so many species decorate its shores and hills. The orchids are always popular with
the students we take there (for marine biology!) and no wonder, when the three common
Dactylorrhiza species (D. fuchsii, D. maculata, and D. purpurella) hybridise and back-
cross in spectacular swarms at several sites. But, in the main, un-noticed, are the sedges.
Britain has just over seventy species, many rare or local. Great Cumbrae has twenty
four of them!

| shall be back next year as usual. | just love the old-fashioned, nearly-Hebridean
atmosphere of the place and I’m confident that I'll be surprised by the botany again
- | may even find a new fern just to prove | don’t know them all individually.

| would like to thank Kathryn Valentine of the Cunningham District Museums Service
for providing a copy of the photograph of Fern Andy.

GIFT OF FERNS FROM ROYAL LEMKES FOR

BPS CENTENARY 1991

JOHN WOODHAMS, Tropical Section, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond,
Surrey.

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew took delivery of a consignment of hardy ferns in
September 1990 donated by Hans Lemkes and grown on the nursery of Lemkes and
Zonen in The Netherlands.

The ferns, some 48 named species and cultivars, were offered by Royal Lemkes on
the understanding that they should be set out in a suitable location to commemorate
the centenary of the British Pteridological Society. Word of this generous offer was
conveyed to Clive Jermy at the Natural History Museum by Bert Hennipman at Leiden
and following discussion concerning a suitable location for the plants to be displayed,
RBG Kew was eventually decided upon as offering security and longer term benefit.

It was agreed the plants should arrive at Kew in Autumn 1990 having been potted
on into 5 inch pots at the nursery in Holland especially so that they should attain good
size for display the following year. Ten plants of each of the 48 taxa requested arrived
in marvellous condition, conveyed by lorry the plants packed in waxed card boxes. All
were unpacked and transferred to cold frames where they were held overwinter.

A border site adjacent to the Filmy Fern House at Kew was selected as a suitable display
area for the plants. Peter Bradley, Supervisor of the Fern Unit and his staff set-to, to
clear some of the nondescript shrub items from the site following which the area was
dug over. The border faces north and some shrub cover was left especially at the back
to give shade for at least part of the day and to provide more cover for some elements
of the collection. The plants were set out mostly in groups of five in March/April 1991
and mulched following planting with a liberal dressing of composted horse manure.
A thorough watering was given to the whole area and a set of three water sprinklers
purchased so that water could be applied as and when necessary through the summer.

With few exceptions the plants settled in extremely well and generated much interest

and discussion during the afternoon tours by delegates to the BPS Centenary Symposium
middle day spent at Kew.

Lemkes to celebrate the BPS Centenary year, Kew now has a specific area where our
VISHtOFS can appreciate something of the form, colour and garden potential of hardy ferns.

BRITISH FERNS AND THEIR CULTIVARS
A very comprehensive collection is stocked by
REGINALD KAYE LTD
SILVERDALE, LANCASHIRE
CATALOGUE ON REQUEST

FIBREX NURSERIES LTD

Honeybourne Road, Pebworth, Nr. Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire, CV37 8XT
Hardy and tender ferns
Begonias, Gloxinias, Hederas, Hydrangeas, Primroses, Arum Lilies
and Plants for the cool greenhouse

Catalogue on request

MRS J K MARSTON
Specialist Fern Grower
A wide range of hardy and greenhouse ferns, especially Adiantums
Culag, Green Lane, Nafferton, Nr. Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 OLF
Send £1 for catalogue

FANCY FRONDS

Specialising in North American and British hardy fern:
Send two International Reply Coupons for Sakae

Judith |. Jones,
1911 4th Avenue West, Seattle, Washington, 98119, USA
wo ee
GROW GREAT FERNS

Los Angeles International Fern Society

LAIFS Fern Journal bimonthly includes fern lesson,
cational meetings, materials, spore store, books.

Annual dues: $15 domestic, $19 overseas surface, $24 overseas airmail.
P.O. Box 90943, Pasadena, CA 91109, U.S.A.

sete enna peace eo Baas NSO

HARDY AND HALF HARDY FERNS

Rickard
The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, Shrops, SY8 2HP
Please send stamp addressed envelope for list
ec a eee Oe Se ie oes,

The British Pteridological Society

PTERIDOLOGIST :

Contents

MAIN ITEMS: Volume 2, Part 4, 1993

This issue is peepareaig to the memory of Reginald Kaye

President's Anecdot

Editorial

Reginald Kaye

Ferns Introduced by Reginald Kaye

Honour for Jimmy Dyce

Splitters and Lumpers

Biological Control of Bracken in the UK

Response to Simon Fowler’s Article -
an Alternative View

Commercial Se | in Holland: the Example of
Royal Lem

Cast Iron fons eh

Space and Time Economy in Ferning

The One That Got Away - the rsshiaeeta a

Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum Bla

BPS Plant Exchange

Growing Hardy Ferns without Shade

Bert Varieties of Polystichum setiferum from Bulbils
n

The Cranfield Collection and Wisley

Jack Bouckley

J W Dyce

Martin H. Rickard
Martin H. Rickard
J W Dyce

Simon V Fowler
Russell Smith

Wim Oudshoorn

Martin H Rickard

Michael Craddock

Martin H Rickard

JW Dyce

Peter Hainsworth
AR Bu

AR Busby

Edward Wright

Martin H Rickard

vardia radicans on Crete James W Merryweather
Polystichum setiferum ‘Pulcherrimum’ -

Thoughts and Comments J W Dyce

Report of the Cen entenary Fern Collection Brenda and Ray Smith

Thelypteris palustris in the Peak District lan

D Rotherham and
Paul A Ardron

Henry Seebohm - : ia Century Pterdologist M J P Scannell
ona F sepa

i erns from oe al Lemkes - B John Woodhams
SHORTER NOTES: yi PS Centenary 1991
Remembering Reg Ray Smith
Ornaments from Ferr Josephine Camus
Verification of Oak Fern from the Burren Paul Hackney
Saved by a Fern Josephine Camus
Decorative Bracken Pat Scrope-Howe
Garden Visits Jack Bouckley
Ferns on Serpentine Mary Gibby, Alison M Paul and
. Johannes C Vogel
Deformed Ferns Wim Tavernier
Secret Door Gavin Stark
Poem by George Sim

, erns by Michael Jefferson-Brown
S New Heese Se
__ The Cultivation of Ferns by Andrew McH

oy oe ye een

et Plant Alliées by R Prelli and Michel Boudrie
McHugh

st Volume 2 Part 3 was published on 19 May, 1992

p Published by

ltt Lounkton. Eecex

ELS Te

= ies ney
erpennmppe

Volume 2 Part 5
THE
BRITISH

PTERIDOLOGICAL
== SOCIETY

PTERIDOLOGIST

Edited by
Sse ===) JAMES MERRYWEATHER

re

wY2

ee ees ee he ee Oe

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Officers and Committee from 1993
President: J.H. Bouckley
President Emeritus: J.W. Dyce, MBE

Vice-presidents: J.A. Crabbe, Dr C.N. Page, M.H. Rickard, Mrs G. Tonge
Hon. General Secretary A.R. Busby, ‘Croziers' 16 Kirby Corner Road,
en Canley, Coventry CV4 8GD # 0203 715690
4 tant Si (Membership) Miss A.M. Paul,
and Bulletin Editor: Department of Botany, Natural History Museum,

Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
Treasurer: Dr N.J. Hards,

184 Abingdon Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 9BP

Meetings Secretary: a
43 Molewood Road, Hertford, Herts., SG14 3AQ
Editor of the Fern Gazette: Dr B.A. Thomas,
Botany Department, National Museum of Wales,

Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NP

Editor of Pteridologist: :
Department of Biology, University of York, York YO1 5DD
Committee: R.G. Ackers, R. Cooke, Mrs D. Fortune, Miss J.M. Ide,
S.J. Munyard, Mrs M.E. Nimmo-Smith, P.H. Ripley,

N.R. Schroder, G. Stark, R.N. Timm

Fern Distribution Recorder: A.J. Worland,
Harcam, Mill Road, Barnham Broom, Norwich NR9 4DE

Spore Exchange Organiser: Mrs M.E. Nimmo-Smith,
201 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1AH

ent Exchange Organteer: R.J. & Mrs B. Smith,
184 Solihull Road, Shirley, Solihull, Warwickshire B90 1AH

Booksales Organiser: = eee
234 Harold Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 5NG

Trustees of Greenfield
and Centenary Funds: J.H. Bouckley, A.R. Busby, Dr N.J. Hards

The BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY was founded in 1891 and today continues as a focus
for fern enthusiasts. It provides a wide range of information about ferns through the medium tel
Publications and available literature. It also organises formal talks, informal ——
meetings, garden visits, plant exchanges, spore exchange scheme and fern book Sa bot
Society has a wide mambership which includes gardeners, nurserymen and botai, o

amateur and professional. The Society's journals, the Fern Gazette, Pteridologist
published annually. The Fem Gazette publishes matter chiefly of specialist interest on rena
| topics of more general appeal and the Bulletin, Society bus'

iness and

= meoings repos.

ae See other than eg are £3 dre to cover bane conversion charges). Arnel postage
—- hac <torokotmecl not receiving the Fern Gazette, £2.50.

, tte idologist and Bulletin are available cave i
‘to 8 Soran Stary Cay, Kent BRS 3.) from whom futher detale <n btain

MISSOURI BOT ANICAL

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) SEP 08 1994 193

EDITORIAL GARDEN LIBRARY,

Less than a year ago, in May 1993, | paid a brief visit to the Rickard household and,
when | left, | had apparently agreed to take over Pteridologist. At the time | was quietly
confident that Martin would never really foster his baby into the care of another but, within
days, congratulations from Clive Jermy arrived and | was soon receiving instructions from
our ever vigilant secretary! That mute nod in the kitchen at Leinthall Starkes when Martin
sheepishly (mmm, that’s not a predictable Rickardian trait, is it) suggested I'd make a
good editor, had dropped me rightin it.....deep.

e@ new editor's Christmas holiday was not a happy one. He had not enough copy,
could’t knuckle down to the job and, it being his first BPS publication, hadn't got a clue
how it was to be done anyway. He hadn't lifted a finger since collecting copy in
September, so Christmas itself was a time of wretched guilt. As soon as the bank
holidays were over the work simply had to begin: letters were written and the long task of
pumping words into the computer began. Fortunately most authors whose copy looked
computer-generated sent floppy discs and the task became easier, but there were still
pages and pages of type-script and (worse) hand-writing to transfer.

To make the task easier next time | ask those who can to follow the guidelines laid down
in Instructions to Authors on page 230 of this edition. However, it's good ferny articles |
need, so if your best comes scribbled on the back of an envelope, I'll not turn it away.

Pteridologist is my favourite of the three BPS journals and what | particularly like about it
is the huge diversity of subject matter covering all things pteridological, with both
botanical and horticultural viewpoints. | intend to encourage articles which bridge that
unnecessary artificial divide, promoting my conviction that natural history, scientific and
popular, belongs to all. Of course the excellence of past Pteridologists has been the
result of the hard work and enthusiasm of its first editor Martin Rickard who has rightly
been congratulated many times already for their quality. However, that was so well
deserved that | do not hesitate to reiterate: “well done, Martin, and thanks from us all”.

JAMES MERRYWEATHER

FROM THE PRESIDENT

How time flies. It does not seem more than a couple of months since the last Pteridologist
was issued. Since then | have continued to get round various gardens up and down the
country and have found them to be very interesting with such a wide variety of ferns and
other plants, British and foreign. Many thanks to those who have made me so welcome
and also, thanks to those who have called to see my collection at Harrogate.

The society continues to grow in spite of the recession during which many societies have
suffered severe membership losses. Our success is partly due to increased media
attention. The is no doubt that such publicity does much good for the society, but it is still
important for all individual members to sell _pteridology to the public. May | repeat what |
Said in 1991:

Mille ante bis millismum annum

194 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

If each member responds to my call during our centenary year and introduces one new
member to the society before the end of 1999 - the turn of the century - we can increase
membership to 1,000. While | am on the subject of increased membership, is your
partner a member? Joint membership costs only an additional £2 per year. Have you
ever thought of giving a year’s membership to a friend or relative as a birthday or
Christmas present? Simply send in a completed membership form and remittance six
weeks before the membership is required to start. Clearly mark it Gift Membership and
the society will do the rest. The 1993 secretary’s report introduced a new /'d like to know
service, through which queries about all aspects of pteridology can be answered quickly
by the best possible authority. Do make use of this service. Full particulars are in the
1993 Bulletin.

Now may | express a personal thank you to Martin Rickard, retiring editor of Pteridologist
who introduced this journal in 1984, for all the work he has done in getting the first nine
issues out, full of interesting material. | also welcome James Merryweather of the
University of York as the new editor. He will need plenty of copy for future issues and the
ball is in your court. Let's have reports of your experiences, experiments, successes and
failures. ;

So, best wishes to all for the coming years.

JACK BOUCKLEY

HOW DO YOUR SPORELINGS GROW?
PETER HAINSWORTH, Station House, Achnashellach, Strathcarron, Ross-shire, 1V54
8YR

A number of members tell me they have problems after transplanting their sporelings. So
did | at one time, but | seem to be getting better at it now. Perhaps others will find my
experiences useful.

We have to face it, many kinds of fern are delicate at this early stage. Our native
Athyrium and Dryopteris are pretty resilient and are good material to start on - then the
goodies of the spore exchange beckon us on. Some of them turn out to be less
co-operative. Having spent a lot of time over the years dabbling with seeds and
seedlings of the more obscure flowering plants, it seemed that some of this acquired
expertise was worth trying out on ferns. Experimenting fairly intensively over the past
seven years has brought worthwhile results. As usual, a study of the plant's life history
and physiology gives the best clues.

The reasons for failure must be numerous, but here are a few of them, starting with the
most obvious:

1. Too little water (watering or kind of compost).

2. Too much water (watering or kind of compost).

3. Damage to tissues during transplanting - and subsequent fungal infection.
4. Airless compost - usually associated with too wet compost.

5. Too hot or too cold.

6. Lack of light, especially in winter.

7. pH wrong.

8. Change of regime after transplanting (temperature and humidity).

Watering, or lack of it, must be the usual cause of major disasters; it is for me. It's wer
to forget, even when you are around all day, for there are plenty of diversions going ©

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 195

especially in spring and summer. | try to have a look around my propagating case and
greenhouse every evening to top up anything near gasping, and then give an overall
watering each morning. Most higher plants give clear signals of water stress by drooping.
Ferns seldom do, except for young growing fronds, and quickly pass the point of no
return. Worse still, even with the growing point dead, the fronds may take months to die,
and we hang on to them in hope - seldom justified. Most ferns don’t seem to have
developed the knack of forming adventitious buds or coping with airlocks in their
plumbing.

There are ways of extending the period without watering, for plastic seed trays without
holes may be obtained. | line these with capillary matting, the thicker the better. A tray
takes 20 x 2” or 15 x 2%” pots or 5 bedding plant strips. A full soak will last 2-3 days,
even in summer. The water is also evened out if you have different sized pots in one tray.
There is a risk of too much water collecting - check by lifting out a pot now and again,
and pour out any surplus. Leave them to dry off for a couple of days.

You can extend the period without watering even longer if you want to go away but it is
risky, even with some of the sophisticated equipment available nowadays. The simplest
and, perhaps, the most reliable is to have shallow containers of water close by your trays
with a 1” wide wick of capillary matting leading into them. The water level needs to be an
inch or so below the bottom of the trays or they will waterlog. Two litre ice-cream
containers are ideal. Even your willing, but horticulturallyclueless neighbour can manage
to maintain a water level. To be on the safe side a ‘/.” x‘/,” bit of matting half poked into
the bottom of the pot will ensure moisture flow. Some ferns, most Polystichum for
instance, are sensitive to overwatering so, as a precaution, | put in enough %,” gravel to
cover the bottom of the pot so that there is always some air, even if they get waterlogged.

The compost for pricking out and potting sporelings is closely tied up with watering. It
needs to be water retentive certainly, but what is underappreciated is that it needs to be
well aerated as well. In my experience the popular peat composts tend to finish up as an
airless lump, and they contain fertilisers which sporelings cannot tolerate. | make up my
own from equal parts of good garden soil (veg. garden), garden compost for nourishment,
peat to hold water and coarse concreting sand to hold the constituents apart. | put this
through a relatively coarse 1%” sieve - finer compost holds less air. | find that the Vapo
peat in orange bags is by far the best; pure sphagnum. At this stage you should think of
the pH too. If sporelings are pale without good reason (starved or waterlogged) it usually
means that the compost is too acid or too alkaline. A pH of 6-7 will accommodate most,
but be prepared for surprises. My indicator solution is in constant use. Checking
newly-made compost is not reliable, for it changes over a few months with watering. Peat
iS very acid but this may be countered by your soil or sand if they are alkaline. If they are
acid too, fine limestone grit or ground limestone needs to be added, up to a level
desertspoonful in a black plastic bucketful. Check some from a pot after about three
months and make a note of it for next time. If the soil mix is very acid sprinkle some
ground limestone over the surface in the pots and water it in. But don’t let me put you off.
PH is not usually vital, it’s just better if you get it right. You should finish up with a
compost that is just moist, but not sticking together. It is easier to use in that condition
but, again, not vital.

When it comes to pricking out from a potful of prothalli, loose compost at sowing time is
advantageous. It is easier to separate plants without root damage. You can do this when
they have one, two or three leaves but, as with most seedlings, the longer you leave
them, the more root damage will occur. This is something that young ferns find
particularly hard to recover from. Young plant tissues are delicate. A root is no more than
Several strands of very thin cellulose bubbles end to end, and relies on the surrounding
earth to keep its shape. Without its support at transplanting they bend, kink squash or

196 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

break and become useless to the plant. Those who are familiar with these things under
the microscope will know what | mean.

If your potful is large and sporelings well spaced, it may be best to dig out deeply with
the thin end of the gardener’s “widger” or the round end of a table knife, leaving
remaining prothalli to grow on. If thick in a small pot as mine usually are, turn out the pot
and pull the cluster apart into progressively smaller pieces, eventually into single plants.
It helps to have the potful rather dry so that the compost falls away easily. Any
worthwhile clusters of prothallican be put back with the old compost and will soon settle
down after an overhead spraying. Keep your removed sporelings from drying out too. It
only takes a few minutes for exposed roots to dry out and become damaged.

For these very tiny plants a pot is a waste of space and compost. | use Plantpak bedding
strips which hold a dozen or more sporelings and fit five to a tray, a lot more convenient
for small quantities than pots or whole seed trays. Don’t forget to have lots of little labels
ready. There may be only a few of some kinds of sporeling, and some sorts look very
much alike as babies. To plant without kinking the roots use a widger to make a slit
about 1%” deep and lower the roots in gently. They may be far longer than 1”, in which
case let them fold over in a figure of eight to avoid kinks, and then close the slit. Don’t
firm. Put these back in the same place that they came from, spray lightly and cover with
polythene, but don’t water. After 2-3 days give a light watering but keep the polythene on
for about 10 days. The reasoning here is that some root damage is inevitable and wet
conditions (i.e. watering) are likely to encourage pathogens to develop on the damaged
parts. Give a day or two to heal and watering may be resumed. There is another reason:
all fern roots, as far as we know, are mycorrhizal, i.e. they have a symbiotic relationship
with soil fungi, a device for enhancing nutrient uptake from the soil. These fungi develop
best under well-aerated conditions’.

After a month or two the sporelings will have 5-7 leaves and will want moving into 2" or
2%" pots before their roots get tangled. | turn the strip on its side, gripping the leaves
gently, and ease the block out. The plants usually separate easily. Scoop out half a
potful of compost, give it a little shake whilst at 45° and it will forma flat face on which to
lay the roots. Fill up loosely without firming, spray mist gently and cover with polythene
again. Water after 2 or 3 days as before.

Once the pot is filled with roots it can be treated as a normal plant and potted up in
whatever you fancy. | use the standard soil-based John Innes style of compost. Straight
fertilisers seem to damage tiny plants, and | find the slow release (6 month) granule
fertilisers good, keeping a fern going far longer than old style ones. A level
desertspoonful in half a bucket of compost seems right.

There are still a few other pitfalls. Even a well shaded greenhouse can overheat In
Summer. 90°F is about as much as sporelings can stand, and not too often. A cold frame
In a shady place with a temperature of 60-70°F is about right in summer. At the other
extreme, in autumn and winter, cold and decreasing light will send hardy ferns into
“hibernation”. Subtropical kinds will develop brown patches on their leaves and quietly
give Up, SO don't try transplanting between the end of September and end of March
unless you can give them a good deal of strong artificial light and a little heat to keep
them growing.

Most prothalli are in the same compost for 6 months or more and it is difficult to devise a
compost that can supply plant nutrients over so long a period in the very small quantities
needed. As the fronds appear the demand becomes greater and available f i
decreases. A very weak cucumber feed (high nitrogen) at about a quarter strength W i
keep them green and growing. For transplanted babies, use a stronger mix. | use a sma
pipette and apply directly to a sprouting prothallus.

ion of 10% live garden soll

' If your compost is sterile it will not i i i
: it contain any mycorrhizal fungal inoculum. The addit courage
(oF soil from where your fern naturally grows) should supply a diversity of suitable fungal propagules “=
ed

mycorrhiza formation -

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 197

Another problem, which affects plants generally in a damp, still atmosphere is grey mould
(Botrytis) which spreads fast. The safest fungicide | have found, even for prothalli, is
Benlate, but it loses its potency after a few days and has to be made up fresh when
required. Tipping the packet into a small test-tube and marking it with graduations so that
one can remove enough for half a pint at a time is useful. Cheshunt compound does not
seem to have the slightest effect on damping off of sporelings. The commercial
preparation Elvaron worked, but the foliage browning, which appeared about two weeks
later, took quite a bit of working out! Oh, why do we bother?

SHORTER NOTE

Asplenium trichomanes ssp. trichomanes ("Incisum" group)

During the BPS meeting in the Massif Central in France last summer the subspecies
within the Asplenium trichomanes complex were discussed at length. At one stage |
asked Michel Boudrie if the very rare variety “Incisum” had ever been found in France. To
my surprise Michel immediately remembered 2 or 3 recent records, and that at least
some plants had been fertile.

Michel very kindly offered to send me a frond from his herbarium to see if | could harvest
spores. Before it arrived | wondered if it might be of the rather coarse “Incisum Moule”
type, but | need not have worried, for it turned out to be a beauty. It was perfectly incised
like “Incisum Greenfield” - see Pteridologist 2, 65 (1991). Michel's frond (Fig. 1) has some
damaged pinnae, but | do not believe this is a sign of depauperation, but rather a
reflection of damage in the post or during spore collection.

The frond was collected from acid rocks close to Berbézit, 9km south-west of La
Chaise-Dieu, on 27th March, 1991 by B. Vigier.

There are six recorded finds of this variety in the British Isles since 1743, yet in France
there have been 2 or 3 recent finds without any comparable interest in fern variation. It
does raise the question, how common is this and other varieties on the other side of the
Channel? Next time I’m in France I'll be looking more carefully....!

MARTIN RICKARD

Fig. 1. Aplenium trichomanes "Incisum"

198 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

SPORES ON BEVIS
NICK SCHRODER, 2 The Dell, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1JG

Elsewhere in this edition of Pteridologist, Cor van de Moesdijk gives a comprehensive
account of past sitings of sporangia on Polystichum setiferum “Plumosum Bevis” and
provides full details of his own successes both in 1982/3 and 1993. Having had some
success myself also in 1993 | have collected data and photographs, and fellow spore
hunters may be interested in the method | adopted and the results obtained. The method
itself may be applied to Bevis or, indeed, any other near-barren P. setiferum varieties.

Timing is very important, to ensure that the few precious spore capsules present have
not already opened, but nevertheless are developed sufficiently to be visible to the
naked eye. A close watch should therefore be kept on other P. setiferum close by to
judge when the spore capsules are well developed without having quite turned black.
Most of mine were discovered in the middle of June and harvested at the end of the
same month.

As in the case of previous sitings, and as | was to find myself, one can be searching for
anything from a single spore capsule to a full sorus of 20-30 capsules, with or without an
indusium. A very methodical approach is therefore required, and one needs to have
some garden canes, a hand lens, a very fine artists brush, and some short lengths of
brightly coloured thread for marking pinnae.

The garden cane is used to mark the Starting point around the plant, and from this point
each frond is systematically examined, starting from the top, and using the hand lens to
examine any suspected signs of fructification. Gentle use of the paint brush will help
eliminate what frequently turn out to be tiny pieces of insect debris or bits from from
overhanging trees. In addition to marking pinnae with a thread, | found so much
Sporulation activity after two full days of examination (sporangia being at varying stages
Of ripeness) that | needed then to number each marked pinna and record progress to
ensure that each was collected at the best time - when an optimal number of spores
capsules glistened under the hand lens like a small bunch of black grapes. | would also
advise the provision of some protection from possible rain - an overhead canopy is better
than bagging the fronds, the latter being far more hazardous to singleton spore capsules.

raised by Cor van de Moesdijk, and ten on a plant of the lightly crested Bevis progeny
now known as “Plumosum Ramo-pinnatum’ referred to in Cor’s article. In the latter bee?
three of these appeared on the same frond. “Plumosum Ramo-pinnatum’ tended to yield
a higher proportion of full-size sori.

| have organised fructifications | found into the five categories below. Sorus size varied
considerably.

Type 1 (15%) A single spore capsule which never fully ripened

Type 2 (13%) A single Spore capsule which ripened to yield spores

Type 3 (28%) A small cluster of 2-8 capsules yielding spores

Type 4 (26%) A good sorus of between half and full size

Type 5 (1 8%) As Type 4, but with indusium

Each type is illustrated in the photographs (Fig. 1.) which also show t
locations of the Sporangia - notably, towards the edges of pinnae or, In

he common
two cases,

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 199

Types 1&2 Type 3

Type 4 Type 5

Fig. 1. Sporangia on Polystichum setiferum “Plumosum Bevis", 1993

200 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

actually on the edge. Fertile pinnae were almost always found on the upper half of the
frond. As also observed by Cor van de Moesdijk, the appearance of the reverse of the
frond usually signalled a higher probability that fructification would be found. This seems
to be a combination of an increase in the tiny (almost hair-like) scales which cover the
reverse surface of the pinnules, and more prominent venation - both of which | hope
remain visible in the photos. In several instances some thickening of the pinnule in the
immediate vicinity of singleton spore capsules was noticed, coupled with some localised
chlorosis. In some extreme cases of Types 1 and 2 this thickening was sufficient to justify
describing it as a “projection” which was terminated by the single spore capsule.

In sowing the spores collected | have three goals. Firstly, whilst Bevis progeny have been
raised before, there is always the possibility of a completely new break, such as
“Plumosum Ramo-pinnatum”. Secondly, it is hoped that offspring from the latter may
produce some more elaborate forms of variation. Finally, it is unusual to have the

trays using “Foliosum”, “Wakeleyanum”, “Perserratum”, “Congestum” and “Plumoso-
divisilobum’. | will report the results of all these sowings in a future edition of
Pteridologist.

PROGENY OF POLYSTICHUM SETIFERUM “BEVIS”
COR VAN DE MOESDIJK, Op '‘t Veldie 33, 6176 BL Spaubeek,
Netherlands.

Polystichum setiferum “Plumosum Bevis” is a remarkable and
beautiful fern, which has given rise to even better progeny. It is
one of the ferns which has filled the former British Fern Gazette
and also the former Bulletin with many publications and discus-
sions on its origin, the species to which it belongs and its
marvellous offspring!.5. Polystichum Setiferum “Gracillimum” was
in fact already pictured on the first page of the very first issue of
the British Fern Gazette. Forty years after its discovery by John
Bevis several members of the BPS succeeded in finding spores
on P. Setiferum "Plumosum Bevis", amongst them Druery, Green,
Stansfield, Edwards, Cranfield and Jimmy Dyce®.17,18.22. | suspect
that many more members of the BPS could have found spores on
their plants if they had looked closely enough at the appropriate
time, but it is also possible that they did not have ideal conditions
for spores to develop.

As mentioned in the Pteridologis®@2 | succeeded in finding spores
on my plant too (Fig. 1. P. setiferum "Bevis" - pinna_ which
produced sporangia, fertile pinnule removed). Originally, | obtained
a full grown division of this fern from Bob Trippit in 1981, who was
so kind to take the risk of dividing his “Bevis”. | took it in a (heavy)
Suitcase home by plane and planted it with great care in my
garden in an good coarse peat with fertilizer and chalk added. (ca
7-8g chalk per litre of German peat, 2-3g soluble fertilizer per litre
Of peat) Several times in that year | fertilized the plant with small
amounts of soluble fertilizer (1-2g per litre) and at the end of the
summer of 1982 | was surprised by a few single sporangia, seen
as tiny white spots at the backside of the frond. A closer look with
a microscope revealed that indeed the sporangia contained Fig. 1.

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 201

spores! More were found in the summer of 1983. It could be seen that the underside of
the fronds felt a little bit rough due to small excrescences and single “one-eyed”
sporangia could occasionally be found on top of some of these small excrescences apart
from groups with a few spore cases?°, but never full sori with indusia. A maximum of two
single sporangia could be found on one pinna. The majority of the pinnae did of course
not have spore cases at all.

A close eye was kept on the sporangia ripening and after blackening they were collected.
This was more difficult than finding the white spots and had to be done with the aid of a
hand-lens, because the ripe sporangia could hardly be seen by the naked eye and it
sometimes was even difficult to find them with the aid of a hand-lens. The spores were
sown in different batches in the winter in my loft with light from a north facing window and
a fluorescent lamp directly above it (color 83). | now grow them without any daylight!

After a couple of months the small prothalli were pricked out into a polystyrene container
(15x15 inches) and a large number of tiny plants (probably more than thousand!)
resulted after another couple of months. The plantlets already differed greatly in size and
from those shown and described in detail by C.T. Druery2°. The plants were pricked out
in a potting mixture and placed in a greenhouse at a nearby plant nursery because my
pocket-size garden could not manage that large number of plants. However, one
weekend in the following summer extremely heavy rainfall broke the glass just above the
"Bevis" plantlets and they were all washed away. After the weekend half of the plants
were saved out of the dirt and were potted again; maybe 400-500 survived. The plants
grew vigorously and were planted in plastic pots in 1985. In the summer of that year we
acquired quite a piece of land for building a house and my wife and | were very busy
organising everything to get our new house built. The potted plants were placed at a
friend's garden beneath a walnut tree. In the winter following we were surprised by the
most severe frost in twenty years (two spells of about 14
days of -15°C down to even -24°C).

Although care was taken to protect the plants many were
lost, among them many fine “Gracillimums" and possibly
new breaks. The next winter also was severe and more
plants were lost, because they were still standing outside
in plastic containers. In 1986 the remaining (100-120)
plants were planted out and they grew to maturity. |
estimate that about 10% of the plants left are true
"Gracillimums"and 40% plain Polystichum setiferum with
its typical dull green colour and very fertile. This was also
noticed by Druery2°. Most of the reversions to P,
setiferum have ended their life on my compost heap. 50%
are nearly true “Bevis”, but most a little bit coarser than
my original “Bevis” and completely sterile. No “Foliosum-
Edwards” type of plant nor a “Plumosum Green” type of
plant was seen. One plant has a tendency of splitting up
some of the pinnae as can be seen in the picture made
by Martin Rickard (Fig. 2. P. setiferum “Plumosum
Ramo-pinnulatum" group, pinna). He considers this as a
new break of "Bevis” and baptised this plant “Ramo-
pinnatum”.

"Gracillimums"show also some variation, some are a little
bit finer than others. Good growing conditions do give
some of the "Gracillimums" a "“Cristulatum" appearance.
Anyhow, the "Gracillimums" grow very slowly and are
miffy as Jimmy Dyce mentioned in his publications on

202 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

Bevis progeny. A small disorder and the plant fades away. | gave about 10-15
"Gracillimums" to friends and some 15 are still in my garden. The “Bevis” type is
extremely vigorous, and at this moment! possess most probably the largest collection of
“Bevis” progeny. People interested to exchange some of my plants ("Gracillimum" only
very few!) could get one. The problem, however, is that most plants have sizes of 40
inches and more and are quite heavy!

Happily, after more than 10 years of sterility a very few sterile “Bevis” type of plants did
give single sporangia again in 1993 on the same lines as described before. | noticed it in
the spring when again | saw white spots on the backside of a few plants (progeny). Only
one of the plants contained just one pinnule with the normal group of sporangia and
indusia as if it was completely fertile! | marked the sorus-bearing pinnae with a ribbon, but
later on | sometimes had trouble finding the sporangia again even with a lens! It was
surprising that a strong growing plant was not always fertile. One of the plants was not
very vigorous, but had most sporangia. Also in this case it was noticed that if the back
side of the frond is a little bit rough and excrescences are seen, there is a chance that
sporangia can be found. A smooth back side only rarely carries sporangia in my
experience. What was different compared to the previous years? In the first place we had
had an extremely mild winter. Secondly in the autumn of 1992 | gave all the ferns a large
dressing of 3 year-old decayed manure; this was also practised in the old days and has
been reported in the Gazette.

| collected the spores and sent about half of them to Martin Rickard. | hope he will have
success with them too. Allthough | did not sow spores for more than five years | could not
resist giving it another try this year. So, | kept the other half of the spores myself and |
hope that new surprises will occur. The above discussed plant tentatively named by
Martin Rickard as P. Setiferum “Plumosum Ramo-pinnatum” did contain two single
sporangia and who knows they may result in a crested “Bevis” as Martin expects. At this
moment prothalli are seen and look healthy.

So much for my successes and failures with P. Setiferum “Bevis” The cristulatum
character in some "Gracillimums" and the starting of cresting in “Bevis” raises another
question: how does cresting arise in ferns? This question has caused many discussions
in the fern literature and has been raised by Jimmy Dyce for "GracillimumCristulatum". Is
this “pseudo-tasseling” as described by Druery’? cresting or not? Cresting seems to be
more or less natural in ferns. Lowe proved that inheritance between forms and even
hybridization could take place between species?. However, although many forms do
appear to breed true, we see that progeny of many elaborate forms yield unexpected
cresting. Several plumose lady ferns have yielded crested forms. The case given by
Druery in his book is famous. But also Athyrium filix-femina “Frizelliae” has given
tasseling forms. And | noticed several years ago that a sowing from Asplenium
scolopendrium “Crispum”, which was scarcely fertile and may be considered as 4
“Plumosum" produced all kinds of forms, among them some heavily crested ones. -
once again, what is really inherited and what is caused by abnormalities in the
chromosomes? Will it eventually turn out to be normal to get a crested “Bevis” type an

even crested "Gracillimums" as long as we obtain spores from these plants for further
generations? | expect that in the future we may get an answer to the question why
Spores are only scarcely produced on the excellent, apparently sterile garden forms. This
is a still unexplored area, and | am convinced that somebody will find out before long! A
nay of the publications of the BPS on P. Setiferum “Bevis” and its progeny is given
elow.

Literature
1 J.W. Dyce, Personal Communication 1990
2 J.W. Dyce, Pteridologist, Vol.2 (1) 1990 p 25.

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 203

3 J.W. Dyce, Bulletin, Vol.2 (3) 1981 p 126.

4 J.W. Dyce, Bulletin, Vol.2 (1) 1979 p 38.

5 P.G. Corbin Bulletin, Vol 1 (4) 1976 p 170.

6 J.W. Dyce The British Fern Gazette Vol.9 (2) 1961 p 50.

7 J.D. Lovis The British Fern Gazette Vol.9 (8) 1967 p 301.

8 E.A.Elliott The British Fern Gazette Vol.8 (7) 1956 p 159.

9 Editor The British Fern Gazette Vol.7 (5) 1938 p 124.

10 F.W. Stansfield The British Fern Gazette Vol.3 (30) 1916 p 123.
11 F.W. Stansfield The British Fern Gazette Vol.3 (31) 1917 p 154.
12 C.T.Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.2 (20) 1915 p 200.

13 C.T. Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.2 (24) 1915 p 283.

14 C.T.Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.1 (1) 1909 p 1.

15 C.T. Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.1 (2) 1909 p 24.

16 C.T. Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.1 (3) 1910 p 50.

17 C.T. Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.1 (5) 1910 p 119.

18 C.T. Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.1 (6) 1910 p 133.

19 C.T. Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.1 (10) 1911 p 226.

20 C.T. Druery The British Fern Gazette Vol.1 (11) 1912 p 271.

21 C.T. Druery British Ferns and Varieties 1910 p 30

22 J.W. Dyce Pteridologist |,2 1985 p 79

Dp

Photographs of P. setiferum “Plumos um Gracilli "can be found in lit.9,11,14,19,21
A Photograph of P. setiferum “Plumosum Green” can be found in lit.16

A Photograph of P. setiferum “Foliosum Edwards” can be found in lit.13.

A Photograph of P. setiferum “Plumosum Drueryi” is depicted in lit.10

MORE FERNS IN THE SUN
MARK BORDER, 18 Madeira Drive, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2NJ

| read the article “Growing hardy ferns without shade” by A.R. Busby (Pteridologist 2, 4,
1993) with great interest, and can add further species and varieties that | am growing
under similar, less than ideal conditions.

Firstly, a quick note about my garden, to make the problem clear. We moved to our
present house, which is situated one and a half miles from Hastings sea front, in
December 1991. The garden is approximately 70 by 30 feet, and originally consisted of a
lawn and an empty vegetable plot. We are on the side of a valley running roughly south,
south-east, with a fairly steep slope across the garden. Trees at the bottom of the garden
which backs onto mine offer shade in the early morning.

The soil is heavy clay which bakes and cracks during the summer. | cannot confirm
whether it ever completely dries out, as any attempt to dig holes when it is baked merely
results in a bruised foot and jarred shoulder. To give some idea of the cracking capability
of my soil | measured a crack at half an inch wide by eight inches deep. A crack of
similar width ran through the middle of a small clump of Blechnum penna-marina with no
long-term ill effects to the plant.

| have divided the garden into areas according the conditions during July:

1. Shady virtually all day, and so | will ignore the ferns here.

2. Shade until about midday, and then again from about 7pm, when the house shades
the garden. :

3. Most of the garden, which is receives full sun from about 9am until evening.

204 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

Area 2 has the following ferns (* = Planted out in spring, 1993): Athyrium filix-femina
vars: Cristatum group, “Frizelliae”, “Plumosum Axminster’, & “Victoriae”; A. geringianum
“Pictum”; (?)Athyrium sp. ACL/G from Yunnan’; Blechnum spicant, Cystopteris diaphana,
C. fragilis, Dryopteris affinis, D. affinis “Cristata Augusta”, D. dilatata, D. filix-mas
“Depauperata” & “Linearis”, D. (?)lacera’, D. wallichiana, Onolcea sensibilis, Polystichum
setiferum “Divisilobum” & (?)Plumoso-divisilobum” and, finally, Pteris sp. CLD1228
Rather to my surprise Athyrium filix-femina “Plumosum Axminster’ has done extremely
well, even though it is about the most exposed of the group. The two Cystopteris species
are growing out of a low wall that holds back my pond, while Onoclea sensibilis and
Pteris sp. CLD1228 are growing in a small bog bed (made from off-cuts of the pond
lining) at the base of the retaining wall.

Area 3 contains the following: Asplenium rhyzophyllus*, A. scolopendrium “Cristata”,
Polypodium (?)australe’, Polystichum munitum and a Polystichum species from Yunnan’,
all growing on top of the wall. A second small bog bed (more off-cuts) contains Osmunda
regalis, O. regalis “Purpurascens” & O. regalis “Cristata”. The rest of this area contains
Adiantum pedatum, A venustum, Blechnum penna-marina, Dryopteris filix-mas “Cristata
Martindale” and Polystichum setiferum “Tripinnatum”.

| am trying to improve the soil by mulching with compost, but each batch produced only
covers a small area, and | have planted a few shrubs and other plants amongst the
ferns, which will eventually provide some shade. To finish, | can but echo Matt Busby’s
advice to experiment if, like me, you get too much sun in your garden.

AMONG THOSE DARK SATANIC MILLS - Extracts from the records of
the Halifax Scientific Society, founded 1874
MARGARET ROTHWELL, 42 Victoria Avenue, Elland, W. Yorks., HX7 8JX

When | was first invited to act as fern recorder for the Halifax Scientific Society, | did not
expect that there would be a great deal to record, other than in botanically rich cloughs
Such as Hardcastle Crags, Luddenden Dean, Crimsworth Dean etc., which are a
Separate issue. After all, the grimmer aspects of Halifax are more reminiscent of a line
from the poignant folk-song, A Dalesman’s Litany: “From Hull and Halifax and Hell, good
Lord deliver me” than of a pteridologist’s paradise. However, | was soon to be pleasantly
Surprised and delighted to be proved wron

Leyland (Sept. 11th, 1837), whilst interesting, sadly record local extinctions: “Agreeable
0 your request | send you a quantity of Cryptogramma crispa | have gathered at Scarth
Rake, south-west Yorkshire”.

It is remarkable that the Halifax flora has a 1666 record for Diphasiastrum alpinum at
Mile Cross in Gibbet Lane, less than two miles from the city centre. Whilst it is “long
gone” from this site it must be agreed that, “with so much moorland within the parish, it's
improbable that they [the clubmosses] have become extinct”.

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 205

Cemeteries also seem, paradoxically, to be full of life. Stoney Royd cemetery, Siddal has
about a dozen plants of A. scolopendrium, whilst a local crematorium surrounded by
woodland shelters the last remaining plant of Polystichum setiferum in the area. This
species was “once productive of many nurseryman’s varieties named by Thomas
Stansfield in Miall’s Flora”.

Railways and cuttings present more choice species: Osmunda regalis is recorded on
rocks in a cutting in the Ryburn Valley and a plant of Asplenium adiantum-nigrum was
recently found at North Bridge, Halifax as well as a member of the Dryopteris affinis
aggregate, confirmed as “morphotype borreri, but near robusta” by Clive Jermy.

Canals and riversides constitute urban oases for ferns. Besides the usual Athyrium
filix-femina, Dryopteris filix-mas, D. dilatata, and D. affinis borreri, a wall overlooking the
canal at Elland has a single plant of Asplenium ceterach (unrecorded prior to 1986) and
O. regalis grows on the canal side at Mytholmroyd, on the banks of the river Ryburn
above Ripponden and “on rocks at the side of filled-in canal near Phoebe Lane, Halifax
were formerly several large plants, now nearly gone”. (1987)

If pollution is ever sufficiently controlled for me to witness the rediscovery of
Hymenophyllum wilsonii, first recorded at Turner Clough in 1834 by Leyland and
“authenticated by specimens” close to mills, but in a locality which is “by no means
deteriorated”, | shall be even more convinced that “deliverance” from the parish of Halifax
is by no means necessary, and that | need travel no further than these “dark satanic
mills'” to find my pteridologist’s paradise.

MARGARET ROTHWELL

CONSERVATION AND THE SPORE LIST
MARGARET NIMMO-SMITH, 210 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1AH

After managing the BPS Spore Exchange for the past six years | have come increasingly
to realise its potential as a resource for conservation, often under-used at present. There
are many different aspects to this. Primarily the exchange is used by horticulturalists,
both in this country and abroad, who wish to extend the range of ferns they grow.
Through the lead of the National Council for Conservation of Plants and Gardens
(NCCPG), the réle of the amateur is now seen as making an importantcontribution to the
conservation of the wealth and diversity of plants grown in our gardens. They are the
guardians of our horticultural plant heritage. The BPS spore list has been used by
national collection holders to help build up their fern reference collections. The BPS
exchanges spores regularly with botanical gardens and at present | am processing a
large request to help the ancient botanic garden of Leiden which has an excellent
tropical fern collection, to build a collection of hardy ferns.

In recent years there has been an upsurge of interest in growing foreign hardy ferns and
the spore list has given fern growers the opportunity to raise sufficient ferns to
experiment with their hardiness out of doors. In this area the work done by Richard Rush
(and published in his book) has been an invaluable inspiration and aid. Several smaller
nurseries in Britain are now offering a range of hardy ferns for sale to a general
gardening public, now becoming increasingly aware of their value as garden plants.
Often these ferns have originated in the spore exchange.

The Spore Exchange list also offers the opportunity to try material collected in the wild,
sometimes from areas which may offer hardy or nearly hardy ferns. Recently | received a
consignment collected in New Guinea from an area where the botany is poorly known,

1 with apologies to William Blake who was probably referring to the repressive churches rather than the familiar
relics of the once thriving textile industry to which | refer.

206 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

and the ferns are not yet identified. It is hoped that more plant hunters will use the Spore
Exchange as a means of distributing their spore finds. Members are often shy of trying
new or unknown taxa, missing the opportunity to extend the number of ferns in
cultivation. Each year | find there are many ferns on the list which are under requested.
To encourage members a survey form was circulated last year to find out about
members’ fern-growing interests. To date about 30 replies have been received. It is
hoped through this to give surplus spores to interested members to try. In future | would
like to attempt to list the relative hardinesses of taxa on the spore list so that members
will feel encouraged to try new items.

The cultivars on the list are as importantas the species. Many, such as Dryopteris affinis
varieties come almost 100% true from spores. Others offer immense opportunities for
fern breeding and the possibility of reproducing lost varieties, such as has recently
happened with Athyrium filix-femina “Kalothrix”. Care should be taken with the naming of
fern cultivars raised from spore to make sure that only those true to type are given the
name. If there is much variation a group name can be used. When raising plants in
quantity poor specimens should always be junked.

Finally, there is a more academic area in which the BPS can assist. | am asked
occasionally to produce material for students’ research projects, and also to assist in
conservation projects. However, there are certain rare British fern species such as
Woodsia alpina, Athyrium flexile and Cystopteris montana which have been conspicuous
by their absence from the list. | would make a plea for anyone growing these species to
donate spores so that they can become more firmly established in cultivation and more
readily available for research.

| have enjoyed my work for the Spore Exchange tremendously, but it is only possible
thanks to the hard work and dedication of the many donors around the world.

44th AIBS ANNUAL MEETING - lowa State University 1-5th August 1993
CATHERINE ANN RAINE, Department of Cell and Structural Biology, Williamson
Building, Manchester University, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL.

Thanks to the BPS Centenary Fund | was able to attend the 44th AIBS Annual meeting
in lowa as a final year SERC funded postgraduate student from Manchester University.
This proved to be a very valuable opportunity to meet other workers in my field. With this
financial help | was also able to go on the associated pteridological field trips before the
meeting.

Despite the torrential rains and floods, prior to this conference (requiring a change of
venue and accommodation) it was by no means a wash out. There was even some
good weather and sunshine for the field work. The first three day trip to the Palaeozolc
Plateau region of northeastern lowa proved that this state isn’t quite flat all over and that
there are plants other than corn! The crops had suffered from flood damage but the ferns
we saw were flourishing. Of particular interest was the tallgrass prairie site supporting

Ophioglossum pusillum and another site with the prairie scouring rushes Equisetum
laevigatum and E. x ferrissii. Personal highlights of the trip were seeing a ate
aves,

Gymnocarpium hybrid persisting on talus slopes kept cold by air flow from ice . d
abundant maidenhair Adiantum pedatum, finding the gemmiferous Huperzia lucidula an
visiting a 10 acre Equisetum x litorale marsh.

The following one day excursion took us to the infamous Woodman wie
sin

Preserve in Central lowa where we saw most of the 14 recorded pteridophyte Lei
Dryopteris goldiana, Cryptogramma stelleri, Woodsia obtusa and Matteuccia struthiop
eris. This was fascinating place to visit but, if the stinging nettles did't get you, the
mosquitoes did! They are deterred by no amount of clothing!

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 207

The conference ran from 1st to 5th of August. The American Fern Society (AFS) held
their meeting on the first day with topics including molecular techniques, palaeopteridol-
ogy, population dynamics, antheridiogen responses, structure of spermatozoids and
gametophytic gemmae. The Killarney Fern (Trichomanes speciosum) was well repre-
sented in this section by our little team. Dr Junxia Ji started the day with her presentation
on DNA amplification and its application to a genetic study of the Killarney fern. In the
afternoon, Fred Rumsey enlightened us with electrophoretic analysis of this mysterious
fern. My own presentation concentrated on growth rates of gametophyte gemmae under
different environmental conditions and the possible controls of gemma production.

The AFS meeting was celebrated in true style at luncheon with an amazing cake in the
form of a mature cordate gametophyte bearing fully functional gametangia! (Fig. 1.) It was
very tastefully presented, but | wasn’t quite so drawn to the green icing when it was
served up!

The following day the select pteridological poster session played host to my two
contributions, one on evidence for sexual reproduction in Trichomanes speciosum and
the other on differences between gametophyte gemmae in the whole family of filmy ferns.
One other poster from Edinburgh completed the session with a look at the rdle of soil
spore banks in fern conservation.

Several other contributions in the remainder of the conference were of interest to the
pteridologists including the ecological section of the phytogeography and ecology of rock
cliffs, barrens and glades in North America. Don Farrar and Jeffrey Walck highlighted the
environment in which North America’s independent gametophytes are typically found,
and the fact that few have studied this habitat in depth.

It was extremely helpful to speak with workers whose research paralleled my own and to
have their guidance when observing new fern species on the field trips. Without the help |
received from the BPS this would not have been possible. Thankyou.

Fig. 1. Gametophyte cake which was served at the AFS luncheon during the 44th AIBS
meeting in lowa.

208 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

SHORTER NOTE

Adiantum balfourii

Whilst looking through some old copies of the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society
that my mother had given me | came across a short note about what appeared to me to
be a rather unadiantum-like Adiantum. | have been unable to find any mention of
Adiantum balfourii and would be very interested in any information that other members
may have on this species’,

AWARD PLANTS 1972/1973

Adiantum balfourii A.M. September 26, 1972, as an ornamental foliage plant for
the temperate greenhouse. An attractive pot plant about 10 inches in height, the
chestnut almost black shiny stems are wiry and contrast with the dainty
appearance of the light green leaves. The pinnae are in opposite pairs, almost
sessile, orbicular and equally sided up to 3% inch long and % inch wide. The sori
are marginal, linear in shape and not continuous. This species is native to the
mountains of the island of Socotra2, having been discovered during the exploration
of the island by Professor Isaac Balfour and Dr Schweinfurth before 1883.
Specimen in Herb. Hort. Wisley. Exhibited by The Director, The Royal Botanic
Garden, Kew, Richmond, Surrey.

(first published in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society vol. XCVIII October
1973 Part 10)

MARK BORDER

Adiantum balfourii

1 : ay : in this
hg a to me to be an ideal subject for the BPS /d like to know service, given a plug by the President |
is - ed.

2 Yemen, off the “horn" of Africa.

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 209

BOOK REVIEWS

THE FERN GUIDE. A FIELD GUIDE TO THE FERNS, CLUBMOSSES, QUILLWORTS
AND HORSETAILS OF THE BRITISH ISLES by James Merryweather and Michael Hill.
Reprinted from Field Studies (1992), 8: 101-188. Price £6. ISBN 1 85153 211 0

Despite the publication in 1991 of the Jermy and Camus Illustrated field guide to the ferns
and allied plants of the British Isles, there is still a place for this AIGAP beginners’ guide
with its very different and sympathetic approach. With good integral illustrations, minimal
use of technical terms (without being patronising) and the use of only a hand lens, the
guide enables all British pteridophyte species, to be identified in the field. Pointers are
also given to the recognition of three common hybrids and seven aliens.

A number of features make for the beginner-friendliness of this guide. Species with wide
morphological variation key out in more than one place; tables replace the dichotomous
key format when a suite of characters is better suited for the separation of the more
critical species; and | particularly enjoyed the ‘Don’t Panic’ comments where the beginner
is likely to encounter difficulties. There are helpful tips for confirming the identification of
species and on how to recognise possibly confusing non-pteridophytes. There is a good
index.

The drawings by Michael Hill are generally good with plants, leaves and other selected
details readily recognisable. However, one must quibble with the choice, on page 156, of
three complete leaves to illustrate pinna shape - and there are probably better examples.
On page 184 the uniquely broadly triangular basal pinnae of Gymnocarpium dryopteris
are insufficiently distinctive.

At the back of the book are 29 excellent, small, colour prints, the last four having been
chosen to show the condition required of sporangia for spore collecting.

My enthusiasm for the guide is tempered, unfortunately, by far too many typographical
errors (some referring the user to the wrong page). Also there is confusing labelling of
some of the drawings; inconsistency in the style of the statements used at each
dichotomy; a number of cases of poor punctuation which, on several occasions results in,
albeit sometimes amusing, ambiguity; and there are too many questionable points in the
glossary. However, although aggravating, possibly confusing, these do not substantially
alter the effectiveness of the key, except on page 162 where the directions to the next
stage of the key have been transposed in the second and fourth boxes.
| understand, and itis a pity, that the author and illustrator were not given the opportunity
to correct the final proofs, when errors etc. could have been dealt with.
Some might query the size of the volume for a field manual, although itis consistent with
other AIDGAP keys which are not all field guides. However, this is a minor criticism - .
does have a water-repellant cover!
The Field Studies Council should be urged to publish a corrected, second edition as soon
as possible. If available at the same price it will be excellent value for money and to be
highly recommended for the new beginner.

ie sth z JENNIFER IDE

FLORA EUROPAEA Vol. 1 Psilotaceae to Platanaceae, second edition.
Edited by G. Tutin et al, Cambridge 1993. Pp. xvi, 581, 5 maps.

It is twenty nine years since the first edition of this standard work was published and, not
Surprisingly, there have been sufficient changes in the European pteridophyte flora to
more than justify a new edition now. Some are straightforward new records eg. Psilotum
nudum, whilst others are new species emerging from a complex eg. Cheilanthes fragrans

210 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

has been split into two species C. acrostica and C. maderensis. There are in addition
perhaps 10 new subspecies.

Name changes are frequent and the rank of many species has also changed eg.
subspecies to species and vice versa. There have been some name changes at family
level, notably Sinopteridaceae, Gymnogrammaceae and Cryptogrammaceae have all
been sunk into Adiantaceae, Athyriaceae has become Woodsiaceae and Aspidiaceae
has become Dryopteridaceae. |n addition the work has been rendered more valuable by
the inclusion of full synonymy with each taxon.

A tremendous amount of research is encapsulated here, but clearly some problems
remain, eg. in Diphasiastrum, which subspecies are hybrids? Occasionally new
advances have been made since going to press, eg. Dryopteris ardenchensis_ is not
included, but otherwise | think the whole treatment is up to date. As in the first edition, a
few naturalised genera are listed.

Occasionally hybrids are included, eg. a few in Polystichum and Asplenium alternifolium,

ut no others, even in the promiscuous genera of Asplenium and Dryopteris. Such
omissions are understandable, given the huge amount of extra work and text which
would be required, but their absence is disappointing.

This is a very scholarly work, an essential reference for anyone studying the region’s fern
flora, and it is no longer sufficient to rely on the first edition. This new work will certainly
be of great value to amateur and professional botanists alike, and it will be my key
reference for the foreseeable future.

MARTIN H RICKARD

FERNS - THE BEAUTY OF THE NEPALESE FLORA by Vidja L Gurung, Sahayogi
Press, Kathmandu. Pp. 236. Over 100 photographs in black and white, with 5 in colour
on the cover. 1991.

Few books on ferns break new ground, but here we have a volume which | believe will
become a classic of its time. 93 Nepalese fern species are illustrated, diagrammatically
and by photographs, with a map of their distribution in Nepal, together with notes on their
wider distribution. So far, it sounds a fairly predictable flora, but the difference between
this book and so many others from around the world is that this is written for gardeners.
Dr Gurung writes from personal experience and gives direction on soil preferences,
suitability for hanging baskets, borders, bottle gardens, window sills etc. Altitude range In
Nepal is given, with estimates of hardiness for each species. This book is not printed on
glossy art paper, nor are all the photographs of the highest quality, but it is a good
honest readable book which | strongly recommend.

MARTIN H RICKARD

SCANDINAVIAN FERNS by Benjamin Qllgard and Kirsten Tind, Rhodos, sate
1993. Pp. 317, 103 line drawings in text and 114 col. plates. Folio (25 x 34cm). ISBN

7245 530 6 paper bound about £37, ISBN 87 7245 532 2 hard bound about £43.
If, like me, you think Scandinavia is too cold to have an interesting fern flora yo

for a pleasant surprise. 72 species of fern and fern ally are known, very similarto t
from the British Isles.

u are in
he tally

Species not known in Britain include Lycopodium complanatum,
Equisetum scirpoides, 6 species of Botrychium, Asplenium adulterin
struthiopteris, Diplazium sibiricum, Gymnocarpium jessoense, Cystop

L. tristachyon,
um, Matteuchia
teris alpina, ©-

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 211

sudetica, Woodsia glabella, Polystichum braunii and Dryopteris fragrans. Not a bad list,
when’s the next boat?

This wonderful book is the first to be dedicated to the Scandinavian fern flora. | do not
usually like books illustrated by paintings, preferring photographs or nature prints, but
here each plate is executed with great accuracy and style. Every species is always
illustrated several times, showing habit, including typically associated species, close
detail of leaves, rhizome, sporangia etc. One day | can imagine this book being cut up by
dealers with the plates being sold as prime examples of late twentieth century fern
illustration.

The text is also excellent, including most of the generally expected details given in a very
readable style with complementary black and white sketches of key features. My only
criticismis the absence of distribution maps. A list of maps published in other, often rare,
books is frustrating. There are full keys to species.

The price is high, but | can strongly recommend this book in the belief that no member
would be disappointed with their £37 worth. Oh, yes, the best news last - you probably
guessed - it is written in English.

MARTIN H RICKARD

ON GERMAN-ENGLISH RELATIONS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES
or How to discover Trichomanes speciosum gametophytes.
JOHANNES VOGEL, Peterhouse, Cambridge, CB2 1RD

Often most important scientific discoveries have a simple story behind them. A good and
most recent example is the invention of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
(honoured with a Nobel Prize in 1993). During a drive home on a lonesome mountain
road one dark Friday night - the moon was shining - the Laureate Kary B. Mullis had a
blitz of an idea or a short and sudden inspiration which earned him a few hundred
thousand dollars a few years later and, as a by-product, revolutionized molecular biology.

But there are also far less important discoveries which have a long story behind them,
and one of these is now to be told. Once upon a time, or more exactly in 1839, Queen
Victoria decided to marry a German, Prince Albert zu Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha. This
decision had several severe effects:

a) the haemophilia gene was widely spread through the European Aristocracy (the -
carrier of this Royal gene died in 199

b) the Christmas tree was introduced into Britain (unfortunately, botanists by then had not
agreed on a code and rules on the introduction of foreign species, and customs might
have been slo iti
Cc) and last but not least, Albert promoted science and due to his efforts the British
Museum (Natural History) - now The Natural History Museum - in London was built in
1881

After this, no important or relevant relations can be recorded for the next 111 years until
the author received a grant from the German National Scholarship Foundation to study
Genetics for a year at Peterhouse in Cambridge, England. Here, working on seed
proteins in beans, not surprisingly | developed an interest in ferns, or more precisely
some biosystematic aspects of the genus Asplenium, and in summer 1990 | was
introduced to an English Pteridologist, Dr Mary Gibby from The Natural History Museum.
Until then | did not even know that such people existed. All | knew about ferns was that |
had acquired a copy of the volume on Pteridophytes of Hegi’s Flora von Mitteleuropa
quite a while ago.

212 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

Unfortunately | had to go back to Germany as the grant only covered my expenses
(mainly fees) for one year. In Summer 1991 a scholarship from the Natural History
Museum was available to the Department of Botany and when Mary asked me if | was
still interested in doing a PhD on Asplenium and, if so, would | like to apply for the grant, |
needed little prompting to go for this unique opportunity.

| started in January 1992 and in July that year | had the opportunity to join Clive Jermy
and others on a trip to Scotland to investigate a local industry (i.e. the Glenfiddich
distillery) and perhaps, if there was enough time, to go out in the field and hunt for
Asplenium on serpentine or visit the coastal sandstones. Here, Clive regularly
disappeared into dark caves. | became suspicous, interested and inquisitive. Finally he
told me, that this tiny, green and furry thing he was extracting from these not very
hospitable places was a very exciting object, a fern. As he is the pteridologist, | had to
believe him. Since | have been a keen botanist on the Continent we were able to discuss
the possibility of finding this green stuff in the heartland of Europe and within no time
suitable sites were selected. Trichomanes speciosum gametophytes are most likely to
grow near sites where another of the Hymenophyllaceae, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense,
has been recorded, eg. Luxembourg, Vosges and the Elbsandsteingebirge. Clive, joined
by Ronnie Viane and the Rasbachs conquered the Continent first, but only reaching out
as far as Luxembourg (just next to the sea) and they were successful.

| learnt all about serpentine ferns in the territory of the former GDR in Autumn 1992.
Stefan JeBen from Chemnitz (a fern expert not only for the territory of the former German
Democratic Republic, GDR) told me about his search for the lost Hymenophyllum in the
Elbsandsteingebirge, but it had to wait until July 1993 before we could set off together for
the hunt. Starting at an ungodly hour in Chemnitz we reached the Elbsandsteingebirge
by 8.00 a.m. | had described sites for gametophytes in the U.K. and Stefan had a superb
knowledge of the numerous gorges and of the old sites of Hymenophyllum in the
sandstone massif, which covers an area of around 300km2. Starting at the western end
of the massif, most spectacular gorges with steep rocks rising up to over a 100m were
searched in good spirit. We were determined to succeed. The sandstone offered a lot of
suitable microsites but the search pattern, learnt and applied successfully in Britain did
produced neither gametophytes nor a sign of Hymenophyllum. After lunch, streams with
permanent running water, a rare element in this area, were requested and we turned
further east near the Czech border. Another valley, another failure and it was getting late,
but a last valley had to be searched. “There is a vague old record of Hymenophyllum - In
a valley near Hrensko” Stefan said “and | believe | know which valley it is”. We stopped
3km behind the Czech-German border and the valley was most suitable, big boulders In
a stream, decidous woodland, mainly maple and beech and all quite lush and green. We
started searching along the stream, climbing over boulders and searching under them
and | was telling Stefan that these would be suitable sites in the U.K. We went further up
the stream at an extremely slow pace searching every suitable hole but it was getting
later and later - we had to go back to Chemnitz that day. | was still believing that the
gametophytes could be found in the Elbsandsteingebirge, but | was rather doubtful that it
would be today, as this most promising site was not about to reveal its secrets.
Pondering along a foot path further upstream, leaving Stefan behind as he was hunting
mainly for suitable Hymenopyllum sites (but he having the essential torch), | spotted :
rock with crevices in a gorge and decided: “If not there, then nowhere in this valley”. ! mit
very nervous, shouted to Stefan to try to get hold of the torch and jumped over to
stream. A crevice was most temptingly staring at me and within seconds | met oye
eye” with gametophytes of Trichomanes speciosum, nicely displaying themselves “
most unusually open site - no torch required. 30 clumps of gametophyte,
being 1cm2, had been found after more than 7 hours of intensive search In an .
more than of 300km2.

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 213

A suitable habitat for a fern?
his enormous. crevice
(Michael for scale) contains
at the very end - about 8m
into the rock - a few tiny
colonies of Tnchomanes
speciosum gametophytes.

Stefan JeBen with his field
assistants Michael Grund-
man (right) and the author
(left)

214 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

We had been the optimal team, Stefan had all the local knowledge and | knew what
these gametophytes looked like. The rest of the story is written up in the last issue of The
Fern Gazette, but it has to be added that even though Stefan was able to discover the
gametophytes at several more sites in the area, so far only one site is suitable for an
appropriate photographic documentation of the gametophytes, the very first site in that
valley.

Summary:

In 1840, seven years before Hymenophyllum tunbrigense was discovered for the first
time in the Elbsandsteingebirge (Saxony), a German (Saxon) Prince was married an
English Queen. He promoted science in England and subsequently The Natural History
Museum was built. A few years later a studentship was offered by just this English
Institution to a German student (albeit not a Saxon, but according to some ladies, of
princely stature) who most gratefully accepted. He was trained by most knowledgeable
and experienced English staff how to recognize a gametophyte of a particularly rare fern,
which has its type locality in England (gametophyte, that is). He took that knowledge back
to Germany and in close collabration with a fellow German (Saxon), Stefan JeBen, a new
genus and a new species were added to the Saxon and Czech floras.

German-English relations and their consequences as a success story? Sometimes.

FERNS IN NEW ZEALAND
ROGER GROUNDS, Apple Court, Hordle Lane, Lymington, Hants., S041 OHU

When Diana and | were invited to go to New Zealand as guest lecturers at the Trust
Bank Garden World at Hamilton Gardens in North Island, | must confess my first thought
was that | would at last get a chance to see all those fabulous antipodean ferns. In the
event we had so much to do right up until the moment we left that | quite forgot about the
ferns. But when we stepped out of Auckland Airport the very first thing my eyes lighted
on was a clump of tree ferns and Phormiums in an island bed right in the middle of the
car park. From then on, and for the next three weeks, | saw ferns wherever | looked, and
an amazing experience it was.

The tree ferns growing in the airport car park were Cyathea species, mostly C.
medullaris. Unlike the squat Dicksonia antartica that one occasionally sees in the UK,
these Cyatheas have tall, slender and very elegant stems, sometimes as much as 20m
tall. With finely divided fronds and much as 5m long, swaying gently in the breeze they
seemed so desirable that one was almost tempted to move out to New Zealand, just to
have them in one’s garden. Over the next three weeks we were to see so many that they
came to seem as mundane as bracken. Looking back on it the really surprising thing is
that these tree ferns, and several others were growing right out in the open, in full sun

a exposed to every wind that blew, on hillsides and car parks and in the middle of
ields.

We were the guests of lan Gear, the head of horticulture at Waikato Polytechnic at
Hamilton and his wife Helen, and as lan drove us from Auckland to Hamilton the

a name. It was the New Zealand version of B. capense,
Smith-Dodsworth refer to it simply as Blechnum sp 2. Like the Cyatheas it was growing in
full sun, which enhanced its colouring. We found a similar fern growing in our host's
garden, but the fronds were much greener and the segments were quite undulate:

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 215

according to Brownsey and Smith-Dodsworth this is another nameless fern, Blechnum
species 1. Nearby were a Hypolepis sp. and a good stand of New Zealand bracken,
Pteridium esculentum, much stiffer and more finely divided than our native bracken. The
next day we set off from Hamilton along the road to Kawhia Harbour and the beach
beyond, famous for its black sands beneath which hot springs bubble. The purpose of
our journey was to visit Lloyd and Christine Phillips, who are members of the British
Hosta and Hemerocallis Society. The road took us over a mountain ridge, and at times
we seemed to be driving along a knife-edge of a road, with dense forest disappearing
down precipitous slopes to left and right. One got odd glimpses of desirable ferns among
trees and indeed growing on the trees, but at the one or two places we found where one
could pull off the road and get out of the car, the forest and its undergrowth were so
dense that one could not get into it: it was impenetrable. However, the moment we turned
off the road onto the Philips’ farm we found ourselves driving down an avenue of tall,
wide-spreading trees whose trunks and branches were entirely covered with Pyrrosia
eleagnifolia (P. serpens), whose almost succulent, felted leaves varied in size from round
and no longer than the nail of one’s little finger to almost the size and shape of one’s
thumb. There were several other first rate ferns in the garden, as well as the most
sumptuous clumps of hostas we have ever seen, but what made my day, and indeed my
trip, was when Lloyd took us across the road to see his stream. Lloyd is a cattle farmer,
and about three years before our visit he had bought some 300 acres more land across
the road. Not needing to put cattle on this land for the present he had fenced it off to
keep the cattle out, and in just those three years it had become almost impenetrable
jungle. The first thing we came to was a stand of Cyathea medullaris around the rim of a
dell at the bottom of which was a cattle pond, the trunks of the Cyatheas draped with yet
more Pyrrosia.

Then we plunged down into the woodland that had grown up. Many of the trees were
already 8 or 10m tall, but the tree ferns were even taller and were the most conspicuous
element in the landscape. The trunks of the trees, and indeed of the tree ferns, were thick
with other ferns, and with the bizarre clumps of Astelia species. The first fern | stumbled
on, right at eye level on the trunk of a tree, was the tiny, almost transparent Trichomanes
reniforme, whose pale green, almost round leaves are no bigger than the nail of my index
finger, the whole plant only an inch or two across. Nearby were Phymatosorus
(Microsorium) diversifolius, but far more luxuriant than the poor weedy specimen we have
growing in the moss that covers the bricks on the north side of a shed in our nursery.
Nearby, and indeed sometimes actually growing together on the same tree and in the
same place, was P. scandens, a fern which | had been trying to obtain for years, partly
because there is a suspicion that it might be almost hardy. It has far narrower and more
refined fronds than P. diversifolius. Two spleenworts were also abundant in this part of
the wood, Asplenium flaccidum (Fig. 1.), the hanging spleenwort, which clings to the
trunks of trees or the sides of large rocks, its roots buried in mosses and filmy ferns, its
finely divided, rather leathery fronds hanging downwards for a length of a foot or more,
and the shining spleenwort, or at least one of several spleenworts to which that epithet
might apply. The one we saw was probably Asplenium oblongifolium (A. lucidum), but A.
obtusatum is similarin having very very shiny, dark green fronds.

Farther down in the woodland, nearer the river, the ground was much wetter, and the
ferns were different. Here the Blechnums came into their own. B. fluviatile was abundant,
conspicuous on account of its fertile fronds, but there were also great clumps of B.
colensoi. This is another dimorphic Blechnum, the barren fronds being large, coarse and
shiny. This very often grew on the bank of the river with its feet in the water, in company
with a lovely New Zealand pampass grass, Cortaderia fulvida, which at that season
(November) was just begining to unfurl its huge, salmon pink plumes. Quite the most
exciting find of the day was what | at first took for a really quite small Blechnum growing

216 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

Fig. 1. Asplenium flaccidum in the Fig. 2. Gleichenia microphylla at
Pillips' wild garden. Rotorua.

Fig. 3. The crested form of Blech- Fig. 4. Blechnum colensoi and B. fluv
num fluviatile in Felix Jury's garden. tile showing fertile fronds: Pukelitl.

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 217

in an area that was so boggy that clear water was visible on the surface. There was a
patch of this fern about the size of an average living room, the upright fronds no more
than 10cm long. It was only when we looked at the trunks of the trees growing out of this
bog that we realised what the fern was, for the trunks were covered in thin, slightly hairy
aerial rhizomes from which sprang typically pinnate Blechnum fronds, the fronds which
became larger the higher up the tree they occurred. This was 8B. filiforme, the only
climbing Blechnum, and one of the few high-climbing New Zealand ferns. It was the only
time we were to encounter it, and it was an unforgettable meeting.

After that we had three or four days of lecturing, after which we set off for Mark Jury’s
nursery, going by way of that most famous of New Zealand tourist traps, the hot springs
at Rotorua. Nothing quite prepares one for this, neither the picture postcards nor cine
films, for it is the sheer smell that makes most impact. The whole place stinks of
Hydrogen sulphide, and much of vegetation is covered with deposits of sulphur. But it
was here that we came across another of those ferns that | had always wanted to obtain,
the exasperating tangle fern, Gleichenia microphylla (Fig. 2.). | say exasperating with
good reason, for all the books say that this fern is impossible to cultivate. When you see
how it grows in the wild you just have to believe this. It grows in full sun, either in the
bare earth, or in short, rather sparse grass. The soil is volcanic trash, bright red and the
texture of clay, with a pH so low that any horticultural text book would tell you that
nothing at all would grow there (indeed sulphur is used to lower pH, just as lime is used
to raise it). On top of that the tangled, bracken-like fronds are encrusted with sulphur,
almost preserved in it, and as often as not their roots are watered by one of the hot
springs. The water quite literally comes out of the ground at boiling point and, where the
roots of the tangle fern are, it is still so hot you cannot put your finger in it. | imagine one
could only cultivate this fern if one were to grow it in a bucket of acid on top of the central
heating boiler.

Mark Jury’s nursery at Gisbourne was paradise by comparison. It is famous chiefly for its
camellias, some of which are now obtainable in the UK. The nursery was started Mark’s
uncle, Felix Jury an avocado pear farmer who is now known around the world for the
arborescent magnolias he has raised. The garden was a real plantsman’s paradise with
wide, sun-drenched borders filled with cacti and succulents and all sorts of exotics.
Beyond these was a small woodland of exotic trees on which were cultivated all sorts of
orchids, bromeliads and ferns. At the entrance to the wood were several plants of
Lastreopsis velutina. This lovely, very finely-divided fern is perhaps truly endemic to that
part of New Zealand for, although always an uncommon fern, it is most usually found in
the drier coastal districts, of which this was one. More exotic though, was a plant of
Sticherus cunninghamii. This is another of those New Zealand Gleicheniaceae which,
like the Gleichenias of the sulphur springs, is reputed to be impossible to cultivate. It
turned out that it was not really being cultivated, it just happened that it was now growing
there. In his youth Felix Jury had roamed all over New Zealand exploring the country and
learning about the plants. On one occasion he had stumbled on this Sticherus and, on
looking closer, had discovered that it was growing on a large slab of slate-like rock. He
had carried it home on its rock where it is still growing to this day. It Is a most
extraordinary fern for the old fronds remain on the plant, turning a rich, rusty brown and
becoming the texture not so much of leather as of wood. They are so hard and stiff to the
touch that they might have been carved from solid oak. But the piece de resistence was
a plant of Blechnum fiuviatile (Fig. 3.) which bore at the tips of its fronds ine Mon
enormous crests. It was the only example of variation in a New Zealand fern that we saw
during our visit. With great generosity Felix Jury split off a huge chunk for me to bring
home. Unfortunately | had to leave it behind in New Zealand with a nurseryman to get a
phytosanitary certificate to send it to the UK, and he apparently lost it. | have some
Pressed fronds to prove that it really exists, but it's not the same as growing it.

218 Pteridologist 2, 5 ( 1994)

We stayed that night in Gisbourne and the next day for Pukeiti, which is New Zealand's
equivalent of the Savill Garden, a mecca for devotees of the rhododendron. It lies on the
slopes of Mount Egmont, which is an intermittently active volcano and looks for all the
world just like pictures of Mount Fuji, with its snow-capped cone emerging from a skirt of
cloud. What we did not realise as we set off for the lower, sun-lit slopes was that Pukeiti
lies neither on the sun-lit lower slopes nor on the snow-capped cone: it lies just where the
clouds rest. We spent most of our visit in the tea-rooms watching the rain teeming down
as apparently it usually does at that time of the year. We did however make one quick
sortie to what it known as the Water Wheel, a corner of the garden that is almost
legendary for its fabulous ferns, and in spite of the rain we were not disappointed. The
water wheel itself is situated in a very deep, narrow valley, rather like one of the Devon
coombes, with a river flowing over the water wheel and then along the valley: the sides
are clothed in large trees so that very little light gets in. The water coming over the water
wheel and falling into the river creates a fine spray which, in those windless conditions,
just hangs in the air. The water wheel itself, the little brick building behind it, and every
rock and tree trunk for yards around were clothed with filmy ferns, so many and of so
many different sorts that | could not even begin to list them. For a lover of ferns, this was
indeed this was a heaven beyond one’s wildest dreams.

On the steep banks that made up the sides of the valley grew innumerable plants of
Blechnum fluviatile, and slightly lower down, in darker and damper positions grew great
colonies of Blechnum colensoi (Fig. 4.), its fronds literally dripping wet from the spray.
Both of these blechnums are very conspicuous on account of their dark, wispy fertile
fronds. But the gems of this valley were the King fern, Marattia salicina, remarkable more
for its size and its coarseness than for its beauty for, with frond stipes as much as 1m
long and blades as much as 3m long, this must be one of the largest of all terrestial ferns,
and the so-called Prince of Wales Feathers, Leptopteris superba. This is often mentioned
as being one of the most beautiful of all ferns and it is indeed an absolute beauty. It forms
a rosette of quite extraordinarily dark green fronds, the surfaces of which were covered in
fine droplets of spray. The fronds are tripnnate, but the segments are very close together,
making a very dense mass of greenery. Although not a filmy fern, it requires virtually the
Same conditions of coolness and constant atmospheric saturation, though having said
that, it grew further away from the source of the spray than either of the Blechnum
species or the Marattia.

Our final trip was up to the Coromandel Peninsula, if only because having swum in the
Tasman Sea at Kawhia Beach we thought we ought to take a dip in the Pacific too.
Having had our dip we set off to find Cathedral Cove, famous as the place where Captain
Cook first set foot on New Zealand. It is a most spectacular place. To reach the cove you
have first to ascend what seems like half way up a mountain, and the descend a very
Steep gradient to the cove. The cathedral is a natural rock formation. Like any cove, this
one was closed at each end by great cliffs of rock, but in one of these cliffs was a huge
Cave open not only on the cove side but on the other side too, so that one could see right
through the rock to the sea beyond. The domed roof of the cave is apparently the largest
naturally-occurringunsupported structure in the world, larger than the dome of St Pauls.

On the cliffs around the cove we found several sorts of Asplenium and Adiantum
cunninghamii which we also found in most of the localities we visited, but the most
colourful fern of all we only found almost by accident because we took a slightly different
route back to our car. In a small, slightly hollow plateau, halfway up the pectee
surrounded on three sides by trees and looking out towards the sea were pith
hundred Adiantum hispidulum growing in the rough grass, their new fronds brilliantly"

in the late afternoon sun. They were not just tinged with red, like some of the Blechnums,
they were really bright red, like poinsettias. Again it was surprising to find them growing IN

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 219

such a sunny position. Nearby grew a fern that is still a mystery, not only to me but to
everyone to whom | have shown it. Beneath the trees, in dense shade, was a hillside
covered in waist-high, cube-shaped brown rocks, and over these rocks grew a carpet of
narrowly elliptic dark green fronds which tapered to a pointed tip. On closer inspection it
turned out that the fronds were linked by foxy-red string-like rhizomes which clung as
tightly as limpets to the rocks, following their every curve and ripple. | searched over
several rocks, but could not find a single fertile frond anywhere, not so much as a single
sorus. It looks very like Anarthropteris lanceolata except that instead of the fronds arising
in bunches at intervals along the rhizome, they occur singly and usually alternately,
which makes it sound more like a Grammitis, either G. givenii or G. patagonica. Perhaps
one day it will produce sori and the mystery be solved.

| think, looking back on the ferns we saw and where we saw them, what was most
surprising was that half of the ferns grew in very open positions, fully exposed to the sun
and to wind, while the other half grew in places so dark that one would never have
planted a fern in such a position.

THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL COLLECTION HOLDER
AR BUSBY, Croziers, 16 Kirby Corner, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD

The conservation of fern varieties has been largely in the hands of the amateur gardener
or keen enthusiast. Public institutions, although happy to find room for a few cultivars,
usually prefer to maintain collections of genera for teaching and research.

Many keen amateurs are collectors of particular genera but find the prospect of being
responsible for a National Collection daunting, especially when they see the Conditions
of Acceptance to which NCCPG quite rightly expects all collection holders to adhere.
These conditions are essential if all National Collections are to be maintained to a proper
standard. However, it is importantthat potential collection holders realise that even if their
collection is adopted as a National Collection it still ins their property.

Holding a National Collection involves far more than merely growing and propagating the
plants. Some research on past varieties is expected and the collection has to be
documented. The research need not be onerous, and the NCCPG Secretariat at viene

Carries out much of this quite unsolicitited. The most imp 4
the collection holder are records that identify individual plants and their sources. In other
words, a careful account of acquisitions must be kept, including their planting,
Propagation and disposal.

Each plant entering a collection requires an accession number.

This is easily set up simply by generating a list of numbers from 001 to 999 in a small
notebook. As each plant arrives it gets its own unique number. Simply cross off each
number as it is applied to a plant and as each year passes, draw a line through the
listing and begin the year with the next number. So your recently acquired plant of
Athyrium filix-femina might have the number 93-235T.Your next acquisition might be on
the 2nd January so its number would be 94-236T. The ‘T’ denotes a transplant. Ifitis a
Plant from a spore sowing the accession number would end with an ‘S’ instead. If |
receive several plants of the same cultivar from the same source they all get the same
number. However, if | get several plants of the same cultivar from different sources they
get different numbers so as to identify the source.

If a large number of plants are raised from spores it is unnecessary to give each plant a
number. Only those you select for adding to the Collection require an accession number.

220 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

Spore sowings should have a sowings number or some system that will tell you where
the spores came from and when they where sown. If the spores came from the BPS
Spore Exchange scheme then their list number should be documented so that through
the scheme the donor may be identified.

Your note-book is a rough and ready source of numbers for your plants. The details of
each acquisition should then be documented on file-cards. | suggest that the minimum
amount of detail should include: genus, species and cultivar name (if any), accession
number, source of origin, date received, planting location (include a map if necessary)
and a brief description. The Cambridgeshire N.C.C.P.G. Group has produced an
excellent file-card for plant details of which can be obtained from Margaret Nimmo-Smith.
Other useful information for later addition could be details of published descriptions,
Cultivation notes and details of any propagation. Don’t forget to allow space for detailing
future events such as dates of repotting or loss of the plant.

Now the plant has been carefully documented it needs the accession number on its label.
Labels are easily lost. This is especially true of labels in the garden. | always put a label
in the bottom of a pot before repotting the plant so that if the usual label is lost | know that
it is repeated inside the pot. This particularly applies to plants in larger pots where they
may languish for years.

| also bury labels under the roots of my garden plants. This has often got me out of
trouble when | come to lift plants that have lost their labels. A plastic label with the
accession number written with a HB pencil will last for years underground.

A photographic record is also desirable. 35mm colour-slides are preferable to colour
prints and itis useful to keep a herbarium of pressed fronds.

| hold the National Collection of Osmunda. It began in a very modest way in 1968 and
now totals some twenty or so plants. Several species and cultivars are replicated from
different sources so that comparative studies can be made. | have two examples of
Osmunda regalis "Gracilis", one from an Herefordshire garden and one from Waithman
Nursery. One has fronds and Stipe that are bright green, the other carries green fronds
with pink stipes. In spite of searching through various source books | still do not know if
this is significant.

Other interesting forms that have come my way are O. regalis "Decomposita" found by
Martin Rickard in Ireland, a red form found by Philip Coke also in Ireland and a dwarf
form which came to me via Denmark, but which possibly originated in Eastern Europe. |
also have the late Prof. Irene Manton’s cytologically determined materia! which may
prove useful to someone at a future date.

In summary, simply to have a collection of plants is not enough. It must be thoroughly
documented and maintained for it to have value. It’s not only a question of conserving
plants, we must also conserve the informationtoo.

To anyone with ambitions of holding a National Collection, | urge them to begin
documenting the plants they have and any future additions; it is fatal to rely on memory.

The National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens publishes a list of
National Collections. For details of membership, addresses of regional group secretaries
and membership, their address is; N.C.C.P.G. c/o The Pines, Wisley Garden, Woking,
Surrey GU23 6QB.

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 221

NOTES ON THE FOLKLORE AND USES OF BRITISH
PTERIDOPHYTES
ROY VICKERY, Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD.

Although a good deal of information on the folklore of pteridophytes can be found
scattered through various publications, most of this information is of nineteenth-century
origin, and it appears that little, if any, effort has been made to record twentieth-century
material. The following notes, accumulated as part of an ongoing survey of British and
Irish ethnobotany, will, | hope, encourage others to record such things.

Equisetum telmateia Ehrh., great horsetail: "This is uncommon hereabouts, but there is
a big patch in Wychwood [Forest], and in my boyhood [?1915] | remember seeing a
cottager nearby using it for scouring saucepans." [personal informant, Charlbury,
Oxfordshire, February 1991].

Osmunda regalis L., royal fern, locally known as Bog Onion: “The root is converted into
a juicy substance and used as a rub for rheumatism and sciatica; it is often found to be a
complete cure. First the root is cut into slices and then pounded up into a mash. It is then
put into a bottle or some corked vessel and water supplied in proportion to the size of the
root. It is then left to set for about two days until it forms a thick white juicy substance."
{Irish Folklore Commission’s Schools’ Scheme, 1937-1938, vol. 50, Co. Galway].

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn, bracken: 1) "My mind went back over some 70 years to
a childish game we played [in Scotland] called ‘Holy Bracken’. Selecting a fat, juicy
specimen, | used my pocket knife to sever it close to the ground and = there it was the
most perfect example of the most famous initials in the world - JC ... It is considered very
lucky to find a good example." [Sunday Express, 17 June 1979; quoted in |. Opie & M.
Tatem, A dictionary of superstitions, Oxford, 1989].

2) "There’s a saying around here:

Where there’s bracken there's gold,

Where there’s gorse there’s silver,
Where there’s heather there’s poverty”.

[pers. inf., Newton Rigg, Cumbria, September 1988].

3) "When | was a boy [in Hampshire, b. 1918] they used to say that if you split a bracken
stem you would see a picture of King Charles hiding in his oak tree. | often wondered
what would have been seen by those who split bracken stems before King Charles hid in
his oak tree." [pers. inf., Paddington, London, May 1989].

4) "l remember being shown how, if you make a horizontal cut through the stem (not
root) of a fern, an oak tree will appear." [Bath, Avon, January 1991].

5) [During my childhood, c. 50 years ago, in Ireland] "the fern that grows everywhere -
bracken - we used to pull off bits of it saying:

Tinker, tailor, Soldier, sailor,
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief;
Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief.
This year, next year, now or never.
A loaf, half a loaf, a wedding cake, a bun.
Gold, silver, copper, pig-ring, brass."
[pers. inf., Streatham, London, February 1992].

222 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newman, hart’s tongue: 1) "Burn a leaf called hart’s tongue
and apply it to burn and it would cure it." [IFCSS, vol. 500, Co. Limerick].

2) "The hart’s tongue fern was used as a cure for scalds and burns. The underside up
was laid on the scald or burn. Fresh leaves were applied when needed until the cure was
complete." (IFCSS, vol. 650, Co. Waterford].

Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) schott, Male fern: "Some flockmasters used to treat liver fluked
sheep with a weekly dose of 4 oz. of salt or a monthly treatment of male fern." [J.
Barrington, Red sky at night, London, 1984].

So far pteridophytes are under represented in the survey’s records, so any further

information would be much appreciated.

SHORTER NOTE

More thoughts on Polystichum setiferum “Pulcherrimum”

Referring to my article in the 1993 Pteridologist (2, 4, 1993) concerning the mysterious
disappearance of Polystichum setiferum “Pulcherrimum” in the West Country, | have
received the following letter from our member Ms !.N.G. Storey:

| did wonder whether Radon might have anything to do with the increased variation
among local ferns in the West Country. This radio-active gas, 222Rn, occurs
naturally, particularly in areas underlain by granite. It undergoes alpha decay and,
as you probably know, has been of concern as a possible cause of lung cancer in
the UK. Most of the homes affected lie in the south-west of England, though parts
of Derbyshire and Northamptonshire may also be included. Radon may be water
borne. Perhaps changes in water supply, and hence concentrations of radon
reaching the ferns, may explain the change in rates of variation with time?

This is only a theoretical suggestion. A closer examination of radon levels in
relation to local fern variation, followed up by laboratory tests in which ferns are
exposed to known concentrations of radon, would be needed to substantiate the
hypothesis.

REFERENCES
Aldous P. (1990). More UK homes naturally at risk. Nature 343 (6258), 503.

Cothern C.R. & Rebers P.A. (1990). Radon, radium and drinking water. Michigan:
Lewis Publishers Inc.

| welcome this as a contribution towards solving the mystery. In a subsequent letter ws
Storey writes:

| would be very happy for my letter to be considered for publication as a stimulus to
discussion on the factors affecting fern variation in the West Country and the Lake
District.

It will be noted that Ms Storey widens the discussion to include the tendency for all, or
many of, our British ferns to produce more variation in the West Country and the Lake
District', but | am more concerned with the fact that Polystichum setiferum “Pulchert'-
mum” appeared suddenly for only a short period of about 20 years, during which time It
was most unstable and disappeared again completely, whereas the other types ”
variation are with us all the time.

| ie that other members who may have constructive theories or thoughts on this matter
will make them known t i
O me or our editor. Jw DYCE

: ; é F ivity in
' Is this not simply a reflection of greater fern diversity, larger fern populations and increased pteridologist activity
these regions? (ed.)

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 223

SHORTER NOTE

Asplenium scolopendrium (“Ramosum transverso" form)

About three years ago | was ambling round a
wild area in the Yorkshire Dales with a
land-owner. There was not much in the way of
ferns except a few scollies, some of which
were slightly undulated. | noticed about ten
feet up a limestone rock face which was totally
shaded by deciduous trees a perfect Asple-
nium scolopendrium ("Ramosum transverso"
form) growing on a ledge. As far as | was
concerned it was inaccessible, so | asked my
host if we could return later with a light ladder
so that | could collect some spores. “There’s
| no need to go to all that trouble” he said and,
} in no time, he had found a few toe and finger
holds and climbed up onto the ledge. “There
are two or three plants here” he informed me,
“would you like one?” I'll give you just one
guess what my reply was. He literally peeled a
plant off the ledge where it had rooted in the

organic debris which had accumulated over
f many years.

FoR What a plant it was! Well grown, complete with
undamaged root and about four pounds of
natural compost.

Back at home | found a place for it in a
limestone rockery, and all went well until the
new fronds appeared the following year. These
were all, without exception, ramose but with no
sign of the transverso feature. In both 1992
and 1993 it still produced the ramose only
form.
| wonder whether anyone else has come
across this phenomenon and are there any suggestions why it should happen? The main
differences between the site in the wild and in my garden is that the garden is colder and
windier. In the wild, of course, the fern had a natural annual mulch of leaves. | am still
hoping that it will eventually return to the form it had when | first found it.

JACK BOUCKLEY.

FERNS ON CHALK
RN TIMM, ‘Aldre’, Grimsby Road, Binbrook, Lincolnshire, LN3 6DH

Recently having moved into a new garden on a chalk soil and wanting to grow a number
of calcifuges, the problem of building some sort of acid bed faced me. Usually, of course,
this means a structure built of peat. This did not appeal greatly, partly because of the
great expense - this form of acid bed requires large amounts of peat, including the more
expensive peat blocks - and also | am concerned about the environmental damage
Caused by peat digging.

224 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

The obvious alternative to peat is topsoil which is often available from farms, building
sites and quarries. Sand and gravel quarries are especially likely to be good sources of
suitable soil as deposits of sand and gravel often underlie areas with an acid topsoil.
Some quarries sell topsoil as a regular trade, but generally topsoil is where you find it,
and mine came from a farm where ground had been cleared to erect new barns. The
farm is on the edge of sandy heathland and birch woods, therefore the soil has a low pH,
but it is sandy and free draining. This last feature could of course have been a problem,
as many of the calcifuges that people (including me) like to grow in a garden are thought
to prefer humus rich, moisture retentive soil. However, the soil (which cost me nothing)
formed the base of a compost mix. To it | added a quantity of spent potting compost from
the greenhouse, some of which, it is true, was peat based, though a lot contained coco
fibre. The peat had been paid for and recycled. | also added a small amount of garden
compost (made without lime), perlite and vermiculite. The last two were only present in
small amounts relative to the whole, but they should still have improved moisture
retention a little. Bonemeal and a small quantity of artificial fertiliser were also used to
boost fertility. With these additions sand would probably have done just as well as topsoil
for a base, but soil (or old turf which could have been used) will help insure against the
possibility of any major deficiencies. | would not recommend recycling spent compost for
growing plants in pots, however, given time to weather and the replacement of some
fertiliser, it should not cause too much of a problem in the garden. Leaf mould could also
have been used for humus, but this was not available at the time. If using leaf mould it
might be a good idea to test its pH, or at least to avoid beech leaves, as | believe those
to be very alkaline. The added fibrous materials eventually came to about a third of the
volume of the finished compost, and still gave a top dressing of about half an inch. | am
content with this, since many plants are happy with this sort of mixture when growing in
pots and, in the wild, many calcifuges are found growing in a thin layer of fibre rich soil
over sand.

The walls of the bed are made of old bricks to a height of about forty centimetres. Only
the front side is cemented together on a shallow concrete foundation as this allowed the
final shape to be flexible and saved on construction time. It would have done no harm to
have cemented the whole, as the lime which leaches from good cement is negligible,
indeed it is possible to grow calcifuges in cement containers. To encourage water
retention the sides of the bed were lined with polythene, tucked under the top layer of
bricks, and draped about a foot or so across the base of the bed. When finished, the bed
measured eight feet by ten. A wide peat bed is, | believe, less prone to overheating,
freezing and drying out, than a narrow one. The centre of the bottom and one end of the
bed were left unlined to allow drainage to occur. Finally the walls were capped with some
old sandstone copings, purely for ornamental effect.

To date only a small number of plants have been tried in the bed as space is being wei
for a hopefully expanding collection. However, the ferns Gymnocarpium dryopteris, G.
dryopteris “Plumosum” and Phegopteris connectilis have survived a winter and two
summers, and have at least doubled in size. Blechnum spicant died, but | suspect this
was due to lack of shade for the trees which are planted nearby to provide shade are
small as yet. A Dryopteris erythrosora, a Magnolia stellata and an Actaea have also
survived one year and are doing well.

On this basis alone then, | think it would be fair to consider the bed a success and to
recommend to anyone considering peat bed construction a break with tradition. The
range of options and materials is truly enormous - far wider than | can list here - and
there is great scope for improvisationand experiment.

Incidentally, it is perhaps always worth trying plants thought to be calcifuges In 2
alkaline garden, as a number of ferns listed as lime sensitive by some of the books

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 225

have consulted, seem to do quite well in my garden. In particular Onoclea sensibilis,
Matteuchia_ struthiopteris, Osmunda_ regalis, Athyrium filix-femina, A. nipponicum,
Dryopteris wallichiana and D. affinis grow well, despite the fact that | have found all of
them, at one time or another, listed as calcifuges. The strength and type of your lime
must have a great influence of course, so what works in my garden may not apply
everywhere. Athyrium and Onoclea do show slight paleness of the fronds, but this does
not seem to affect their vigour. D. affinis and D. wallichiana, which | used to grow in pots
of peat compost, never showed their classic golden colours until planted out in the
garden. Perhaps a lot of golden colouration is due to mild chlorosis, and is not inherent in
the variety as is often thought. Indeed, some of my hart’s tongues are colouring up nicely
too.

THE FERN SUPPLIERS

When | took over as editor of Pteridologist | wrote to all of the BPS
members who supply us with ferns, those who advertise inside the back
cover. | suggested that if each would write a brief article about their
nursery and the plants they have for sale we might all benefit. In this
issue we have contributions from the relatively new nurseries of the
Rickards in the West Midlands and Neil Timm in Lincolnshire. | hope
that other professional growers - and not just in Britain, for this journal
has an international readership - will now feel encouraged to send
material for publication next year - James Merryweather.

THE FERN NURSERY
RN TIMM, ‘Aldre’, Grimsby Road, Binbrook, Lincolnshire, LN3 6DH

The history of this nursery is brief, as | only started to grow ferns some six or seven
years ago and, though the idea of starting a nursery to complement an existing
landscaping business was there from the beginning, it had to wait for a change 0
address two years ago to begin in earnest. This, however, gave me time to gain a little
knowledge, mainly with the aid of the BPS. | little knew at the outset just how challenging
fern growing could be.

The nursery is, at the present time, only small with a limited range of stock. The trade is
mostly wholesale at the moment with a retail list of some 30 plants. Small numbers of
other ferns, plus some perennials etc. are to be had by callers. Many plants are being
raised to filla new garden on an empty site. It is intended that the nursery should be
accompanied by a display garden, as | feel this will become an increasingly important
feature of nurseries in the future. Our soil is a medium to heavy, mildly alkaline alluvial
loam with some pieces of chalk. The garden has the advantage of a small stream which
is very alkaline, and it lies in a valley at an altitude of 70 to 80 metres. Most of the stock
is raised in a polytunnel without heat to maintain hardiness. My main intention !s to try to
build up a good range of both British and exotic fern species, though | am not entirely
opposed to cultivars. A current pet is Paesia scaberula which | feel has great garden
potential in this country, as it seems to be very hardy, even in the north-east, seems to
like a wide range of soil types, and to stand full sun.

226 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

Since | take a conservationist viewpoint coco fibre composts have been tried in the
nursery with such great success that | am now planning to go over to their use entirely.
Indeed | feel that these composts could have been made with ferns in mind, their great
advantage being that they are free draining and do not “cake” in the way that peat based
composts do

The nursery is usually open from April until October, especially at week-ends. At other
times it may be as well to check if you're travelling a long way. The plant list is sent out in
return for two first class stamps. Minimum mail order is £5 plus 20% p & p. Please write
for specific prices.

RICKARDS HARDY FERNS
MARTIN RICKARD, Kyre Park, Tenbury Wells, Worcs. WR15 8RP

On and off, since the 1960s, | have toyed with the idea of having a fern nursery. Many
members have dabbled, and will continue to dabble, but for anyone in full-time work it
really seems just about impossible to run a nursery as a sensible commercial business.

Our opportunity to take the plunge came in 1988 when the children were more or less
independent and my wife, Hazel, started to have spare time (not for long!). With my fern
collection and her propagating skills we reasoned we could build up an interesting stock
fairly quickly. We set to sowing spores in vast quantity and gradually plants came through
the pipeline to a saleable size. Production was slow, often taking 3 years, because we
lack the proper facilities of heated glass. Cottage industry fern production was the
problem. Window sills are fine when sowings are modest, but trays of pricked-out ferns
soon mount up and become impossible to house in a domestic setting.

Nevertheless, with the aid of converted sheds and polythene tunnels, the ferns arrived at
maturity in a steady stream and we were getting more confident we could make a go of it.
In 1991 we took our first big gamble. We applied to take a nursery stand at the Malvern
flower show which is jointly run by the Royal Horticultural and Counties Agriculture
societies. Fortunately our application for space was kindly supported by Hazel Key of

Malvern, 1993

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 227

Fibrex Nurseries, and we were accepted. The Malvern Show is in early May, very early in
the fern season. Without greenhouse heat we wondered if we had bitten off more than
we could chew. Anyway, we did our best with our display measuring 10 feet long by 6
feet deep and, to our delight, we won a silver gilt medal. This show raised public
awareness and improved sales. We exhibited again in 1992, and this time with a display
15’ x 6’ won an RHS gold medal which was a tremendous thrill for us both. Our display
featured hardy and half-hardy ferns, mainly hardy but with liberal use of tree ferns to gain
height. In 1993 we entered again, worrying we wouldn't be able to repeat the gold medal
standard. We tried as hard as ever and shocked ourselves by winning a gold again, plus
the ‘Best in Show’ award, absolutely amazing for a green display among all the colour on
show from the hundred or so nurseries in the hall!

All this publicity was giving sales a slow nudge so we decided in 1993 also to have a go
at the Chelsea Flower Show. We were accepted, surprisingly, and asked for - and got - a
tiny pitch in the great marquee (9’ x 10’). After Malvern, staging at Chelsea is very
difficult. Transport distances are a problem, and entry and exit to and from the show site
are very restricted. We made our biggest error by taking too many ferns, and the lorry
couldn't wait until we’d staged our display, so we couldn’t send spare ferns back home.
The end result was a very green display, but it was, sadly, slightly overcrowded. We
were awarded a silver gilt medal which was, nevertheless, a very satisfactory result from
our first attempt. We will be having another go this year at both Malvern and Chelsea. |
just hope we can keep up a reasonable standard.

Showing ferns is great fun, hard work, but great fun. It does help sales considerably, but
it all needs back-up, and fern production is crucial. As a result | have taken early
retirement from my job and now work full-time on the nursery with Hazel. We are aiming
to broaden the range of ferns on offer.

My retirement is not the only gamble we are taking at this stage! We have also decided
to move house, nursery and garden to a much larger property at Kyre Park, Tenbury
Wells in Worcestershire. We have taken this step in a joint venture with some
long-standing friends, Jon and Janet Sellers, who will have their own business while we
have the nursery, co-operating whenever necessary. Hopefully we will be completely
moved to Kyre by late spring or early summer.

The grounds at Kyre cover 29 acres with 20 or so down to garden, established long ago
in the picturesque or ferme ornée style. So far, we can find no information about the
grounds prior to 1754 when the present shrubbery was laid out as prt oe
modifications of the whole estate by Edmund Pytts. Mystery surrounds the design. vfeacia
laid by “Capability” Brown, or was it simply designed in his style? There appears to be no
documentary evidence of any involvement by Brown, but Mrs Baldwin-Childe, who lived
at Kyre from 1880-1930, clearly believed that he was consulted whilst undertaking his
principal work at Croome Court. Recently we have learned that a Mr Davenport was part
of a team which was involved in the operation, but was he the designer or merely a site
manager for someone else?

Subsequent information about the grounds is relatively sparse but, writing in 1905, Mrs
Baldwin-Childe gives some useful insights. She says that the bridge in the srubbery was
built in 1754 and implies that other features date from the same time. These include 5
lakes, a ruin, a hermitage, a small grotto, a tunnel and several cascades and waterfalls.

e or about to blow
Over. The ground vegetation is rank, with abundant brambles, netties, af
However, the bones of the garden are still as they were in 1764 - a remarkable survival.
Of particular significance to me is that the ground is damp in places all year singe’ am
hoping, and expecting, that the ferns will thrive. Even now there are plenty of ferns

228 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

present, most frequently Dryopteris filix-mas, but Asplenium scolopendrium is common
and Polystichum setiferum, D. dilatata, D. affinis, Athyrium filix-femina and Polypodium
interjectum occur here and there. On walls we have at least one wonderful colony of
Asplenium ruta-muraria. For lovers of horsetails, we have them too, with possible
Equisetum x littorale!

We are currently working to get the garden respectable so that we can open it to visitors
at Easter. By this time the garden will, at best, be “opened up” - not tamed, but we hope
visitors will enjoy seeing a mid-eighteenth century garden prior to restoration and,
perhaps, they will return and see our progress and fern plantings over the seasons. We
are also planning to move our nursery by Easter. This might be over optimistic, and only
time will tell...

PHOTOGRAPHING FERNS
CN PAGE. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh EH3 5LR

This article is the second part of an article whose first part was published in two sections
in the Pteridologist 2 part 1 Pp 47-48 (1990) and 2 part 2 pp 73-75 (1991).

! dedicate this part to the memory of the late Dr Anne Sleep, who, in her earlier days, was
an unsung but usually excellent fern photographer.

PART 2: CAPTURING YOUR QUARRY
Lenses: Something to look through

Modern through-the-lens metering cameras usually accept a variety of interchangeable
lenses. For picture quality and clarity, | find that several (mine mostly ancient)
interchangeable lenses can give far better quality results than a single modern zoom (I
presume because there are fewer elements involved). They are also less likely to be
damaged through strenuous field use. | find that a useful selection is, in addition to the
standard 50 or 55 mm lens, at least a wide angle and a macro.

generally useful wide angle to carry, usually used more often for habitats than for plants,
and that a 28 mm is especially useful for woodland or ravine habitats, where the
alternative of standing further back from the subject is impracticalor gets a clutter of trees
in the way. For example, most of the habitat shots in my New Naturalist book were taken
with my 28 mm Soligor lens, now 25 years old !

For individual fern portraits, however, | find the standard and macro lenses are the most
useful. The latter is especially adaptable for the smaller species (such as many
Asplenium in Britain) or for close-up details of larger ones (such as details of pinnae of a
Polystichum or Dryopteris). This adaptability of the macro is achieved through its
close-focussing ability, which can be only be similarly achieved with a standard lens by
the addition of several close-up rings, and with the resulting loss of stops. Further, a
macro lens construction is optimised for such close-up distances, rather than for
operation at infinity, and so is inherently better at good close-up definition.

If you are using a single-lens reflex camera, which most modern cameras are, then
whatever the lens you attach, the picture that the film ‘sees’ and records is the same as
that which you see through the view-finder. The construction of such cameras allows

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 229

lenses to be removed and changed while a filmis still in the camera, though | still prefer
to do this with the camera in my own shadow. Such interchangeability also allows
opportunity to carry more than one body, especially on expeditions. This means that
different films can be exposed (such as colour and black-and-white), and has the added
advantage of a reserve body should one fail under sudden heavy use (it is surprising how
often this can happen in the field).

Films and things

Undoubtedly the most importantthing about film is to remember to bring one. The second
is remembering to actually put it into the camera (and, if changing between films of
different emulsion speeds, setting the appropriate camera film speed-rating scale to

match). After this, the rest of the decisions about films are very much downhill.

Forgetting to load a film can be surprisingly easy to do, especially when the excitement of
the chase of actually finding a rare Ophioglossum, Pilularia or strange hybrid horsetail, or
a mountain-top Dipteris or Stromatopteris in the tropics, completely dislodges mundane
thoughts about loading a film from the fore of one’s mind. If in doubt about whether you
did load one the previous evening (I frequently am), try ensuring that the take-up spool
wheel also turns round when you wind the film on - that proves there is some physical
connection internally between the two spools of the camera, and with a bit of luck, it
could be the film you couldn't find that morning. Such careful observation while winding
on, is something | regularly remember to do as a matter of habit - usually at least half a
second after | should have actually noted it! If, at the end of the day, however, you have
taken a whole series of particularly attractive shots on a film that turns out to be still in
your rucksack, or even worse, still in the fridge amongst the lettuce back home, |
recommend carrying a hip flask containing something worthwhile for the odd such
inevitable occasion. It doesn’t repair the damage, but you feel a lot better about it!

Having mastered the art of loading the film, you can then get down to the finer
philosophical points of considering just which film you should actually be using.
Somewhat inevitably, this becomes a question like how long is a piece of string,
combined with all sorts of unfounded preferences and prejudices. It all depends, of
course, what you are doing and why you are doing it, and for those of us who may not
yet have found an answer to this fundamental end-of-the-Universe type of question, the
subsequent choice of filmcan be equally enigmatic.

However, a sufficient array of film types and speeds is certainly generally available
justifiably to totally baffle the faint-hearted. Most books will tell you that for the finest
quality images and the best colour resolution, choose the slowest speed film compatible
with what you are doing. Film speeds are rated in ASA numbers, printed on both the box
and the cassette (ASA numbers are equal to and also called ISO numbers in recent
years, just to add to the confusion). As a general rule, films in the 50-100 ASA range are
usually to be recommended for most general purposes, but for the dark places where
ferns usually grow, | find these too slow, and have regularly come to use 100 ASA colour
and 400 ASA black-and-white. It is all a matter of compromise between gaining the best
quality image and what is practical and really works well in the circumstances of your sort
of photography.

In terms of brands of film, it is a further matter of horses-for-courses, and individual likes
and dislikes. With colour the choice is more critical than with black-and-white (for there Is
more differences to appeal to personal preferences). For colour, my own impression es
that Kodachrome is excellent for red and yellow subjects, while | find the old Agfachrome
and newer Fujichrome both better generally for subjects which are predominantly brown
and green (but, for good fern greens, | recommend not to go higher than 100 ASA in

230 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

Fujichrome). As ferns are mostly brown and especially green, | tend use the latter. Some
people find these greens to rich, however, and for them, perhaps Ektachrome colours
might be a good compromise. The only way forward is to try them yourself, as see which
you prefer on your sorts of subjects.

Lastly, as general rule: don’t chop and change. Having found a speed and make of film
that you like, stick to it, especially on expeditions. If you have to change, then do so
where you can repeat the experiment, such as in your own back garden. If it does not
work out right first time, you can repeat with something else and compare the results. Its
a big mistake to go off to some distant end of the earth, where you will never be again,
and to use a film that you have never tried before, no matter what recommendations it
came with or from whom!

Lining-up your fern

Picture composition is undoubtedly the aspect of photography which requires more of the
eye of an artist rather than to follow strict scientific principles, and this is the single most
important factor in achieving a picture which is pleasing to the eye, as well as technically
correct. Ferns can pose their own scale of problems in this respect, and turning a truly
wild scene into a good permanent picture is certainly the major personal contribution
which the photographer makes to his/her photographs. There are thus few rules to go by,
other than trying to achieve what is and what is not most pleasing to you, personally, as
well as scientifically accurate.

My main tips with ferns are consequently few. Mainly they are to choose views in which
the subject in question, whether it be a single fern or a whole habitat, makes a strong
and unequivocal statement to the eye as to what the particular photo is all about, and
what its message is. For a photo without a message is of little value. Choose plants that
look good. Select angles on them that makes the fern stand out well against its
background (often even more difficultin black-and-white than in colour). Try looking for a
way of naturally framing a subject, and decide whether a horizontal or vertical pose is the
more pleasing and easier on the eye.

Put the subject clearly and wholly in the frame, although everything exactly in the centre
of each shot can look dull, repetitive and boring. If going for an off-centre pose, then
balance the components and appearance of each view as one would an off-centre
see-saw. If a plant leans one way or the other, it can look good. Capitalise on this, but
make sure that your plant leans intc the frame and not out of it. For reasons | don’t
understand, a subject leaning left to right often looks better to me than one leaning right
0 left - so some field orientation of the viewpoint might be involved. Further, a fern
leaning totally out of a frame looks dissatisfying, and can appear to be trying to escape!

Develop an eye for shades of intensity as well as colour harmony and, whilst I'm on the
subject of harmony, avoid clutter and distracting detail and clumps of plants in discordant
numbers. (I don’t know why, but to me one plant usually looks OK, three look OK, but
two or four individuals look respectively awful and confusing - perhaps because there !s
then not one in the middle). If there are plants of other species around, try either to
include them or exclude them completely (depending on the purpose of your photograph)
- a small portion showing is usually acceptable, but don’t cut a plant in half on the edge
of the frame - this is merely irritating to the viewer. And don’t have anything in the
foreground which is out of focus, unless it is for special artistic effect.

Lastly on angles, not too many ferns are at their best purely in profile or in plan view.
Most gain naturalness of effect, and many a considerable delicacy of grace, when
viewed in a three quarters direction. So choose your viewpoint carefully, and do this also

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994) 231

in relation to the angle of incident light (be aware of the possibility of lens flare at certain
angles and shade the lens when necessary) - try a few different directions until you are
happy with one. If there is flare, add a lens hood or shade with your hand (| have a very
adaptable field lens hood that doubles as a hat).

Filtering the light

Photography is, to me, all about capturing an ephemeral image made of light. So an eye
for the best light to begin with can be a useful part of the whole process. Nature can be
hard with light, especially where strong sunshine shafts contrast with dense, dark
shadows, and methods of softening the light to a range with which the filmcan cope were
touched upon in a previous part of this account. To summarise: choose your day
carefully, and avoid hard, contrasty light. | find that bright, soft, still mornings are often
best.

Filters provide another way of modifying the light, and are used to give a film's emulsion
an image that it can better cope with, or to gain a particular effect. Most do so by altering
the spectral content of the light, some its plane of polarisation. Thus UV filters can be
used to correct an overall blue cast in sky shots or distance haze, while yellow ones in
black-and-white photography will deepen the contrast of a blue sky and make lighter
foliage stand out more prominently.

For ferns, however, | find that the single most useful filter to have (and which | constantly
use) is a polarising one. The main rdéle of this is to remove irritating bright surface
reflections from glossy frond surfaces, such as those of Polystichum aculeatum or
Phyllitis scolopendrium. Such a filter also softens potentially hard reflections off other
adjacent glossy surfaces within the field of view. This can be especially valuable in
black-and-white work. In colour photography, such a filter can also enhance colour
saturation of the image. Of course, the filter has to be rotated to find the angle of
maximum reflective occlusion for each individual shot, usually transversely to the
direction of incident light at the time, and there is about 2 stops exposure loss when this
is achieved. This loss can be a problem in its own right in dark places, and tripods in
such circumstances are essential.

Exposing your fern

One of the great photographic problems with most ferns is that they can be large and
usually present a rosette of fronds spreading in all directions. They thus require a
considerable depth of field if all parts of the plant are to appear acceptably sharp. This, of
course, requires the lens to be stopped down as far as practical, which is a diametrically
opposite requirement to the need to gather as much light as possible often in gloomy
Surroundings. If my recommendation to use a polarising filter is also adopted, this
compounds the darkness problem still further. Unless you are using flash (1 never do,
because this flattens the subject and can look very un-natural), this all adds up to an
essential requirement for long exposure of as much as a minute or more (sometimes
much longer).

Such periods of exposure, of course, require both your camera and your subject to
remain absolutely rock still. The camera you can clamp to a tripod, the fern you cannot.
And, of course, it is always in the darkest of places, such as along deep rocky ravines of
Cascading stream-gorges, that the largest, often dramatically three-dimensional and most
luxuriant ferns typically grow, with glossy, highlight-reflecting wet surfaces that need to

softened down! Meanwhile you are probably standing up to the tops of your wellies in
fast-moving deep cold water, perched precariously astride two slippery green boulders,
watching a fern whose fronds are constantly quivering at the tips in the updraughts of

232 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

cascading water, and the constant dribbling of a myriad of droplets from dripping cliff
faces above!

It is certainly this combination of poor light, great depth of subject with exacting detail,
and fronds which are twitching at the tips (not to mention the tired photographer), that
conspire to make fern photography, which may seem like such a good idea at the time,
so exacting and challenging in the actual achievement. A good photograph of Brittle
Bladder-Fern (Cystopteris fragilis) in such circumstances can certainly be held-high as an
achievement in photographic patience! But don’t be too daunted. It can be done. Good
luck! Keep at it, and keep your affection for ferns. Photography is one good (and often
infectious) way of passing this on to others, to the benefit of an ancient, and visually
especially attractive group of plants.

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

SHORTER NOTE

The new Dryopteris variety that wasn’t

The following story began in the summer of 1991, just before | joined the society. Near to
my mother’s house in the village of Westfield, just north of Hastings, is a steep footpath
along the banks of which grow a number of ferns: Dryopteris dilatata, D. filix-mas,
Athyrium filix-femina and Polystichum setiferum. | noticed an unusual looking D. filix-mas
frond poking out from the hedge on the bank. When | looked more closely | could see
that the edges of the pinnae were rolled up. At first | assumed that some insect was
responsible, but could find no evidence. | searched in the hedge for more fronds and
found four more with the same rolled up pinnae. | considered digging up the plant, but it
was possibly growing in someone’s garden so | left it. It had green sori, so | decided to
keep a close eye on it and collect spores when ripe.

| went back to check every week until about two weeks before | had estimated that
spores would be collectable, when | discovered that the fern had been strimmed. | dug it
up.

| potted the plant up as soon as | reached home, hoping that it would recover quickly and
send up new fronds, but it was too late that year. During the winter we moved house and
| selected the best spot in the new garden to plant my discovery with plenty of compost. |
waited. At last new fronds began to unfurl and the lowest pinnae seemed to be small and
stunted compared with other male ferns | had. By mid summer | had to admit that,
however much | wished to see marked differences in this plant, they were not there.

| remembered reading the experiences of one of the Victorian growers who described
moving a number of varieties of Asplenium scolopendrium to new sites where all reverted
to normal. When he replanted them in similar conditions to their those at their original
homes they gradually returned to their varietal forms. | decided to try this in the spring of
1993 since | have a small, shady bank topped by a hedge at the side of the house. The
fern stayed annoyingly normal. |! would very much like to know what made the pinnae roll
in the wild.

MARK BORDER

a —-
BPS BOOKSALES

BPS Special Publications
1. Rush: Hardy Ferns
2. Dyce: Fern Names & their meanings
3. Dyce: Cultivation & propagation of British ferns
4. Camus: The history of British pteridology, 1891-1991
5. BPS abstracts & papers, 1894-1905

LE from: SJ Munyard, 234 Harold Road, Hastings, TN35 5NG =a

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

The four members of the Flora Community: Clive Jermy proudly
sporting the BPS logo in remotest Norway, Mary Gibby propping up
the Flora sign and Johannes Vogel in charge of the hand lens next to
the star of the picture: Dryopteris affinis (arrowed). [Photo J. Vogel]

a re is ee io ee

Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

PTERIDOLOGIST
INSTRUCTIONS
TO AUTHORS

Pteridologist welcomes contributions written in English on all aspects of the
natural history and horticulture of ferns and related plants, as well as articles
about ferns in literature, art, architecture, music, furniture, folklore etc.....

say in fact, anything fern-related.

SCRIPT: /deally text should be provided in the form of a file downloaded to a
floppy disc from a PC type of computer (not Mac). | can use formatted material
from most popular word-processors (eg. WORD, WORKS, WORDPERFECT,
WORDSTAR, 1st WORD PLUS, WRITE). WP files should be accompanied by
a raw text file in case | have any difficulties. Please check spelling, grammar,
meaning and formatting with care because, when let loose with my editor's red
pen, | am merciless.
Computerless authors need not fear, for | will accept type-script (double-spaced
on one-side of the page). I'll even tackle spidery scrawl on tatty bits of
twice-used fish & chip wrappers!
CONVENTIONS: Scientific names should be in italics (underlined in type-script
or manuscript), the authority normal thus:

Polystichum setiferum Forskal

Polystichum setiferum Forskal

Polustichum selife lum. Sorskal
Variety names should be in normal type, capitalised and enclosed in inverted
commas thus:

Polystichum setiferum "Plumoso-divisilobum"
Common names should be in lower case:
soft shield fern

ILLUSTRATIONS: These days printers are able to reproduce pictures in black
and white on text pages from B&W originals, colour prints or colour slides.
Please provide caption text. If supplying photocopy silhouettes please ensure
they are of a reasonable size for the article and as dark as possible on a pure
white background. If we have to re-copy them too often, quality is lost. Please
do not fold illustrations when sending.

So you can see there are really very few rules.
| look forward to receiving ferny articles in any form, :
but you'll make me particularly happy if you send stuffon disc.

FO artaiemercneitimmennereminane

236 Pteridologist 2, 5 (1994)

PTERIDOLOGIST

i
te \"
_ yf

ate

Please send contributions to PT ERIDOLOGIST 1995 (the sooner, the better) to: ‘
James Merryweather, Biology Department, University of York, York U.K. YO1 5D
@ 0904 432878/431328 FAX 0904 432860 JWM5@YORK.AC.UK

BRITISH FERNS AND THEIR CULTIVARS
a very comprehensive collection is stocked by
REGINALD KAYE Ltd
36 Lindeth Road, Silverdale, Lancashire LA5 OTY

CATALOGUE ON REQUEST

FIBREX NURSERIES Ltd
Honeybourne Road, Pebworth,
Nr Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8XT
Hardy & tender ferns
Begonias, Gloxinias, Hederas, Hydrangeas, Primroses,
Arum Lilies and plants for the cool greenhouse
Catalogue on request

FANCY FRONDS
Specialising in North American and British hardy ferns
Send Two International Reply Coupons for Catalogue
Judith I Jones
1911 4th Avenue West, Seattle, Washington, 98119, U.S.A.
ee ee emit

GROW GREAT FERNS
Los Angeles International Fern Society
LAIFS Fern Journal bimonthly includes fern lesson,
educational meetings, materials, spore store, books. ee
Annual dues: $15 domestic, $19 overseas surface, $24 overseas airmail.

P.O. Box 90943, Pasadena, Ca 91109, U.S.A.

HARDY AND HALF HARDY FERNS
Hazel & Martin Rickard
Kyre Park, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire WR15 8RP
@ 0885 410282

HARDY FERNS
RN Timm
The Fern Nursery, Grimsby Road, Binbrook, Lincs. LN3 6DH
@ 0472 398092

1994 SOUTHPORT FLOWER SHOW
The organisers extend all good wishes fora successful 1994 —
18th, 19th, 20th AUGUST 1994
Schedules and further information from:
The Flower Show Secretary, :
44 Houghton Street, Southport, Merseyside PR9 OPQ ~

PTERIDOLOGST

CONTENTS
Volume 2, Part 5, 1994

The British Pteridological Society

MAIN ITEMS:
Editorial James Merryweather 193
From the president Jack Bouckley 193
How do your sporelings grow? Peter Hainsworth 194
Spores on Bevis Nick Schroder 198
Progeny of Polystichum setiferum "Bevis" Cor van de Moesdijk 200 —
More ferns in the sun Mark Border 203 ©
Among those dark satanic mills Margaret Rothwell 204
Conservation and the spore list Margaret Nimmo-Smith 205
44th AIBS annual meeting Catherine Ann Raine 206
On German-English relations :
and their consequences Johannes Vogel 2117)
Ferns in New Zealand Roger Grounds 213
The réle of a national collection holder AR Busby 2198
Notes on the folklore and |
uses of British pteridophytes Roy Vickery 221 |
Ferns on chalk RN Timm 223 ©;
The fern nursery RN Timm 225
Rickards hardy ferns Martin Rickard 226 |
Photographing ferns,part 2 CN Page 228
SHORTER NOTES:
Asplenium trichomanes ssp. trichomanes a
("Incisum" group) Martin Rickard 197
Adiantum balfourii Mark Border 208
More thoughts on a
Polystichum — dey eked JW Dyce 222
Asplenium scolopen |
("Ramoso-traversum" iss Jack Bouckley 223
The new Dryopteris variety that wasn't Mark Border 233
The Fern Guide by James Merryweather 209
Flora Europaea edited by G Tutin 209 ©

Ferns - the Beauty of the Nepalese Flora by Vidja L Gurung
Scandinavian Ferns by Benjamin Oligard and Kirsten Tind

Volume 2 Part 6
Soe

BRITISH
| PTERIDOLOGICAL

¢q ~ remipoLoaist

by
ae JAMES fe ee

ISSN 0266 - 1640

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THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Officers and Committee from 1994
resident: Dr T.G. Walker
President Emeritus: J.W. Dyce, MBE

Vice-presidents: J.H. Bouckley J.A. Crabbe, Dr C.N. Page,
M.H. Rickard, J.R. Woodhams

on. General Secretary A.R. Busby
and Archivist: ‘Croziers’ 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry CV4 8GD
ry — “is FAX 01203 523237 & seaab @csv.warwick.ac.uk

A (Mi ip) Miss A.M. Paul
& Editor of Bulletin: Department of Botany, Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD

Treasurer: Dr N.J. Hards

184 Abingdon Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 9BP

Meetings Secretary: A.C. Pigott
43 Molewood Road, Hertford, Herts., SG14 3AQ
Editors of the Fern Gazette: Dr B.A. Thomas, J.A. Crabbe & Dr M. Gibby
Please send copy to Dr B.A. Thomzis, Botany Department,

National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NP

Editor of Pteridologist = James Merryweather
Department of Biology, PO Box 373, University of York, York YO1 5YW

Committee: R.G. Ackers, R. Cooke, Miss J.M. Ide, A.C. Jermy, A.M. Leonard,
Miss H.S. McHaffie, S.J. Munyard, P.H. Ripley, N.R. Schroder, G. Stark
Conservation Officer: R. Cooke
26 Lancaster Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2PY
Spore Exchange Organiser: Mrs M.E. Nimmo-Smith
201 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1AH
Plant Exchange Organiser: R.J. & Mrs B. Smith
184 Solihull Road, Shirley, Solihull, Warwickshire B90 1AH
Booksales Organiser: S.J. Munyard
234 Harold Road, Hastings, East a TN35 5NG

Trustees of Greenfield

and Centenary Funds: Dr T.G. Walker, A.R. Busby, Dr N.J. Hards
The BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY was founded in 1891 ad today olan as a focus
for fern enthusiasts. It It provides a wide range of information about ferns through the medium of its
and av literature. It also organises formal a informal discussions, field
psectauhe, ap visits, plant exchanges, spore excha book sales. The
Society has = wide igor which includes gardeners, nurserymen and_ botanists yes

amateur ciety's journals, the Fern Gazette, Pteridologist and Bulletin ar

published annually. The Sins publishes matter chiefly of specialist interest on international
pteridology, , topics of more general appeal and the Bulletin, Society business an@=
meetings reports.

Membership is open to all interested in ferns and fern-allies. SUBSCRIPTION RATES (due On ‘
ist January each year) are Full Personal Members £15: Personal Members not receiving

Gazette £12; Student Members £9; Si snap

is an i,

convers:
is an extra £4, or for those not receiving the Fern Gazette, £2.50.

— mbers of the Fern Gazette, reg a at a
“Palace oar a St. Mary Cray, Kent BRS 3LJ, from whom further details can be obain

MISSOURI BOTANICAL
Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

EDITORIAL

| trust you enjoyed my first effort as editor of this splendid publications compilation of
pteriffic pteridological ptopics from a delightfully wide range of individuals. Ptypos were
scarce, thanks to plentious proof reading which resulted in my almost memorising the
whole journal! However, | do apologise to “the Pillips”. Unfortunately Jack’s scollie got
itself inverted and Asplenium flaccidum, dramatically failing to live up to its name, is seen
growing bolt upside-down. More importantly, near the bottom of the rear cover should
have read

237

JUN 2 7 1995

Pteridologist Volume 2 part 4 was published on 20th May, 1993

Authors, please read page 299. For this edition I've had to do so much typing that | was
pretty fed up by the time the actual editing had to be done. Nowadays, almost everyone
has access to a computer, so I'm asking as many of you as possible to send text on disc.
Even chronic arch-luddite Rickard has got the hang of it now. Still, | really want your
literary efforts, so typing and spidery scrawl will still be welcome if all else fails.

Your new editor has had quite a lively year fern-wise. | had the great pleasure of teaching
a couple of fern courses for the Field Studies Council at their Blencathra centre. What |
did not reckon on was the presence of several BPS members who, despite being
perfectly competent enough to run the courses themselves, allowed me to feel as if | was
in charge

The youngest of the bunch correctly interpreted a nice bit of woodland ecology on the
limestone near Meathop (where we find masses of Adiantum capillus-veneris at its most
northerly). The woods were, of course, full of calcicolous plants, but we encountered a
single, unexpected plant of Dryopteris dilatata. It was delightful to listen as Matthew (12)
reasoned that it was probably able to survive there because it was growing on a tree
stump. We'll keep an eye on it to see if it fizzles out as its substrate becomes
incorporated into the surrounding highly calcareous soil - irate land-owners permitting.

We are even more aware these days that field work can be hazardous, indeed the BPS
is now obliged to ask members to sign indemnity forms before each meeting. On one of
our visits to limestone pavement, where accidents can so easily happen, | lost touch with
one of the party for longer than was reasonable. | was very worried, and scoured the
area until the missing person turned up, apparently no worse for the experience. A less
decent person could have made a lot of fuss about the fall and the broken ribs! That
incident has given me a fright, and | urge all members to look after each other at field
meetings, for anyone can get into difficulties.

The trickiest part of these courses was, as you might expect, that wretched Dryopteris
affinis headache. We willingly learned a lot about those morphotypes but, at the same
time, found ourselves wading into deeper and deeper water. We must be patient, hoping
that soon we will have a reliable framework upon which we may more confidently hang
our tentative identifications. I'll see what advances have been made, and perhaps next
year Pteridologist will include a friendly new guide.

| have the good fortune to belong to two societies which call themselves the BPS. Last
January | was attending to the usual clutch of membership subs., and dutifully sent
cheques to both....well, | thought | did. After a while Alison sent back a spare cheque at
the same time as | was being threatened with expulsion from the BagPipe Society of
which | am (but nearly wasn’t) a proud founder member! | bet I'll be confused again next
year. | think | now have a standing order with one, but not with the other. Which will be

which when | really need to know?

238 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

I'd like to slip in a plug for the second edition of The Fern Guide (editor’s privilege). The
first sold out rapidly - hooray! - and it became possible to correct and improve it before
reprinting - phew! So, burn your copy and buy a new one right away. It beats me why the
ardent bibliophile has a preference for first editions. If a second edition is justifiable,
surely it's going to be an improvement on the first, replacing it? Either he doesn't care
about the book’s content or he wishes to gloat over the author's first, inferior attempt. But,
Stay awhile: should The Fern Guide #1 inexplicably become an object of desire to the
investor-collector, | hope | get to hear about it so | can make a pile of dosh selling the
few copies | have left unsold!

JAMES MERRYWEATHER

BPS MEMBER
HONOURED

Congratulations to James Rus-
sell who, last July, became an
honorary Doctor of the Univer-
sity of York. He has now retired
to Fife in Scotland, but spent
the latter part of his working life
collecting plants from around
the globe for, and creating the
130 acre arboretum at Castle
Howard. Jim Russell, who
spent his earlier career reorgan-
ising the famous Sunningdale
Nursery, brought Hooker's Sik-
kim Rhododendrons with him to
Yorkshire where their flowering
in May is an annual pleasure.
He was honoured for his contri-
butions to botany and conser-
vation.

SHORTER NOTE

Matteuchia on the mentu*

Gourmet pteridophages contemplating a feast of fiddleheads this year should take note
of a recent article in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 1994, 43:677, 683-684.
About sixty people in New York State and western Canada came down with diarrhoea,
nausea and vomiting which was traced to fiddleheads (Matteuccia struthiopteris served
as Starters in local restaurants during May.

It seems that attention to preparation is the key to a safe meal. The guilty dec
had only lightly sautéed or briefly microwaved the croziers, in contrast with a
recommended boiling for ten minutes prior to sautéing. A heat sensitive toxin is thoug ,
to be responsible. Fresh fiddleheads are apparently becoming more widely available Zs
restaurants and markets in North America as more people experiment with seasonal wl :
food. The commonest recipe used is to sauté in butter with garlic, lemon, salt an

Pepper, according to taste.....butremember the ten minute boil. MICHAEL GRANT

* See Pteridologist 1, 6 (1989) p. 267 & 2. 1 (1990) p. 8

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 239

FROM THE PRESIDENT

When, last autumn, | was elected as the new President it was mentioned that this would
involve doing this, that or the other as part of the duties. However, what | was not told
was that | was also expected to contribute a few paragraphs to Pteridologist so it came as
rather a shock when | had a ‘phone call from James Merryweather asking for these
immediately (if not sooner). What | had forgotten when | promised to get my contribution
into the post instanter was that we are locally in the throes of a postal strike, so that both
incoming and outgoing mail are at a standstill. So | guess that short of carrier pigeon and
not having a FAX, the answer is to set out to find a post box outside the affected area. It
feels reminiscent of the chaotic scenes in TV plays set in newspaper offices as deadline
approaches.

The landmark event of this year is the Pteridophyte Symposium called ‘Pteridology in
Perspective’ to be held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (17-21st July) and followed by
an excursion to Devon and Cornwall (23-30th July). A considerable amount of hard work
is involved in setting up and running such an event which is attracting pteridologists from
all over the world. Our society is deeply involved in this through our members who are on
the organising committee and working hard on other aspects of the symposium. The
event is also an opportunity for publicity for the society, and the outcome may be that we
get closer to the ambition of our last President, Jack Bouckley, in achieving 1,000 BPS
members by the beginning of the next century. The symposium was planned as a
memorial to Eric Holttum who, during his long life (1895-1990), did so much to stimulate
interest in ferns and their relationships with one another.

| first met Prof. Holttum over 40 years ago at the Paris International Botanical Congress.
This was a landmark year in Pteridology in that his book on the ferns of Malaya had just
been published, as had also the paper by Irene Manton and Arthur Sledge on the
cytology and taxonomy of the ferns of Ceylon. Holttum saw the value of cytology in
helping to unravel some of the difficult problems of relationships between fern genera,
and there began a fruitful co-operation between Holttum and Manton which lasted for the
rest of their lives. As one of Manton’s research students interested primarily in tropical
ferns, | had a great deal of contact with Holttum over the ensuing years, and one of the
great pleasures was to present him with some fact which interested him, and to hear his
delighted “Golly, golly, gosh” in appreciation. He was a man of great Patience and
gentleness with people who had a genuine interest in ferns, but this did not always
extend to those whose views he felt were not based on sound work!

It was always an education to have a chat with ‘The Prof as he was affectionately called
at Kew, but it was a great pity that all those chats were not taped. He had a vast fund of
knowledge based on personal experience, and often his comments would start with some
phrase such as: “I watched this plant for x number of years and it...... Despite having
written several books and literally a few hundred research papers, a great store of
informationwas never recorded, and died with him.

It is not always realised that Holttum was not only interested in ferns, but also was a world
authority on orchids. Whilst Director of Singapore Botanic Garden, he did much
pioneering work which not only benefitted orchid hobbyists, but also helped to establish
orchid production as an important Singapore industry. He also wrote a very practical
handbook ‘Gardening in the lowlands of Malaya’ and his ‘Plant Life in Malaya ; which was
intended for local teachers and first year university students, is a constant joy to dip into.

| count myself very fortunate indeed to have worked with both Eric Holttum and Irene

Manton. Dr TREVOR WALKER

240 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

HIKING BOOTS AND FERN SPORE DISPERSAL
ADRIAN DYER, Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh.

Many species of fern in many habitats form a persistent soil spore bank - a reservoir of
spores buried in the soil and remaining alive for at least a year, and probably for many
years (Dyer & Lindsay, 1992). | thought of this as | was cleaning my hiking boots after
returning from the Second International Fern Conference at Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA in
July, 1990. The conference had been preceded by a week-long field trip, walking in the
forests of north Michigan, looking at pteridophytes. Most of the forest is secondary
regrowth after clearance for agriculture and timber, although one area, at Hartwick Pines
State Park, Grayling, had escaped felling, even when Michigan provided most of the
timber for the nation’s railroads, and contained trees more than 300 years old. A variety
of habitats yielded 68 species and 13 hybrids in all, including 14 species of moonwort
and 16 clubmosses in some of the more recently disturbed habitats. Most of the sites
visited were fairly wet and, inevitably, some mud stuck to the soles of my boots. It was
still there when | came home. | scraped off this small quantity of soil and placed it over a
layer of sand in a small petri dish. After moistening it with water, | sealed it with parafilm
to retain moisture and placed it on a north-facing window sill. In about four weeks,
gametophytes were visible on the surface and, after some months, some of these had
produced sporelings. | transplanted these to compost in pots and eventually, after more
than a year, several reached fertile maturity. It was then possible to identify them as
Dryopteris intermedia (the “fancy fern”) which resembles our native D. dilatata but has
glandular and pleasantly aromatic fronds. These plants have now been growing for two
years in the open in my garden.

A similar procedure after a holiday in Madeira in 1991 resulted in plants of Adiantum
raddianum, now growing successfully indoors, and of Athyrium filix-femina. A visit to
Gomera, an island off Tenerife, in 1993 has so far yielded plants of Asplenium onopteris.
In each case, many other species were seen whilst walking, but either their spores were
not represented in the mud which clung to my boots, or they did not survive to maturity
when the soil was cultured. Species growing in drier habitats are, of course, less likely to
be retrieved because the soil will not be picked up by boots. It is largely a matter of
chance, therefore, which species can be obtained.

This is obviously a way of obtaining pteridological souvenirs of a holiday without
disturbing or collecting the living plants, even when they are not shedding spores at the
time. However, it also raises some serious issues. In the first place, the importation of soil
as samples or on the roots of plants is strictly controlled and requires a permit and then a
period of quarantine at a designated institution where the soil can be checked and
cleared. It is, therefore, illegal to dig up a soil sample near a desired species and then
bring it home to cultivate.

However, | cannot believe that | am the only one who fails to scrape and wash all the soil
out of the patterned soles of walking shoes and boots before packing them for the return
journey. There must be others who just put them in a polythene bag for cleaning at home,
and the authorities must be aware of this. That being the case, many people must
inadvertantly bring spores of exotic ferns back to Britain in this way. Many holiday
makers, and even some who go abroad on business, go on excursions into rural areas,
and some go specifically to walk or study natural history. Given the number of people
who travel abroad, this must create previously unsuspected possibilities for the
introduction of alien species to Britain.

Subsequent use of their boots without first cleaning them could introduce foreign spores
a

Seeds to almost any part of the countryside. Only temperate species are ped
establish, even temporarily, but there is a considerable number of hardy species in,

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 241

example, New Zealand, Japan and China as well as other parts of Europe, which are
likely to be able to survive in our climate. In the past, the rare appearance of foreign
species in the wild has been attributed to escape from cultivation in gardens, or to
long-distance dispersal of spores on the wind. Now we have to add the possibility that
they are transported as soil spore banks on boots! This, in turn, suggests that they might
also be carried in mud on the feet of birds. This has already been suggested for the large
resistant sporocarps of the heterosporous fern Pilularia and the megaspores and
microspores of Isoétes (Page, 1988), but it is now clear that it might apply equally to the
single spores of the more numerous homosporous ferns or, at least, those of wetlands.
This could provide a means of introduction of these species from countries visited by
birds on their migration routes.

These observations lead to a further prediction that spores are also transported in the
mud which adheres to vehicles. Again, despite controls over importation of soil, small
quantities must enter the country from all parts of Europe, and even occasionally from
farther afield, under the wheel arches of cars and lorries. Subsequently washed off when
travelling on wet roads, these spores could get onto damp and shady roadside verges
and hedgerows, perhaps mainly in the vicinity of continental ferry terminals, where the
conditions might well be suitable for germination and development. | am not aware of any
fern discoveries that could be attributed to this mode of spore dispersal, but most cases
would involve species found in both Britain and continental Europe, so introduced plants
could not be readily distinguished from native ones. Even in the absence of positive
confirmation, the possibility of spore dispersal in mud on human or bird feet or on
vehicles cannot be dismissed.

REFERENCES

Dyer, A.F. & Linsay, S. (1992). Soil spore banks of temperate ferns. American Fern
Journal 82, 89-123.

Page, C.N. (1988). A natural history of Britain’s ferns. Collins New Naturalist, London.

SHORTER NOTE

Bulbils on fronds of Asplenium scolopendrium

It is well known that hart’s tongue ferns readily produce bulbils on their leaf bases.
However, bulbils on the frond surface are rare. They were occasionally reported during
the last century, indeed E.J. Lowe chose to illustrate a crested form discovered by PB.
O'Kelly liberally covered with plantlets as the frontispiece of his invaluable book, British
Ferns (1890). This plant has long been lost, but occasionally bulbils have been seen on
varieties since. A few years ago Vic Newey showed me a ‘Brachiato-cristatum’ form with
the odd bulbil on it. He even gave me a plant, but it has never since produced a single
bulbil. At the time Vic thought that bulbils would only be produced while the plant was
young, and so this has proved with my plant. Perhaps other members have seen bulbils
on their plants. If so, has the bulbiferous character been restricted to young plants?

While in the process of moving all our ferns | have had to pot up many of my hart’s
tongues. Perhaps the move confused old plants because one plant, Asplenium
scolopendrium ‘Drummondiae’, has produced several bulbils. Most are at the base of the
frond where the lamina meets the stipe, but some are on the lamina itself. At the time of

iti i small, but | will certainly try to raise plants from these.
writing all bulbils are ar repanean

| will be pleased to collate any information about bulbils, no matter how brief, in the hope
of producing a discussion of the phenomenon in a future issue - ed.

242 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

THE ERRANT BOTANOAOTO® IN NORTH-EAST CORFU
JAMES MERRYWEATHER, Biology Department, Po Box 373, University of York, YO1

Refreshed, that’s how Corfu looked in late October 1994. After a long, dry summer, the
first rain had revived the shrivelled Selaginella denticulata and Aspenium ceterach, and
zillions of tiny plantlets were sprouting from seed set during the high tourist season. The
ground in the dappled coolness of the olive groves so sensitively described by Durrell
(take your pick, Lawrence or Gerald) was carpeted with cyclamens, crocusses and
minute narcissi - the understory was returning to life.

Banks of rich brown earth alongside the roads and tracks were covered with sheets of
Selaginella, punctuated by the graceful laciness of Asplenium onopteris, turgid caerulean
tufts of Ceterach or occasional loose, rangy Asplenium trichomanes ssp. quadrivalens.

Bare or mossy patches were often
covered with forests of prothalli,
each bearing just one, tiny fan-
shaped leaf. For a while | assumed
they belonged to A. onopteris which
usually grew nearby. Then | sud-
denly realised that | recognised
those little leaves, for I’d seen them

of my preference for cyclamen time.
This was our Jersey fern, Ano-
gramma leptophylla, which thrives
in the warm south.

I’m so accustomed to the slow
development of our native perennial
ferns that I’ve always felt a particu-
larly intrigued by a species which
can get through its entire life cycle
in a single year, especially in a
region where its habitat is essen-
tially arid for several months. How-
ever, in the shady coolness of the

fertilisation takes place and the little
ferns develop rapidly. As ferns go, they attain size with speed and are pretty well huge by
April. I've seen fronds up to 20 cm high sporulating like billy-o, quite an achievement after
just six months of growth. The illustration in The Fern Guide is, | now confess, drawn
from Cretan specimens (and the A. onopteris was a Corfiot).

Bracken in Corfu seems to have difficulty determining the seasons. In the UK there are
clear-cut summer for photosynthesis and growth, and winter for dormancy or
Sub-terranean activity. Corfu has no frosts to kill off the fronds and, whereas Sore
colonies, especially the monoculture acres which follow severe fires, flush together, in the
Olive groves the woodland bracken has new fronds, fully expanded ones and dead ones
all together.

eee

een NOME DST TENSE Cae REN
votanoloyos or votanologos (botanist)

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 243

The olive grove bracken looks very much as it does when growing naturally in British
woodland: sparse, spreading and low. Higher up in the limestone hills, it grows with an
upright posture and appears to be growing in proper, high pH limestone soils. If British
bracken is found on limestone, it invariably has its feet in a pocket of acidic peaty
material. Over most of Corfu, bracken fronds occur scattered about under the olives
which cover most of the land. In the shady gullies it is at its most “British”, standing tall,
erect and dense. However, where there has been a fire, and on abandoned agricultural

bracken is only a couple of feet high and, er, “different". Now that Chris Page is
describing two British species of Pteridium it would not surprise me a bit if there are also
distinct taxa to be found on Corfu.

In Greece the proper word for fern (which we pteridologists use today) is otepn (fteri).
Corfiots I’ve spoken to point to my tee-shirt logo and say that the local name is BpayAo
(vrachlo). I’m still not quite sure whether BpayAo means fern or bracken. Our logo is, to
the lay person, a bit like bracken and, even in foreign places, most people can't tell
bracken from “fern”! Even so, I’m sure | can sense a similarity between the words
BpaxyAo and bracken......?

A good hunting place for the pteri-
dologist in Greece is where a road
bends sharply to round a stream
bed (see Pteridologist 2, 4, (1993)
179-180). There is surface water
here only in winter, and these
gullies are of little use to the
natives (except, unfortunately, for
refuse disposal) and ancient trees

fe)

many species grow together as in
the photograph (right). Asplenium
onopteris is at its laciest and the
fronds of Polypodium australe, of
usual stature on dry rocks and
walls all over the island, reaches
nearly two feet in height.

Sometimes in hedge banks, where
occasional Polystichum setiferum

y be encountered, is Dryopteris
pallida, usually rendered extra pal-
lid by a coating of road dust! It is a

A. ceterach, A. onopteris, A. trichomanes, P. australe,
and S. denticulata with Cyclamen neapolitanum
untains where huge colonies follow the lines of

and not quite as stiff-looking. It is
seen at its best in the arid limestone mo
Greek grykes, accompanied by rusty-backs and P. australe.

lve never been to Corfu at any time of the year other than October, so | don’t know if it
has more or other spectacular pteridological attractions. In autumn the weather is
decidedly unpredictable. Although a few days of scorching sunshine are very possible, a
whole week of chilly rain is an equal possibility. For me it’s the cyclamens, carpets of
them in that very special shade provided by the millions of olives of Corfu. if you want
truly ancient olive groves or myrtle shades try the nearby islands of Paxoi and Antipaxoi,
and if you want orchids and oranges it has to be April in Crete where, if you have some
energy for strenuous mountaineering, ferns are plentiful and diverse.

244 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

SHORTER NOTE

Outstanding successes at Chelsea Flower Show

It is very gratifying to hear that, at the 1994 Chelsea Flower Show, ferns really came into
the foreground. Martin Rickard put on a stand of ferns which attracted a lot of attention,
and the Oxford University Botanical Garden display also featured ferns. The latter was
arranged under the leadership of the University Horti Praefectus, Timothy Walker. Both
were awarded gold medals.

JACK BOUCKLEY

FERNS DON’T LIKE IT ACID
PETER HAINSWORTH, Station House, Achnashellach, Strathcarron, Ross-Shire, 1V54
8YR.

My insatiable curiosity is often aroused by the sight of a miffy plant. In my book, plant or
animal (or human) ill health has to have a reason. Things don’t just happen. The chance
of infection by a parasitic organism has to be faced, but even they don’t usually make
progress or we'd all be dead. These thoughts stem from reading Darwin’s Origin of
Species in my late teens (some time ago, now) and the blindingly obvious revelation that
evolution, by competition, ruthlessly fine-tunes a species to its environment. If the species
is not doing well it is the environment that is the problem.

Every year | raise a full complement of fern species offered by the spore exchange, plus
a few more offered by well-wishers travelling abroad: “Bring me back a bit of fern with
brown spots on the back”. So, | am glad of some sort of early warning system of compost
incompatibility.

In the early stages, the compost is equal parts of vegetable garden soil, garden compost,
sand (rather alkaline) and chopped sphagnum (“Vapo” peat, very acid). | get the
impression that plants in fresh compost are not much affected by pH, or it only begins to
show after a few months. Perhaps the free availability of nutrients in the garden compost
is the reason.

When plants show signs of distress | first consider the usual causes. Over or under
watering is quickly terminal, as a rule. If short of food, successive fronds become
progressively more yellow and the plant loses vigour.” Having eliminated those, | suspect
unfavourable pH.

My BDH soil indicator fluid is always at hand, together with a few tiny 1 ml clear plastic
bottles. In a few moments 0.5 ml of compost from between the roots is being shaken up
with enough indicator to cover it well. As it settles the fluid on top begins to show the
appropriate colour for the pH. This often shows a marked swing from the usual compost
value of 7-6. It is seldom very clear why this happens, but | presume some variation
occurs in the ingredients. This is where the users of standard composts have the edge
on me, but even these composts don’t always suit.

Most of us, perhaps, looking upon ferns as woodlanders growing in leafmould soil, expect
to find that they would prefer rather acid conditions. Experience so far has shown that
acid lovers are exceptional. The great majority succeed in composts where the pH Is
between 7 and 6.

Here is a list (opposite) of plants which, at one time, were doing poorly and, wir
checking the pH, were put in a compost of markedly different pH and recovered.
checked the new compost’s PH after a month or two.

Me Wh ea

see Pteridologist 2,5 (1994) p. 194

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 245

SPECIES pH
Adiantum pedatum 7.0
A. reniforme 6.0
A. sylvaticum 6.0
Asplenium oblongifolium 6.75
Blechnum attenuatum 5.5
. spicant 5.5
B. sp. (ex Page, New New Caledonia) 5.5
Coniogramma japonica 6.0
Dryopterisaemula_ 6.5
D. tokyensis 5.5
Davallia tasmanii 5.75

Microlepis strigosa 5.5
M. platyphylla_ 6.0
Onychium japonicum 7.5
. contiguum §=7.5
Osmunda regalis 5.5
Paesia srabula_ 7.0
Polystichum monotis 6.75

Rumohra adiantiformis 6.5

Take these as you find them. They are not intended to be authoritative, and it may well
be that half a pH point difference either way would have given better results. | just hope
that anyone struggling with one of these ferns might find a pH test provides the answer.
Testing for pH has become an expensive business these days and indicator fluid
appears to have gone out of fashion. We now have to buy 5-tablet tests for about £3.
The original pH soil indicator is still available from McQulkin & Co., 21 Polmadie Avenue,
Glasgow G5 OBB.

It will cost you nearly £17 (mostly VAT and carriage) but that still works out at 5p a shot
instead of the 60p of tablets. It is, of course, useful in the rest of the garden anyway. As
for those tiny bottles, a friendly chemist or lab. assistant might provide, or | could oblige
with a few.

ENDNOTE - My ferns have occasionally shown white tips to the pinnae and pinnules,
sometimes ceasing growth as well. The likely cause of this was the use of moss killer on
the capillary mat on which they were standing. | have not seen it since | gave up the
practice.

246 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

VARIATION IN DRYOPTERIS AEMULA
MARTIN RICKARD, Kyre Park, Tenbury Wells, Worcs., WR15 8RP and ALISON PAUL,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Dryopteris aemula is one of our most attractive native ferns. On what Jimmy Dyce calls
“Aemula Isle” (the Isle of Arran) it grows to perfection in the humid woodland which has
developed along the cliffs of the raised beaches. The pale green crisped fronds, perhaps
30 inches long, are a stunning sight as they cascade over the rocks in this fern-rich
habitat. Despite its preference for high humidity and shade in the wild, D. aemula is not
difficult to cultivate, and does well in a shady border even in eastern England, although it
only reaches 12 inches in height. In favoured western gardens, however, it can be grown
closer to its wild perfection, as demonstrated in Joan Loraine’s wonderful garden at
Greencombe near Porlock in Somerset. Here Joan has planted a dozen or so clumps to
form a crispy, dense ground cover between shrubs in a shady part of the garden.

Over the years very few varieties of D. aemula have been recorded. Early in the fern
craze, during the 1850s, three minor variants were reported:

‘Augustipinnulum’ - secondary pinnules more confluent and lobes irregularly shortened.
‘Interruptum’ - depauperate.
‘Ramosum’ - each frond branched at the base.

Later, during the 1870s or 1880s two better forms were discovered:

‘Capitatum’ - crested and capitate.
‘Cristatum’ - prettily and thoroughly crested.

‘Cristatum’ was generally considered to be the best of the five finds. It was collected in

North Devon by W. Gill, a nurseryman from Lynton. The original plant died, but a

sporeling came up. Dr Jones secured a fertile frond which he sent to Charles Druery.

From this, Druery raised several hundred progeny, all crested (see the illustrationin The

Book of British Ferns by C.T. Druery). These were distributed fairly widely. Unfortunately
Dr Jones’s sowing failed.

It is doubtful if any of these ferns are still in cultivation.
Jimmy Dyce remembers seeing one plant of ‘Cristatum’ in
the Savill Gardens in the 1960s, but that now seems to
be gone. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of this
cultivar today - or any of the others listed above -

please let us know.

Although the original finds are probably all
lost, all is not lost! Nature is an incredible
resource. This year, while botanising

for the Natural History Museum, one

(left) it can be seen that the
crests are quite larg )
indeed the largest frond 's
branched, suggesting that

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 247

‘Ramo-cristatum’ might be a good name for it. However, the plant is young, and it may
settle down to being more lightly crested like the original North Devon find.

As yet there are no sporangia on the plant but, it is hoped that, in time, this fascinating
new find will enable a variety of the Dryopteris aemula ‘Cristatum’ group once again to be
widely distributed.

A PTERIDOLOGICAL PETER PAN
GAVIN STARK, 74 Silver Street, Peterborough PE2 9BX

Psilotum nudum (L.) Beauv is a most peculiar
pteridophyte. In their classifications, taxono-
mists place this species in a different class -
Psilotopsida - from that of any other European
Pteridophyte. The presence of Psilotum in
Europe passed unnoticed until January 1965
when Betty Molesworth Allen discovered a
small colony growing on a sandstone cliff in SW
Spain. It almost seems as though being over-
looked is the vocation of this rather nondescript
plant.

Readers of a purist fern ilk, those among our
ranks who consider horsetails irritating weeds,
and clubmosses as plants one sympathetically
bends down to see on BPS outings in search of
more frondy mountain species, will find the
inclusion of this note in the Pteridologist hard to
swallow. What is our editor thinking of?! (Psilo-
tum nudum does not even appear on the
Rickards’ list!). In appearance Psilotum consists
of little more than forked stems. Closer So of these stems reveals a scattering

of minute flattened leaf-like appendages and
xo clusters of green to brown sacs
(synangia) borne closely appressed to the
stem. In spite of its plain appearance Psilotum
has long fired disagreement among those
interested in the evolution of land plants.
Debate began in 1859, when the appearance of
Psilotum was \ikened to that of the then newly
discovered fossils of early Devonian plants. On
one side of the debate were those who
regarded this similarity between the fossils and
Psilotum as a coincidence resulting from simpli-
fication during evolution of a fern like predeces-
sor, whilst on the other side were scientists who
considered the likeness not one of chance, but
a reflection of Psilotum’s direct descent from
plants of the kind represented in the Devonian
fossils. Those arguing the latter case supposed
Psilotum must have passed through generation
after generation and hardly changed.

248 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)
My first encounter with this plant was during a class practical at Reading University. A
small fragment of rhizome, procured from a vigorously growing pot of Spanish Psilotum
which we had been given to examine, failed to grow when transferred to my kitchen
window. The fragment was too stiff to wither and remained there long enough to arouse
my curiosity about the plant. If any reader can supply me with living material for a second
attempt please get in touch!

The most vociferous debate has centred on interpretation of Psilotum’s anatomy. Living
Psilotum has a number of characters which appear ‘primitive’; that is to say characters
which are shared with the Devonian fossils. Such characters include, the simplicity of
Psilotum’s tissues, the nature of its sporangia (the clusters of brown sacs), the similarity
of gametophyte and sporophyte tissue and that the gametophyte possesses vascular
tissue. One could argue that these are primitive characters which Psilotum has retained
or derived by simplificationwhich Psifotum has obtained. This kind of debate is difficultto
prove either way, particularly since no fossils of Psilotum-like plants have been found for
the 374 million years between the start of the middle Devonian and the present day.

In Japan there is a long history of growing cultivars of Psilotum as an ornamental plant. In
parallel to the Victorian fern craze and our rarer British Woodsia and Trichomanes, so the
collection of Psilotum by Japanese growers (coupled with increasing urbanisation) has
left few wild stations for Psilotum in Japan. A cultivar named ‘Bunryo-zan’ (it was
collected from Mt Bunryo) has been in cultivation since the late eighteenth or early
nineteenth century. This cultivar is unusual in lacking the small leaf-like appendages and
in having all its synangia at the ends of branches. In suggesting that this manner of
growth is latent in Psilotum’s make-up, this cultivar places Psilotum just a few steps from
early plants such as the fossil species Renalia hueberi. (Illustrations may be seen in
Stewart & Rothwell, 1993).

Recent studies (Hori et al, 1985) employing chromosome counts, phytochemistry and
molecular studies have not altered this conclusion that Psilotum is "the oldest and
simplest vascular plant".

Peter Pan never grew up. It is quite plausible that Psilotum in a similar way has passed
through generation after generation and remains scarcely changed from the first land
plants. | like to think so.

FURTHER READING & REFERENCES
Brownsey, P.J. and Lovis, J.D. (1987). Chromosome numbers for New Zealand species
of Psilotum and Tmesipteris, and the phylogenetic relationships of the Psilotales. New
Zealand Journal of Botany, 25:439-454.

Hori, H. et al (1985). Evolution of green plants as deduced from 5s rRNA sequences.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 82:820-823.

Molesworth Allen, B. (1966). Psilotum nudum in Europe. Fern Gazette 9(7): 249-250.
Rouffa, A.S. (1978). On phenotypic expression, morphogenetic pattern and synanglum
evolution in Psilotum. American Journal of Botany 65(6):692-713.

Stewart, W.N. and Rothwell, G.W. (1993). Paleobotany and the evolution 0
edition. Cambridge University Press.

f plants 2nd

Ey eee

| must take on my shoulders some of the responsibility for the appearance of this article, tf wate

bullied Gavin into researching and writing it. To present any aspects of the discussiot "a.

nature of Psilotum is to skate on rather thin ice, but | think it is worth bringing to the eS ted if
readers of Pteridologist. Those of us who are honest will admit that we would be deligh

Psilotum could be confidently assigned to a group of plants once thought to be long

ori et al have pro some excellent preliminary evidence .

and can find little to suggest that anyone has yet addressed the question by ¢ hytes (I'd

this fascinating plant's DNA and comparing relevant fragments with those f other gerkgg stimulate

@ being corrected). Once that is done, the story should be good enough
n berg into making the follow-up to Jurassic Park, perhaps entitled
Garden? I'd certainly go to see it - Ed.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 249
BOOK REVIEWS

FLORA OF GALMORGAN by A.E. Wade, Q.0.N. Kay and R.G. Ellis, HMSO London,
1994. Pp. viii, 393, 170 x 245 mm, 42 col. illustrations (on 9 plates), 20 b & w figures
including several maps. Paperback price £29.95. ISBN 0 11 310046 9.

At long last Glamorgan has a much needed, up-to-date county flora. Out of print works
Flora of Cardiff by Storrie (1886), Flora of Glamorgan by Riddelsdell (1907) and Flora of
Glamorgan by Trow (1911) covered much of the flora of the county but are long out of
date and, in the case of the two newer works, just about impossible to find second-hand.

Glamorgan is a ferny county of greater than average interest and has not escaped the
interest of the BPS. Not long ago, George Hutchinson, one of the major contributors to
this work, organised a BPS weekend meeting in the county which hopefully helped fill in
a few dots on some of the distribution maps. Currently 48 different pteridophyte species
are recorded, plus quite a few hybrids and subspecies. The distribution of each taxon is
given on a 5 km square basis. Only commoner species are mapped, the individual
squares for rarer species are listed in the text. Two ferns, Ophioglossum vulgatum and
Osmunda regalis, are illustrated in colour.

Introductory chapters give accounts of the history of botany, botanists, ecology and plant
distribution in the county. Geology is particularly well covered, not surprising, considering
the richness of the fossil flora of the carboniferous coal measures. Some fern and fern
ally fossils are illustrated.

The first reliable record for any plant for Glamorgan was Polypodium australe
‘Cambricum’. How nice to see a fern coming first as it should! Even more remarkable to
think that it still grows in the original site where it was recorded by Richard Kayse of
Bristol in 1668.

It is good to know that nationally uncommon Adiantum capillus-veneris still abounds
along the Glamorgan coast. However, Thelypteris palustris and Pilularia globulifera have
gone as too, it seems, has Dryopteris aemula. The absence of the last is the more
remarkable as Hymenophyllum tunbrigense still occurs at three sites within the county. A
challenge there for the BPS?

Towards the end of the book there are sections on liverworts, mosses and lichens, and a
marvellous gazetteer of the county. The list of references running to 34 pages and the
index of 54 pages are final proof of the thoroughness of this book.

Technically excellent as this book is, it seems rather expensive for a paperback and, not
surprisingly, it will not stay open at a given page. My review copy Is beginning to come
unstuck already, and | am forced to wonder if the book will survive in the field.
Nevertheless, it is essential reading for anyone interested in the flora of south Wales, and
the authors are to be congratulated for compiling an extremely comprehensive account
of the flora of Glamorgan.

FERNS FOR AMERICAN GARDENS by John Mickel. Macmillan, New York. Pp. xii, 370.
Numerous line drawings and more than 360 colour photographs 1994. ISBN 0 02
5844911

Here is a book which provides the American fern grower, new or experienced, with all he
or she needs to know. Remarkably, this book is by a botanist of high standing, and much
of John Mickel’s output has been of the academic sort, but he has the facility for

250 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

communication with all audiences and has frequently contributed to the popular press.
When | was over there a couple of years ago it was one of his books which guided me
through the North American fern flora.

Ferns for American Gardens provides a painless lesson in pteridology, carefully designed
and written in a way which any horticulturalist will enjoy. There are sections on fern
structure and development, planting and care, plants to grow with ferns, nomenclature
and a guide to fern societies and suppliers.

He describes so many species and varieties that I'll leave it to those who have the will to
count them. Each is described, most with an excellent colour photograph and information
about it in the wild, and then he gives that essential information about hardiness and
ease of cultivation.

You've got so much easily absorbed information here that really, all you need to do is
enjoy browsing through the book, deciding which ferns you want to grow, and where and
how you want to grow them. Then, if you can find the supplier, growing them should be a
doddle.

There are some trivial errors, but editors-authors understand that they are inevitable, and
| will not list them here. | know that Martin Rickard has dug them out and the author will,
no doubt, be grateful to hear about them. Readers in Britain should not be put off by the
American Gardens label. Many of the ferns discussed by John Mickel are available here,
and his guide to hardiness will be very useful to all growers. Since he lives in New York
his choice tends to cover ferns for our sort of climate anyway.

The cover boldly calls this excellent book “The Definitive Guide” and, though no book can
be absolutely all-embracing, I’m dashed if | can see any good reason to disagree. This is
the first edition, and highly collectable, so collect it now!

AN ILLUSTRATED FERN FLORA OF WEST HIMALAYA - VOLUME 1 by S P Khullar
with some contributions from CR Fraser-Jenkins. International Book Distributors, 9/3
Rajpur Road, Dehra Dun, India. 1994. Pp. xl, 506, 3 maps, 168 figs. 187 x 248 mm.
ISBN 81 7089 136 1. Price hardback £50.

The west Himalaya area covered here is all the Himalayan provinces in India west of the
Nepalese border with a slight extension into Pakistan. The area is very similar to that
covered by Dhir in Ferns of North-Western Himalayas (1980) but the number of species
described is increased, and the nomenclature brought up to date. The Christopher
Fraser-Jenkins input is apparent here. He has added helpful notes after some species
and contributed a large number of the localities.

Full keys are given. Synonymy of each genus and species is followed by @ ful
description with key characters highlighted. Where necessary a discussion of any point
of interest is added. Under each species a brief account of the habitat is given, plus a full
range of localities. This section will be of great interest to growers as a help with

Cultivation. In many cases altitude ranges are given, which should be a useful guide to
hardiness.

The coverage of each Species is comprehensive, with critical species discussed al
length. This is not a book produced by one man in isolation. | particularly like the way the
author has freely consulted fern experts worldwide, making the book vastly more
authoritative than it might otherwise have been. The coverage of the genera Asem
and Cheilanthes are good cases in point here.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 251

The illustrations are usually line drawings, but some are photocopies of herbarium
material. The line drawings are supplemented by close-ups of diagnostic features. The
main illustration is usually more or less natural size, but no scale is given for the
magnified features. All, bar 15 taxa, are illustrated. | expect the drawings to be of
immense value to students of the ferns of this area.

Volume 1 reviewed here treats 28 families and 182 taxa (species, hybrids and varieties).
Perhaps the most important families included are Polypodiaceae, Sinopteridaceae and
Aspleniaceae. Volume 2 will complete the work, covering a further 13 families including
the very large groups Athyriaceae, Thelypteridaceae and Dryopteridaceae.

The price of £50 is rather high but not unfair in the light of other comparable fern floras
produced recently. | trust the price will not deter too many purchasers. |, for one, hope
we do not have to wait too long for the second volume of this excellent work, especially
as it will include so many of the hardy fern taxa familiarto gardeners in cold temperate
areas.

MARTIN RICKARD

Since writing the above | have seen this book for sale at £40. BPS booksales may
therefore be worth trying for a competitive price.

Also, Christopher Fraser-Jenkins has pointed out inaccuracies in three of the figures of
Cheilanthes:

1. C. dalhousiae (p. 198) has been drawn with the lamina of C. bicolor and the stipe
scales of C. dalhousiae.

2. C. bicolor (p. 191) has been drawn with the lamina of C. da/housiae and the stipe
scales of C. bicolor.

3. C. anceps (p. 189) should not have scales along the rachis, but only on the stipe.

The text is correct in each case.

HONG KONG FERNS by Dr M L So. Published by the Urban Council, in the Hong Kong
Flora and Fauna Series. Pp 159, about 300 coloured photographs and over 100
scanning electron micrographs of spores. 151 x 215 mm, laminated cover. Price 90 Hong
Kong dollars (about £7.50).

A relatively small area heavily built up, such as Hong Kong, would not seem to have the
potential to generate an interesting book on ferns. Yet this book comes out only 16 years
after the very comprehensive, technical account prepared by H. Edie, Ferns of Hong
Kong (1978). The fern flora is therefore very rich and Dr So’s book, set at a popular level,
scores by having a wonderful range of colour photographs of each of the ferns covered.
Something like 140 ferns are illustrated, usually with a habitat shot, sorus close up anda
scanning electron micrograph of the spores. Edie’s work was in black and white and
included 175 species of fern so in an ideal world both books would be used in tandem.

There is at least one error. The illustration of Thelypteris palustris is something quite
different, possibly Stegnogrammd? Easily spotted errors such as this always unsettle my
confidence in a book, but assuming this is an isolated problem, | feel | can recommend
this book to anyone interested in the ferns of south east Asia. It is worth buying for the

hotographs.
: wate MARTIN RICKARD

252 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

YET ANOTHER USE FOR BRACKEN
ADRIAN DYER, Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh.

Bracken, in its vigorous forms, is common in many parts of the world and, where it
spreads aggressively to form dense stands, it is well known as a troublesome weed of
upland grazing land, poisonous to domestic cattle and a haven for ticks. It has, however,
also many uses (Rymer, 1976) and records of bracken being harvested and sold for one
or another purpose date back to the 15th century.* There are references in the literature
to its importance as a source of potash for soap and glass, and to its use as fuel
(especially in brick kilns), as thatch, animal litter, floor covering and compost. It has also
been used as animal fodder, human food (both as starch from the rhizome and as a
green vegetable) and as an anthelmintic (a cure for gut parasites). There are records of
its use as a hop substitute in beer, as an insect deterrent, a source of dye and as a
packing material for storing fruit. It is difficult to imagine that bracken could have been put
to any use not yet described, but a chance observation on a holiday in November, 1991
revealed one.

While spending a week on the island of Porto Santo, 50 km north-east of Madeira, |
entered an abandoned one-storey, tile-roofed farmhouse near the small village of Campo
de Baixo towards the west end of the island (below). The house contained two
separate-roomed dwellings. It has not been possible to date its construction, but it is of

inside, and the stones marking the rim of the circular threshing floor are still in place
beside the farm house (below). Yoked pairs of oxen, sometimes accompanied by a
donkey, were driven around within the circle to thresh the grain, mainly barley, which was
grown, until recently, in adjacent fields. All the island’s windmills are now disused, but a
few still have their furled canvas sails confirming that their inactivity, and the
abandonment of cereal growing, were recent.

nm. ROO ie. — TE sae pal {

as i Pe Sian Se aed E spun’ Fy.
x pairs ne ;
SEES cag esimen Ss Bae Ax
. gore a bn ee me A ~
<i, 3 4 : - ;

: = | r Ce

The abandoned farmhouse near Campo de Baixo

ee

* See page 256

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 253

Inside the farmhouse, an integral wall separating the two rooms of one dwelling was
disintegrating to reveal its internal structure (below). It consisted of a framework of canes
attached horizontally each side of stout vertical posts. The canes were probably of the
giant reed, Arundo donax, which grows on Madeira. Two of the posts formed the frame of
a doorway. On each side of the wall, the outer surface was covered with a layer of
smooth plaster which was then painted (pink). Beneath this, rough plaster had been
spread over and between the canes. Between the two layers of canes and plaster was a
central cavity tightly crammed with bracken (below) which had apparently been harvested
as dry, brown fronds at the end of their growing season and placed within the wall before
it was plastered. The purpose of this might at first sight appear to be insulation but,
because the climate of Porto Santo is equable, rarely hotter than 25°C or colder than
10°C, heat insulation in an inside wall is unlikely to be necessary. Another possibility is
that the bracken provided sound insulation between the two rooms but, because the wall
included an inter-communicating door, much of the benefit would have been lost. An
alternative and more likely explanation, suggested to me by Stuart Lindsay, is that the
bracken was packed into the wall in order to hold the wet plaster in place as it set, in the
same way as wooden laths are used in Britain.

Internal structure of the disintegrating wall

lt was not possible to discover whether this use for bracken was widespread on the
island. The only published record | can find for the use of bracken in Macaronesia is a
source of flour for human consumption in the Canaries (Lindley, 1838). Bracken itself is
not common in Porto Santo. The island is made largely of limestone and arid, lacking the
high central mountains that cause the rain on Madeira. | saw no bracken in the vicinity of
the farm; the only population | found (Pteridium aquilinum ssp. aquilinum) occupied a
small area on a dry, south-facing hillside about 2 km away in the centre of the island
beside the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graca. Perhaps this population was sufficient to
provide all the island’s construction needs before the tourist building expansion.
Alternatively, bracken may have been previously more widespread. Either way, it would
appear that bracken was used for this purpose in preference to barley straw which was

254 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

likely to have been much more readily available locally. Perhaps the many secondary
compounds in bracken protect it against fungal attack and deter insects, making it more
durable and hygienic than straw.

lf bracken was not available in sufficient quantity on Porto Santo, it could have been
harvested and imported from Madeira, perhaps together with the canes. Bracken is
locally abundant on Madeira, particularly in the cooler, wetter mountain area inland. Near
Santo da Serra in the east, it contributes noticeably to a landscape reminiscent of
Perthshire, complete with pine trees, sheep, grassland and dry-stone walls. Bracken is
also common in the moorlands of the Paul da Serra in the west.

It may be that the tradition of using bracken as a filling for cavity walls started in these
cool, bracken-rich areas of the mountains of Madeira and later spread to Porto Santo
and elsewhere. In the mountains of Madeira, the increase in heat insulation might have
been an additional advantage, even if the subsequent use of the practice on Porto Santo
was of little benefit in this regard. A discovery of bracken within cavity walls made of
wood or stone rather than plaster would suggest that insulating properties were
important. It would be interesting to know whether there is any record of bracken having
been used similarlyin Scotland, Wales or anywhere else where there would have been a
similar resource.

Alternatively, this use of bracken might be absent from Madeira. If it was particularly
associated with the construction of walls made entirely from plaster and cane, it might be
uncommon in Madeira where lime is less available than in Porto Santo. The inclusion of
bracken in hollow plaster walls in other parts of the world where lime-rich areas coincide
with a source of the fern would reinforce the suggestion that the main purpose of the
bracken filling was to support the wet plaster.

My next visit to Madeira will have to include a tour of derelict houses. In the meantime, |
would be very interested to hear from any members who have information that would
throw further light on this use of bracken.

REFERENCES

Lindley, J. (1938). Flora Medica. London.

i thins L. (1976). The history and ethnobotany of bracken. Bot. J. Linn. Soc., 73:
-176.

SHORTER NOTE
The Fernery at Danesbury

Welwyn Hatfield Council owns part of the old Danesbury estate at Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
They recently discovered, under the brambles and nettles, the outdoor fernery, originally
built in the 1860s. The pulhamite structure is mostly complete, though nothing remains a
the plantings. They are very keen to restore it to its former glory. | have agreed be <
them In any way | can and to co-ordinate any advice or assistance that might be
available from the B.P.S.

Ferns, developing a number of cultivars including Athyrium filix-femina ‘Plumosum

elegans' Parsons, that was the parent of A. filix-femina 'Plumosum superbum and,

Subsequently, A. filix-femina 'Plumosum' Druery. The fernery obviously had a large

collection of fine forms in its heyday, as evidenced by contemporary accounts. It waS

ree in William Robinsons The Flower Garden as the finest fernery in the Home
ies.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 255

The undergrowth has been cleared and work is now starting to restore the rockwork
where it has broken or fallen, to mark the pathways and generally to reveal the original
hard structure of the fernery. After that, the question of further restoration and planting
can be considered.

Welwyn Hatfield Council have the offer of some financial support from the Hertfordshire
Gardens Trust, and seem genuinely keen to make the restoration a reality, talking of
possibly building a National Collection there.

| believe this is an exciting project that the Society should encourage and help as much
as we can. | would be very interested to hear from anyone who has information about
Danesbury and its fernery, so that we can build as good a picture of its original state as
possible. (Address in front cover).

ANTHONY PIGGOTT

MARSILEA POISONING IN 19TH CENTURY AUSTRALIA
MICHAEL GRANT, 3 Greenhill Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9SR.

A recent report in Nature (368:683-684) by J.W. Earl and B.V. McCleary has shed a
pteridological light on the gruesome fate of the Burke and Wills expedition to traverse the
then unknown interior of Australia. Setting out from Melbourne in 1860 with the aim of
documenting flora and fauna and taking geophysical measurements, the expedition
turned into a race to cross the continent before another team led by John Stewart.

On arriving at Cooper's Creek Burke, a police inspector, split the group taking one
scientist, Wills and two others, King and Gray. This four man team reached the Gulf of
Carpentaria on the north coast successfully, but their return was delayed by monsoons
and the remainder of the expedition was found to have deserted the Creek.

The four were by now running low on grain flour and began to eat the Aboriginal flour
made from the ground sporocarps of Marsilea drummondii, the nardoo fern. The
specialised preparation of this flour had been demonstrated to them by Aborigines but
this advice was forsaken in favour of grinding and cooking, their greatest mistake. The
four began suffering from hypothermia, weakening of pulse and severe muscle wasting
leading to an inability to move. Wills’s detailed diary of their decline revealed the classic
symptoms of beri-beri, now known to be caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1. He was
aware that they were suffering from nutrient deficiencies, indeed he had recommended
that they eat Portulaca oleracea, common purslane, to prevent scurvy. However, vitamins
were unheard of until 50 years later when Funk put forward his theory of four separate
‘vitamines’ in 1912. Burke, Wills and Gray died at the Creek while King, with failing
strength, continued to pound the sporocarps into flour. He was then cared for by
Aborigines until eventually rescued, but remained crippled for the rest of his life.

It is now known that their beri-beri was severely exacerbated by the nardoo diet. The
bean-like sporocarps contain two or three times more thiaminase than bracken fronds.
Thiaminase is an enzyme that breaks down vitamin B1 and causes staggers In horses
and a similar disease in sheep that feed on nardoo. The clover-like fronds contain a
hundred times more thiaminase than bracken!

The sporocarp of the nardoo fern is extremely resistant to heat: the spores will apparently
germinate after fifteen minutes of boiling, and the thiaminase, unusually for an enzyme,
will survive cooking. The Aborigines avoid its toxic effects by grinding it in plenty of water
to dilute not only the enzyme but also co-substrates (adenine, proline and hydroxypro-
line) which the enzyme requires to break down vitamin B1. Contamination by amino
acids from other organic sources is prevented by avoiding contact with bark or leaf

256 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

utensils. The thin paste is spooned straight into the mouth with a mussel shell.

This is a good example of a traditional food processing practice rendering an otherwise
poisonous plant palatable in a harsh environment. With our biochemical understanding
we can only marvel at how the Aborigines developed their detoxification process.

SHORTER NOTE

....and yet another use for bracken?

There is a pretty French folk tune of the later 15th century (the original title and text are
unknown) which was taken by a number of composers as a basis for their more artistic
chansons. The most famous is the six-part Petite Camusette by the great Flemish
composer Josquin des Préz (c. 1440-1521).

However, the ubiquitous Anon. made a four part chanson out of it, and that he called
Allez a la Fougére. \n the text the poet invites a pretty brunette to join him among the
rushes (jolie jonc) and fougéres for unspecified, yet undoubted pleasures. In the modern
edition from which the tune below has been liberated the title was translated as, |
contend erroroneously, 'Lets to the Heath’. We all know that fougéres are ferns, perhaps
in this case bracken (one of its numerous taxa) which, if you can avoid the ticks, makes
a good place for two people to vanish for a while for a little a/ fresco privacy. The
arrangement here is for a pair of bagpipes (ie. two), and is lifted from Merryweathers
Tunes for the English Bagpipe (1989) wherein it is dedicated to Bob Stolze, pteridologist
and medieval music enthusiast (see page 267).

JAMES MERRYWEATHER

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 257

EXHIBITING FERNS IN COMPETITIVE CLASSES
A R BUSBY, Croziers, 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry CV4 8GD.

When considering whether to exhibit ferns the choice is made easier if we have plenty of
ferns to choose from. It also ensures that we have substitutes in case anything happens
to our prize exhibits. It's amazing how clumsy we become or how inanimate objects
conspire to damage or destroy our plants, especially when after a long journey we are
within sight of the show bench. It's difficult to suggest a optimum number, but if you wish
to exhibit one lady fern it's as well to grow four in the hope that at least two will be
suitable.

Only one major show provides the opportunity to exhibit ferns in several classes, and that
is Southport. Most local shows may have a class for one pot fern and a class for one
foliage plant. The following comments are made with Southport Show in mind, but the
principles apply to any show. Having said that, do remember that in spite of my
comments here, if your particular show rules demand something different, abide by them.

Showing from the exhibitors point of view.

The first task is to obtain a copy of the show schedule and please read it carefully and,
when you feel that you completely understand what is required, read it again!

if it's simply a class for one pot fern that is quite straightforward and you can exhibit either
a hardy or indoor fern. Sometimes a schedule will require that the fern is exhibited in a
suitable container. Here they are emphasising the use of a plant pot. A plant in a
washing-up bowl or a bucket is likely to be disqualified. However, a Nephrolepis in a
hanging basket should be acceptable. Presenting a hanging basket on the show bench
in a attractive manner can be something of a problem. Better not to attempt to hang it
from something but sit it upon a terracotta pan or pot. If you can disguise the supporting
pan with a piece of black cloth so much the better. More about this when we consider
presentation.

In some shows they provide a class for three or more pot ferns and this presents more
difficulties for the exhibitor, and at Southport the pitfalls are even greater because it
provides classes for varieties of named genera. Do make sure that you recognise the
different genera. | am always pleased to assist and advise on this before the show's
staging day. Better this than an inquest after the show.

If the class demands three or more pot ferns, you must try to exhibit three or more plants
of equal quality. Two superb examples are not going to upgrade a miffy third exhibit and
the entry will lose points. Rarity guarantees nothing, a well grown and well presented
male fern will always beat a poorly grown rarity. Needless to say, a well grown difficult
rarity, well presented, will run off with the prize.

It is not within the scope of this article to discuss the details of how ferns might be
cultivated for the show bench. However, it is worth mentioning that it was considered
unacceptable to exhibit some species as multi-crowned ferns in large pots. Obviously
something like Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Polypodium vulgare or Phegopteris connectilis
are by their very nature creeping, multi-crowned species, but in days past it was
considered bad form to exhibit such species as Dryopteris filix-mas, Polystichum
setiferum or Athyrium filix-femina as multi-crowned plants. Exhibiting them as single
crowned plants enabled them to display their distinct forms to advantage. It also provided
a greater challenge to the grower to produce the perfect specimen handicapped by a
limited number of fronds. A lot of sins can be disguised within a large pot crammed with
fronds. Even today the judges are likely to favour a well grown, single-crowned plant.

Some exhibitors seem to have difficulty understanding the term variety. They sometimes
think it means type and consequently stage their entry incorrectly. Three Athyrium

258 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

means three distinct varieties: eg. Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae’, A.f.f. 'Cristata' and A.
nipponicum 'Pictum' would be quite acceptable. However Athyrium nipponicum would not
be correct because it is a species not a variety. Another incorrect entry would be
Athyrium filix-femina, A. otophorum and A. distentifolium because they are species not
varieties. A schedule will never ask for types of fern, they will always state species or
varieties. Notice that it stipulates three DISTINCT varieties. Three different 'Grandiceps'
are unlikely to be acceptable.

Having decided that we are competent to decide which are species and varieties, we
now must consider our ferns geography. Some classes may ask for three BRITISH
ferns. This is easy enough if you consult a reliable British pteridophyte flora such as
Jermy and Camus (1991) ignoring, of course, their references to alien species that are
recorded as escapes. | am sure that | do not have to remind anyone that fern allies such
as quillworts and horsetails have no place in fern classes.

Three Hardy British Ferns (DISSIMILAR) might be another pitfall. Play safe and make
sure that the three species are quite different, | would be reluctant to stage Dryopteris
filix-mas with D. affinis unless | had complete faith in the judge. The judge may decide
that they are not sufficiently dissimilar! A little more tricky are classes for foreign ferns. An
Asplenium trichomanes exhibited as a foreign fern with the excuse that A. trichomanes is
native to France or Germany simply will not do. Only fern species not native to the British
Isles can be considered as foreign.

Having grown our ferns to perfection and having arrived safely at the show bench, we
could now stick them on the table and walk away confident that we shall be successful. If
only that were true. Having spent months or years cultivating our prize specimen, we
must now spend a few minutes ensuring that it is a joy to behold.

Presentation

If any would-be fern exhibitors want an object lesson in how plants should be presented
on the show bench, | suggest they visit any show of the Alpine Garden Society. They
have made the presentation of plants on the show bench an art form. It is a skill that Is
easily acquired, it requires a little common sense and careful thought but it can make all
the difference between first prize and no prize.

There are three aspects to presentation: the container, the plant and the overall effect.
Containers, usually pans or pots, should be scrubbed clean. Whether to use plastic or
terracotta is a matter of taste, but do ensure that they are clean and in good condition.
Better still use new pots. Cracked or damaged containers do not give a good impression.

The plant should be in the best condition possible, without damage, pests or disease. :
our plant does have damaged fronds time must be spent tidying it up. All damaged oe
must be removed neatly, but try to avoid leaving unsightly gaps. More importantly, it e
better to remove the entire frond rather than amputating the top few inches. Nothing
looks worse that two-thirds of a frond, in this case, no frond is better than half a frond. If
all this tidying up means that you are going to remove more than one third of the fronds,
then it is probably not worth staging anyway.

It is usually the case that a plant has a face side, ie. a side where it has received the
optimum light conditions. Very often its the side nearest the glass in the greenhouse :
window sill. When staging the plant, turn it around and decide which is its best ane,
make sure this is the side facing the judges.

Some exhibitors try to achieve a pleasing overall effect by liberal use of pacer
chippings. However, this can be disastrous. Many alpines are attractively presented wi

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 259

a dressing of chippings but ferns require careful thought as to their natural surroundings.
Any of those spleenworts found on mortared walls or limestone pavements will look right
with a dressing of limestone chippings however, the forked spleenwort, Asplenium
septentrionale, would be properly dressed with moss or granite chippings. | have always
dressed my potted Osmunda regalis with mosses, usually Mnium hornum or Polytrichum
commune. However, leaf-mould, peat or neatly trimmed grass would be appropriate.
Consider the ferns habitat and try to imitate it. | have seen Platycerium bifurcatum
dressed with limestone chippings and the overall effect was dreadful. A handful of
chipped bark or moss would have made all the difference. For British ferns, Jermy and
Camus (1991) will point you in the right direction.

We can now place our exhibit(s) on the show bench making sure that if our plant is small
we put it at the front and if it is a large specimen it is placed towards the back. Give the
pot a final wipe and turn it around to find the plants face side. Give it a final check over in
case you have missed any dead or damaged fronds. If the plant needs height, place it on
an upturned pot or box but do remember to disguise the support with a piece of cloth. Try
to avoid using a tower of pots, upturned buckets or undisguised cardboard boxes, all of
which | have seen gracing the show bench.

Now we come to the vexed question of labelling. Here you must be guided by the show
schedule. Some shows, such as those organised by the AGS insist on correct labelling
and the judge will take into account incorrect or missing labels. Southport Show does not
insist on labels at all, so you are not obliged to provide them. However, in case of two
entries of equal standard the judge might just decide to give the prize to the entry with the
label. Correct and neat labelling should be a matter of pride. Give attention to correct
spelling, the BPS Spore Exchange list is a very handy spell checker. Remember, you
have the chance to judge your entries long before the judges sees them so try to make
your standard at least as good as theirs.

Showing from the judges' point of view.

The team that judges at Southport Show consists of two judges, two stewards and a
runner - a young person who takes the judging results to the show secretary's office. The
show card with the exhibitor's name is placed by the exhibitor, with their pots, face down
so that the judges cannot see the identity of the exhibitor and only the stewards are
allowed to handle it. The judges are not allowed in the tent until the time of judging and
they take with them a copy of the show schedule. Arriving at the first class on the show
bench, they first count how many exhibitors have entered the class and count how many
pots each exhibitor has entered. If an exhibitor has one pot too many or too few that entry
will not be judged.

Each plant is examined carefully to ensure that it fulfils the requirements of the class and
for any damage or disease. It is amazing how blind exhibitors can be to scorched fronds
or creepy crawlies and remember, you are making the judges job easy if there are plenty
of reasons for not awarding a prize! If any entry proves to be Not According to Schedule,
it must be disqualified. There is nothing more depressing for the judges than to consider
an entry N.A.S. The exhibitor has wasted time, money and effort staging the plants and
the judges time looking at it. It cannot be said too often: read the schedule carefully and
be sure that you understand what is required.

If the plants are correct and are well grown, the judges must look for other parameters to
separate the entries into first, second and third. Presentation is now considered and if the
exhibitors have spent time ensuring that the pots and plants are looking their very best,

they can give the judges a hard time coming to a decision. If exhibits still cannot be

260 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

placed, they must now consider labelling or, if they are really desperate, begin hopefully
searching for an obliging greenfly. Anything that will indicate first, second and third.

At the end of judging, the judges look forward to leaving the tent knowing in their heart of
hearts that they have made their adjudications fairly and without favour yet knowing that
when the exhibitors see the results, the chances are that at least one exhibitor will feel
aggrieved that the judging was done by incompetents with questionable parentage. The
judges however can retire from the scene with the smug satisfaction of knowing that, as
long as they have observed the rules and regulations and not made any mistakes with
identification, the judges decision is FINAL.

REFERENCE
Jermy AC & Camus J (1991) The Illustrated Field Guide to Ferns and Allied Plants of
the British Isles, London, Natural History Museum Publications. (ISBN 0-565-01 172-3)

FURTHER READING

Kaye R (1972) Some Observations on Southport Sho. B.P.S. Newsletter No.10, p 30.
Kaye R (1972) Preparing Ferns for Exhibition. B.P.S. Bulletin Vol.1, No.1, p 23.
Rickard MH (1991) Centenary Fern Show Pebworth. Pteridologist, Vol.2, part 2, p 53.

LOSS OF FERNS IN MAURITIUS
YOUSEF CARDINOUCHE 15 Bourbon Street, Port-Louis, Mauritius

Ninety percent of the native forest of Mauritius has been cut down to accommodate a
rapidly growing population and, in consequence, many species of animals and plants
have become extinct. Some plants have become so rare that they survive as only one
individual in the wild! Such are Dictosperma album var. conjugatum (Palmae) and
Pandanus pyramidalis (Pandanaceae). The last Dombeya mauritiana (Sterculiaceae)
was found dead in July, 1994.

Many ferns which need the shade and humidity provided by these trees are in a critical
situation. Of the 170 native pteridophytes, 21 species may be considered to be extinct.
The others are declining rapidly.

In 1982, when | visited Tamarind Falls for the first time, | was amazed by the profusion of
mosses, lichens and ferns growing in the shade of ta!l sideroxylon and labourdonnaisia
trees. On the big boulders near the river Asplenium affine, A. polyodon, A. viviparum and
Loxogramme lanceolata unfurled their graceful fronds to maximum size. Large colonies
of Clenitis crinita, C. hispida, Blechnum attenuatum and Diplazium proliferum formed a
tangled mass of foliage on the forest floor. High on the branches Asplenium nidus,
Elaphoglossum petiolatum, E. sieberi and Microsorium punctatum were competing for
light. One of the most beautiful epiphytes, Vittaria elongata was sending its long, pendant
ribbon-like fronds in hundreds, giving this forest a fairy-like appearance. The lower parts
of the trunks were draped with a thick mass of Trichomanes and Hymenophyllum fers.

In the mid 1980s there was a great demand for new fern varieties to replace the *
cultivars of Adiantum raddianum. Villagers from around Henrietta saw an opportunity to
make money quickly, and hundreds of Asplenium, Ctenitis, Diplazium and Spheromen,
as well as orchids were stolen and sold in the streets of Port Louis and other cities. Most
of these ferns did not survive the shock and were soon thrown in the bin.

Paradoxically, all our native ferns are protected by law, but there is no Sans. 8
Poachers. In July 1993 | returned to the falls. Not a single Asplenium, Diplazium :
Vittaria was left. Only the mosses and lichens had survived. This is one Of th
places devastated by fern hunters, and this is still going on!

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

14 falls of Tamarind

The firstin a series of The fern collector-vendor

and his wares

FOR SALE

Pityrogramma calomelanos, Pityrogramma aureaflava,
Histiopteris incisa, Sphenopteris chinensis, Asplenium lineatum,
Asplenium daucifolium, Asplenium nitens.

Mauritius rarities for sale

262 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

FERN HUNTING IN EASTERN CRETE
JAMES MERRYWEATHER, Biology Department, University of York, PO Box 373, York
YO! 5YW.

If you want to make new records for pteridophytes, Eastern Crete appears to be ideal
territory. I’m writing this after only two days of walking and botanising and already, most
of the ferns | have found, though common, do not appear where | was on the distribution
maps in the main work on the distribution of Cretan plants: Flora of the Cretan area by
Turland, Chilton and Press, 1993.

I've run quickly through the comprehensive bibliography in this work and the majority of
publications cited are - surprise, surprise - about the orchids of the island. There are but
four publications which specifically mention ferns. Three discuss critical taxa and the
other (Brownsey & Jermy, 1973) is about a fern collecting trip in Western Crete. The
distribution of the common species appears to have been ignored so, simply going for a
walk can produce lots of useful pteridological data. They're almost all new records!

| am (or rather was by the time you read this) based in the town of Aghios Nikdlaos,
having purchased a very reasonably priced package holiday at the beginning of April. |
just missed the worst of the weather, | have been told, and have had two (7) happy days
of hard, sun-burning walking through olive groves, along country tracks to altitudes of up
to 650 m. All the way there has been botany and, occasionally the flowers have rendered
me utterly spell-bound.

As a taste, | offer you;

1. Olive groves, carpeted yellow with the South African weed Oxalis pes-caprae which is
commonly infested with the broom-rape Orobanche ramosa. Among the olives are many
surprises, including damp flushes where you find sedges, rushes, marsh orchids such as
Orchis laxiflora and other plants you might not expect to encounter in such an arid place.

@. Waysides and “Garigue” with bushy rock-roses (and their attendant parasite Citinus
hypocistis, a relative of the world’s largest flower Rafflesia), spiny burnet Sarcopoterium
and herbs, herbs, herbs! There is purple-flowered sage, yellow Phiomis (from which the
Cretans make the revolting, but apparently
efficacious diktamos tea), several versions of
thyme, oregano, wild garlic, fennel - the com-
plete herb garden, and all of real culinary value.

3. Steep lower mountain slopes are dotted with
bright yellow-green bushes of several species
of arborescent spurge, Euphorbia with sage
and Phlomis for added colour accompanied by
the constant buzz of honey and bumble bees.

4. ....and then there are the incomparable
limestone rock gardens ("Phrygana") with jee
tiny white Gagea (Lloydia) graeca; wie “
bright yellow (sometimes pillar box red) “pop-
pies/amemones” which are actually buttercups,
Ranunculus asiaticus; the elegantly pendant
quaking grass Briza maxima; a wide es
ment of leguminous species with every hab
and flower colour you can imagine; minute, _

ubellifers and all sorts of white and yellow
nts are being

assortment of

Gagea raeca
with A. ceterach & S. denticulata composites. Many of these pla
voraciously fed upon by a wide

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 263

broom-rapes, Orobanche spp. And then there are orchids dotted about everywhere. Tiny
purple Orchis anatolica, Ophrys lutea's innocent little yellow faces turned up to look you
straight in the eye, mysterious Serapias, gaudy Ophrys tenthredinifera and O. heldreichii,
the rather vulgar Barlia robertiana, and many others.

Back to the ferns. Four species were ubiquitous around Agios Nikolaos: Asplenium
ceterach, Cheilanthes maderensis (syn. C. fragrans), Anogramma_ leptophylia and
Selaginella denticulata. Each lived in slightly different situations and tolerated the hot sun
to different degrees. C. maderensis abounded in the cracks in the limestone of the area,
right down to sea level and to over 300 m. It
could also be found in most urban situations.
Walls in the village of Pano Elounda were
plastered with it and rusty-backs, and | found it

beginning to prepare for summer shrivelling
from which, like A. ceterach, it has the capacity
to recover. However, | rarely found the latter
down at sea level. | had to climb a bit before
finding it, and usually discovered that it had
found itself a little shade in which it thrived.

Another species which can happily desiccate for
the summer is Selaginella denticulata. \t was
everywhere, scrambling over rocks and soil,
usually with a little protection from direct sun,
but green, lush and sporulating where shaded,
pink-red and drying out where not. The fourth
common species definitely cannot tolerate spo-
rophyte desiccation, but it has an alternative
strategy (see page 242). It is the annual fern
Anogramma leptophylla. | rapidly developed an
instinct for where it should be found, and |
reckon it was just about everywhere, as long as it had a pocket of soil (either an earthy
bank or a crack in a cool rock face) and shade. There was always a little shade, or it
grew where didn't catch the mid-day sun. It grew upright, each stipe arching out and up,
to hold the fronds away from the rock, and the upper frond surface towards the light and
the viewer-photographer. It was at its best on the walls and banks supporting the
semi-circular terraces which each support a single olive tree on the steeper slopes, for
example in the valley between Kroustas and Kritsa. Here it can be found associated with
A. ceterach and C. maderense which are also at their most vigorous

Two other species, both to be expected, turned up. | found a couple of plants of
Polypodium australe as | hauled up the lower slopes of the Thripti mountains from
Kavoussi - perhaps the best walk | have ever done in my life! At the west end of the
island it is quite common, but here?....| hunted diligently. Occasionally | encountered the
blue-grey, fuzzy fronds of Cosentinia (Notholaena) vellaea, hairy above and _ hairy
beneath to protect it from desiccation. | found this plant sporadically occupying the most
exposed rock faces at low altitudes where heat and drought must give it a rare run for its
money.

One further pteridophyte took my attention, just before | caught the bus on which | just
happened to bump into sometime BPS committee man, Patrick Acock's son! [As | tried to
hold a surprised conversation with him | was under constant interrogation about Cretan
ferns by a wild flower twitcher who had spotted my BPS tee-shirt ]. Between the road and

264 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

the sea at Pachia Ammos there were acres of Equisetum ramosissimum, very erect with
cones all over.

lf you care to visit Crete, get there in early April and risk the changeability of the wather.
There is a series of excellent books from a pubisher called Sunflower which provide
walking itineraries for many places, especially in the Med. There are two for Crete which
may be bought here or there: Landscapes of Eastern Crete and Landscapes of Western
Crete by Jonny Godfrey and Elizabeth Karslake. They present the best way of getting
into the countryside of new places and, although their instructions are rarely perfect, they
do take you to the best places, eg. the walk up from Kavoussi (#8) which, now I've done
the whole 11-15 mile trudge, | would recommend simply up and back again through the
most fabulous mountain botany. | have nowhere near done Crete, and will return as soon
as | can, but there's plenty out there for you too. | will happily offer a few hints if you ask.

A CORNISH TIN MINE AND ITS FERNS
ROSE MURPHY, Shang-ri-la, Reskadinnick, Cambourne, Cornwall, TR14 OBH.

Phoenix United Mine stands below the Cheesewring on the eastern side of Bodmin
Moor. Formerly a copper mine, its ruins are now surrounded by poor quality,
sheep-grazed grassland and an expanse of mine waste. Streams in the area contain
high levels of copper that impart a characteristic blue colour to any algae growing in
them. Copper tolerant mosses and liverworts grow nearby.

Ferns were not expected to be abundant in such a place, and at first sight the most
frequent is Pteridium aquilinum, pushing its way through brambles and gorse, forming
widespread stands in invading willow scrub and grassland. Around the ruins, in the
shelter of the old walls, are extensive growths of Cotoneaster integrifolius. This
small-leaved cotoneaster, a wide-spread garden escape, provides a home for Athyrium
filix-femina and Dryopteris affinis morphotype borreri. Within the partly restored engine
house and around the apparently filled-in mine shaft are huge fronds of D. filix-mas.

Asplenium trichomanes ssp. quadrivalens is the other common fern. It grows on every
ruined mortar wall save one. On this one, and this one alone, A. ruta-muraria grows in
abundance. The stones here are narrower, the proportion of cement greater and,
wherever cracks have appeared, the wall rue has been able to send its roots back
through the surface Portland cement into the old lime mortar. The A. trichomanes, on the
other hand, seems able to get a purchase only where the Portland cement has broken
away exposing the underlying mortar with its constituent clinker and fuel ash.

Portland cement weathers to produce not only calcium carbonate, but also a proportion
of calcium aluminate and silicate. It is extremely alkaline to begin with (pH 12.5) but, as It
carbonates, the pH comes down to 8. Lime mortar weathers to calcium carbonate only,
Presumably not so alkaline. Is wall rue more tolerant of high pH, or more tolerant of
aluminates and silicates? Its spores must settle and germinate on Portland cement
before root growth exploring the preferred old mortar takes place. | do not know the
answer, but it will be fascinating to find out. Certainly, at least here, wall rue does not
compete with the maidenhair spleenwort, and the other fern which might have been
expected, namely A. ceterach, could not be found, even though it grows on walls at a
nearby farm

Other ferns found here are A. scolopendrium, Polypodium interjectum, P. vulgare and A.
adiantum-nigrum, but not in such great numbers, and only one plant of the black
Spleenwort was seen. The commonest shield fern in Cornwall is Polystichum setiferum.
Any records for P. aculeatum are to be treated with caution. There are just three

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 265

authenticated specimens, these dating from the 1860s and 1870s. Two of them are in the
herbarium of the Natural History Museum. All are from the very south-east corner of the
county where base-rich rock outcrops occur. Searching through the herbarium, with the
kind help of Josephine Camus and Alison Paul, | came across one of the P. aculeatum
“look-alikes” - | can think of no better term to describe them. Against this specimen the
late Anne Sleep had written: “I think this is P. setiferum. At Phoenix mine, quite
unexpectedly, a member of the BPS, Mary Atkinson, came across genuine P. aculeatum
growing with lady fern and maidenhair speenwort in hollows at the base of a mortared
wall. There are only six mature plants and eleven younger ones at various stages of
development. How did this fern, so rare in Cornwall, get there? Was it formerly more
widespread?

Phoenix mine has proved to be a fascinating place, and my final fern note again
concerns A. trichomanes ssp. quadrivalens: four plants growing on elder, rooted into the
moss that so abundantly covers the bark. Other shrubs and trees (willow and ash) grow
amongst the ruins, even another elder, but only this one supports maidenhair spleenwort.
A block of granite is trapped between two of the branches, but there is no trace of mortar
around it. Has the fern spread from nearby walls? The bark of elder is rich in nutrients
and its pH approaches neutral, so it is possible. Epiphytic ferns in Britain have received
scant attention, so | intend to address this topic in a future article in Pteridologist. | would
be pleased to hear from any readers who have observations on this topic to add to mine.

CONSERVATION IN ACTION
JACK BOUCKLEY, 209 Woodfield Road, Harrogate, N. Yorks. HG1 4JE.

About half a mile from where | live is a lovely ferny wooded area along the banks of the
river Nidd and a couple of its tributaries. This beauty spot is called Bilton Gorge, situated
to the north of Harrogate starting at OS ref. 44 304 583 and going downstream about two
miles. The Woodland Trust have owned the first mile for a few years, BUT then the lower
mile came up for sale and all sorts of businesses began to take an interest. They could
build. They could make pleasure areas, and maybe the odd amusement arcade or two,
all of which could ruin this almost untouched, natural area.

For quite a long time the Bilton Conservation Group have worked with the Woodland
Trust, maintaining footpaths, planting trees and generally keeping an eye on wildlife in
the gorge. If the remaining part were to get into the hands of the developers, much of this
work would be in vain.

The Woodland Trust was as worried as the locals, but how could the asking price of
£100,000 be raised in just a few months? No-one had this sort of money spare, so it
would have to be raised by and from people who were concerned about the future of the
gorge. Fortunately the Woodland Trust would be able to buy it if a large sum could be
raised locally.

Two members of the Bilton Conservation Group took on the task of fund raisers. They
arranged sponsored walks, open gardens and a host of other events as well as
persuading local businesses and individuals to pledge cash. It seemed impossible, but
when it looked as though the bottom of the barrel had been scratched and that the sum
required could not be found, a large sum was given to the Trust by a concern who had
been amazed by the efforts of the locals.

The asking price was now available, but that was not the end of it. The vendor now
wanted 20% more, another £20,000! Where it came from | do not know, but | do know
that the Woodland Trust eventually settled on £1 17,500 plus legal fees.

266 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

So, thanks to conservation-minded local people this lovely wooded gorge with all its ferns
is safe. An interesting point is that the Woodland Trust also bought Hack Fall, a few miles
away, on a 1,000 year lease. This is another ferny place in the Harrogate area, much
loved by the late Dr WA Sledge.

You may ask why this article appears in Pteridologist. The answer is that some members
of the local BPS group* were active in the cash-raising effort, aware that conservation
cannot simply be left to other people. Actions speak louder than words. | hope that
members of the British Pteridological Society will keep this type of work going nationwide.

SHORTER NOTE

A scrape from a skimpy scollie

Two or three years ago, when visiting my daughter
in hornsea, Humberside (East Yorkshire as was) |
spotted a few Asplenium scolopendrium growing in
the mortar of a retaining wall at one side of the road.
Of course, there is nothing unusual in this. Scollies
grow well in many places, but these were very
Stunted - or skimpy - and had rooted into the
south-facing side of the wall without any shade. As |
looked closer at the plants it became apparent that
one frond - and only one - was different from all the
others. It was quite normal except that the top one
and a quarter inches on one side was beautifully
scalloped, but not crisped.

| turned this decrepit little thing over to see if it was
fertile and there, sure enough, in the scalloped part,
was one sorus, less than one sixteenth of an inch
long. | made a spore envelope out of an old receipt
and, with the aid of my pocket knife, scraped the
sorus in.

Back at home, a few days later, | sorted out the
Package contents and sowed the spores. After a
while three prothalli appeared, and from those |
managed to get one plant on which four fronds were
perfectly scalloped on both sides, but only in the top
half. The frond nearest the crown was normal.

At the time of writing (October, 1994) there are no
Sori visible, so | am just living in the hope that
eventually | will have spores and, that with careful
selection, | will Eventually get a plant with fully
scalloped edges.

| have found in the past that quite a few scollie
varieties do not come true from spore, so it is quite
important to select wisely. For example, from a
1993 sowing of A. scolopendrium ‘spiralis’ | have
just one plant which is showing the correct charac-

pct The remainder were partly marginate or
plain.

JACK BOUCKLEY

*
Notably the very modest author - ed.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 267

HAZARDS OF FERN COLLECTING IN ECUADOR
ROBERT G. STOLZE, 912 Pirate Cove Lane, Vero Beach, Florida

Having recently retired from my position as
Associate Curator, Pteridophytes, at the Field
Museum in Chicago, | had assumed that the
writing of fern articles was well behind me. |
reckoned, however, without the gentle persuasion
of James Merryweather, with whom | share the
unusual dual interest in Pteridology and Early
Music. Indeed, it is the latter which indirectly has
occasioned the present contribution to Pteridolo-
gist. During James’s visit to the Field Museum in
August of 1993, | coerced him and his bagpipes,
shawms and the bass curtal which | covet, into
joining me and a member of my Ars Subtilior
ensemble in the presentation of a Medieval-
Renaissance performance for the Museum's
“World Music” series. Recalling that event in a
recent letter, my friend claimed that “I owe him
one*”, and wondered if | might submit to this
journal a piece describing some of my fern
collecting experiences in the Neotropics. / am
appy to oblige with some reminiscences of my
final field trip: searching for Diplazium in Ecuador.

Bob Stolze with symphonie

Pursuant to my studies of the genus Diplazium for the Flora of Ecuador, | conducted two
months of field work in this fascinating country, from mid-January to mid-March, 1992.
There are few regions on earth where fern speciation is so rich as in Andean South
America, therefore | was reluctant to complete this part of the Flora without one last
exhaustive search for the genus | was studying. Before my research had begun,
estimates of its species in Ecuador ranged from 40 to 60. When my trip in 1992 had
ended, | had visited all but three of the 20 provinces and had searched for Diplazium in
13 of them. Among the hundreds of collections made, two species and one variety turned
up which are new to science. Thus, of a total of 300 species of Diplazium in the world, 55
now are known to occur in the country of Ecuador (roughly the size of Great Britain).

Diplazium, \ikely a stranger to fern fanciers of temperate zones, is found in tropical
regions of both hemispheres. It is rather closely related to Athyrium and Asplenium - in
fact until recently a few species of both had been mistakenly included within it. Its indusia,
like those of Asplenium, are long and narrow and affixed to the vein. However, in most
species the indusia are doubled - that is to say, opposed, or back-to-back on the same
vein. Also, like Asplenium, the fronds of some species bear a proliferous bud or two near
their tips which, if making contact with the forest floor, can propagate vegetatively. Unlike
Asplenium, the leaves of Diplazium are often much larger and thicker in texture.
Moreover, some species resemble tree ferns, for their trunk-like rhizomes can be 2
inches thick, erect, and grow to a height of three feet. Fronds of these species are often
three- to four-pinnate and over 10 feet long. The size of the plants, obviously, presents
special problems to the collector who is attempting to convert them into herbarium
specimens. In order to preserve all the characters necessary for proper classification
these monster leaves must somehow be cut to fit a standard herbarium sheet. This was

: To tell the truth, it is | who am in debt for a splendid welcome from a great pteridologist and his
family when | arrived, an unknown entity, in Chi ed

268 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

where my wife and able assistant, Sue, was so invaluable in the field. While | was
lopping off the huge leaves, she systematically cut them into manageable portions: 1) a
15-inch piece of the apex; 2) a section of the leaf base, containing a portion of the
petiole; 3) a center section of the rachis containing one or two pinnae. Back in the
herbarium, this results in a 3-sheet specimen which contains all the vital diagnostic
characteristics the experts need for their studies, without trying to preserve the entire
10-foot frond. Years ago, during research on the tree fern genus Cnemidaria, | wrote
detailed instructions on the preparation of huge specimens - ferns, palms, etc. - to which
| refer the interested reader. (Professionals also take note!).

My labors were lightened immensely by
several happy circumstances. Dr. Benjamin
Ollgaard* (Aarhus University in Denmark),
an old friend and colleague, was finishing a
3-year term with his family in Quito at this
time. Benjamin, Co-ordinator for Pterido-
phyte contributions to the Flora, was also
directing a Danish program of field work and
academic studies at the Catholic University
in Quito and knew the country as well as a
native. He furnished me with access to the
excellent University herbarium, work space
and plant drying facilities, offered full logistic
Support, and acted as driver, guide and
companion. On the few occasions when
Benjamin was otherwise occupied, one of
his undergraduate fern students, Hugo Nav-
arrete, served as an alternate in all Capaci-
ties. Last, but certainly not least, was Sue’s
collaboration as field and herbarium assist- Bob & Ben and — ab
ant. Her efforts greatly shortened the hours Laphosoria quadripinnata

of separating and bagging ferns in the field, ee
of drying and cataloguing specimens back at the University, while further performing in
the function of field photographer. In all my previous collecting experiences | had never
been so well served.

vf

Fie

All major expeditions into the field began at Catholic University in the heart of magnificent
Quito, which is situated on the central spine of the Andes near the Equator. Its lofty perch
of nearly 10,000 feet quite offsets the effects of the otherwise steamy latitude and thus
rewards residents with a pleasing climate of eternal Spring. (For visitors, however, the
reverse side of this coin is a week or two of mild altitude sickness, until the lungs and
circulation adjust to the thin air). From here we launched our search for ferns along every
point of the compass. Due east we crossed over the continental divide at 14,000 feet on
Our first shakedown cruise into the countryside. No Diplazium at this altitude near
“timberline”, but on the cold and wet Paramo de Guamani were plenty of hardy Lycopods
(Benjamin's specialty) as well as some /soétes and a few hardy Grammitis and
Asplenium. | think this trip, during our first days in Ecuador, may have been planned to
test our endurance. If so, we nearly failed the examination, for our hearts, lungs and legs
were pushed to the limit at this ungodly altitude. Not only were Sue and | 20 years older
than our host, but | had only recently recovered from a bout of flu in Chicago that had me
on my back for six weeks. Consequently, it was a great relief to me when we pushed on
through the high pass and proceeded downward into the eastern provinces of Napo and
Sucumbios, towards Amazonian Brazil. Ferns and other pteridophytes are found in
Ecuador from sea-level to over 14,000 feet, but the range of Diplazium is more limited:

* Author of the beautiful Scandinavian Ferns (see Pteridologist 2, 5 1994 210-211)

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 269

100 to 11,000 feet, with the majority of species occurring between 1500 and 8000 feet, in
the deep shade of thick, wet forests. At these altitudes, the climate is not too steamy, the
lungs are happier, and Diplazium sightings the most frequent.

To the north, journeying through Esmeraldas and Carchi, our search took us near the
Colombian border, where human population thins out and the vegetation is less
harassed. Some ferns, including a few species of Diplazium, can always be found in
disturbed areas, such as along the roadside cuts. But virgin, or only partially disturbed,
forests quite understandably yield the greatest finds, so we were constantly on the
lookout for areas less frequented by Homo sapiens.

For these reasons we planned our most ambitious trips to the south of the country, down
toward the Peruvian border. Here, in the sparsely settled provinces of Zamora-Chinchipe
and Morona-Santiago, species diversity was most pronounced. It is not surprising, then,
that | was most excited during these forays. Shouts of “another Diplazium" rang out
repeatedly and, in patches of virgin forest, at low to mid-elevation sites, we located the
two new species, one in each of the provinces.

in the Pacific lowlands to the west of Quito the population density explodes, but along the
west-facing, mid-elevation slopes can still be found some good pockets of forest. The
trick is to locate areas where the topography is strongly broken. Obviously, crops and
cattle are not very happy clinging to the steepest inclines, so the eyes of the plant
collector are constantly peeled for sites which are least hospitable to Man. With diligence,
luck, and persistent questioning by excellent guides, the pteridologist can succeed here
in the quest for valuable specimens.

Why is there such rich speciation of ferns
in Ecuador? The most obvious reason is
of course the climate. They do not have
to endure the winters of Britain or temper-
ate America. If they needn't cringe from
the snow and cold several months a
year, they can thrive in continual comfort.
No matter what habitats are best for
ferns, they can be found in Ecuador:
densely forested, steamy lowlands for
those which prefer it warm, dark and wet;
broken topography at mid-elevations for
those which need a little more light;
pockets of continually wet cloud forests
at higher elevations; steep wooded
slopes for those which need to reach out
horizontally for even more sun, misty
ravines and edges of waterfalls for those
preferring perpetual mist; moss-covered
tree branches for the species which are
happier perching above the ground (epi-
phytes).
Needless to say, the favorite haunts of
many Diplazium species are not readily
accessible. Patches of wet virgin forest
Hee lg oe do not cluster along the main highways,
Diplazium immensum spec. Nov. inviting the eager pteridologist to hop out
...and the guy holding it is also immense!) of a car, scoop up a half-dozen likely

~_~

270 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

specimens and proceed leisurely to the next site. Principal roadsides throughout tropical
America have been denuded of good forest long ago, so botanists must search out the
rutted side roads which afford access to the back country. Our solution to this stumbling
block was at hand in the person of Benjamin Ollgaard, with the powerful vehicles
provided by his DANIDA program at Catholic University. Benjamin’s favorite was the big
Toyota, an army tank masquerading in the guise of an oversized station wagon. Its
rugged construction afforded superb road clearance while the 4-wheel drive pulled us
through deep ruts, forded mountain streams, and ploughed through seas of mud which
reached to the axles. Passenger space comfortably seated four and the cargo space
carried gear enough to outfit us for weeks of collecting and travelling, if need be.

Having the services of an M1 Tank to carry us into the back country was but part of the
solution, for lacking a good driver and guide to navigate the nearly impassable trails, the
Toyota may as well have rested in the University parking lot. Benjamin is not only one of
the finest drivers with whom | have travelled, but he can smell out ferns and virgin forest
like a Retriever. Moreover, his fluent Spanish and engaging personality served
continually to solicit directions and obtain permission to enter private land in our quest for
ferns. Consequently, once in a likely area, it didn’t take him long to ferret out the quickest
approaches to collecting sites.

Benjamin’s detective work occasionally brought us to patches of roadside forest so rich
in species that we were relatively successful in making good collections within a few
yards of the road. In these situations Sue and | could have been in our nineties, picking
up specimens from our wheel chairs - it was that easy. Along certain mountain trails it
was not uncommon to spot a Diplazium from the rolling Toyota, to be popped in our bags
without further ado. The more common scenario, however, was to hack our way with
machetes into the dense montane and rain forests, an alternative which was exhausting
and time-consuming. To overcome these obstacles we generally searched for a narrow
logging trail, stream, or ravine, which cut down the mountain slopes, permitting much
easier access through the hellish tangle of vines and thick undergrowth. Many ferns grew
in luxuriant abundance along stream or ravine banks, or at least could be spotted within
a few machete hacks of our vantage point.

Nevertheless, it was often frustrating for a couple of sexagenarians in dubious physical
Condition to keep pace with “Benjamin the Bull” and “Hugo the Mountain Goat” as our
troupe advanced through the jungle. Benjamin, of the perpetual sunny smile and
blond-bearded face, with rippling muscles, cord-like legs and broad shoulders, used his
machete only when he had to. Most frequently, he simply ploughed through the tangle
like a bull in a china shop, ripping through vines, bowling over saplings and other lower
vegetation, while each fern in the vicinity cowered in apprehension at his approach. We
always knew where he was - we could hear him a quarter-mile away. Hugo, with dark
and Sparkling eyes set in a handsome face, was small, lithe, wiry and indefatigable. On
Our first trip together he eared from me the title of cabra del monte, as | watched him
bounce from rock to rock down the tumbling cascades, scramble up steep slopes as if
they were mole hills, and buzz-saw his way through the underbrush, machete flashing
tirelessly. Pity, then, the two ancient Chicagoans as they attempted gamely to keep up
with this Dynamic Duo through the backwoods of Ecuador. More’s the surprise that they
not only survived, but came away from each trip with Diplazium bulging from plant
presses as well.

ee of the river’). Streams often intersected well-worn country paths, at which spo .
Ocals had erected bridges of various description. Across broad waterways we foun

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 271

suspension bridges supported by thick ropes, with rough wooden planks serving as a
floor. Larger streams were crossed by means of logs anchored to pilings in the center of
the current, usually with a single or double handrail to steady the walker. Smaller streams
were spanned simply by two or three parallel logs wedged into the mud at either bank.
Now, in Chicago, all public bridges, elevators (lifts) and the like were provided with
conspicuous legends which announced the date of the most recent city examination,
along with appropriate inspection dates. Therefore we happy citizens used these
structures and conveyances secure in the knowledge that a competent and licensed
individual has guaranteed our safe journey. This is not exactly the case in the forests of
Ecuador, where discretion is always the better part of valor. One always should assume
that the planks and ropes were installed 30 years previously, and that the only time either
are replaced are when they have broken through. Consequently, we approached each
crossing with timidity.

Imagine, if you will, a raging torrent 100 feet wide, over which a suspension bridge has
been thrown, and you have to cross it with camera, machete, water jug and collecting
bags filled with ferns. The stanchions are perhaps eight feet tall at each bank, allowing for
just enough sag at the center of the bridge to prevent the floor from dragging in the
current. There are no step ladders to get you to the bridge deck. Instead, there is a length
of bamboo trunk about seven inches in diameter, with broad notches cut in the
internodes to serve as footholds, which you scale with some trepidation. Next, with gear
held in one hand, or otherwise slung over the shoulder, you grab a suspension rope with
the other and begin shuffling along the bridge floor, bearing in mind that the wooden slats
might have been laid the year you graduated from primary school. Cleverly, you plant
each foot where a latitudinal slat intersects with a longitudinal runner, hoping that if one
board breaks, the other may hold until you have successfully planted the other foot.
Meanwhile, the bridge bounces and sways with your weight as you progress down the
slope towards the center of the river. Upon reaching this point (especially if you weigh 15
stone as | do) the bridge floor has bent uncomfortably near the rushing water, prompting
you to move faster, even at the risk of ignoring where you place your next step.

One day, our whole company
having safely crossed and re-
crossed the Rio Dashifo, | was
sorely tempted to affix a placard
to a bridge stanchion, in Spanish:
“Bob Stolze (210 Ibs.) safely
crossed here with a bag of ferns,
15 Feb. 1992”. Perhaps some
little old lady, some months later,
would take comfort in the knowl-
edge that if the big American had
tested it out, she and her little bag
of firewood might make it to the ”

other side. However, | had neither Sue & Bob with natural Gunnerumbrella
placard nor nail at my disposable.

Furthermore, my being so hot and
tired at that juncture quite overrode my Samaritan intentions, but | suppose to this day the
bridge still sways in place.

Unfortunately, there was one bridge not left in place after our crossing, much to —
chagrin. The Stolzes, with Hugo as guide, were following a footpath in western Pichinc “
Province some miles north of the village of Puerto Quito. Between us and a likely patc
of forest was a small stream, over which three 8-inch logs had been placed by the locals.

272 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

First to test the “bridge” and cross it was the redoubtable Hugo, who cautioned us to
shuffle over it sideways, so as to distribute the weight on two of the logs, not just one.
The second to execute safe passage was the heavy member of the party, and now it
was assumed perfectly safe for Sue. However, this lady developed a balance problem
and shortly into her crossing began to sway precariously on the bridge, whereupon she
cried out, “I just can’t do it this way” and proceeded gingerly to walk the logs in a more
normal manner. All went well until she neared the bank, when, with a crack and a squeal,
lady and log were deposited unceremoniously into the water. Luckily, the water was
about 5 feet deep, with no bone-breaking boulders in its bed, and Sue is an excellent
swimmer so the only things lost were her pride and dignity and her cap which floated
merrily downstream. To add insult to injury, on the return trip Hugo found another route
back to our vehicle which circumvented the stream. Had we known this at the outset the
incident could have been avoided (but then Sue would not have the fascinating tale to
relate).

There were more river crossings | could describe, such as being ferried one at a time
across a large and distressingly turbulent river in a dugout canoe captained by a 14-year
old boy; and other escapades involving hazardous drives along roads that swam in mud
or skirted the edge of a precipice; and of truly Spartan accommodations in remote
villages. Suffice it to say that some botanising in the Andes requires a stiff upper lip
and/or a devil-may-care attitude; but it gets the job done and puts valuable specimens in
our herbaria. Moreover, the collecting opportunities are superb in the Andes, and there is
a need to gather its scientific wealth while the plants still exist. Interestingly enough, the
job can be shared by well-informed and dedicated amateurs, as well as professionals. |
know a retired couple who have made excellent collections in areas as disjunct as West
Africa and Ecuador, which are now deposited in the herbaria of The Field Museum and
the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Perhaps they did not break log bridges or cross rivers in
dugout canoes, but their contributions have added greatly to taxonomic botany.

In Ecuador, there still remain areas which are relatively approachable and rich in ferns.
Given the rapid destruction of good habitats (now rampant everywhere in the world) and
the latent volatility of political conditions in South America, how long the conditions will
last is of course open to question. But
at the present writing, this small country
is ideal for the study and collection of

REFERENCES o
Stolze & Pacheco: Diplazium in Polypodiaceae-Dryop- .
teridoideae-Pysematieae, Flora of Ecuador, in Harling & a | ‘
Andersson (eds.) 49: 4:88. 1994. *:

Stolze: Inadequacies in herbarium specimens of large
ferns, Amer. Fern J. 63: 25-27. 1973.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 273

THE FERN SUPPLIERS
Last year's Pteridologist featured two British
growers but there has been no further response
from this country - maybe next year please?
Meanwhile, here's a welcome contribution
rom some trans-pond friends.

FOLIAGE GARDENS

SUE and HARRY OLSEN, Foliage
Gardens, 2003 128th Ave.
Bellevue, WA 98005 USA

When your editor requested biogra-
phies of nurseries | smiled, thinking
of how often these things happen
more by accident than by design. In
the mid 60’s | was completely smit-
ten by a planting of Dryopteris eryth-
rosora in the Seattle garden of the
late Carl English who was then
curator of plants at the Ballard Locks
gardens. | could not find Dryopteris
erythrosora anywhere so | chose to
try to grow my own. | had been
propagating rhododendrons for many
years but this was the first attempt at
ferns from spores. | knew nothing
about their propagation but armed
with a fluorescent light and a small
basement table, | suddenly found
myself with 300 baby D. eryth-

rhododendrons! (Actually they be- ;
came companion plants!) Member- _ Harry and Sue Olsen at day's end, University of
ship in the American Fern Society Washington Arboretum plant sale, Seattle.
followed shortly thereafter (BPS [Does it always rain on American Pteridologists?]
membership would come...it was just

a matter of time) and one fern led to

another. The late Neill Hall who was then Curator of the Spore Exchange for the AFS
was most enthusiastic with his encouragement and it wasn’t long before | was part of a
small but active fern study group in the Seattle area. (Several members of this group
years later became the nucleus of the group which founded The Hardy Fern Foundation).
ocal charitable plant sales, but it soon
lish a business and thus was born
Present and Future

At first the surplus ferns were given to assorted |
became obvious that the time had come to estab
Foliage Gardens. As John Mickel notes in Fern Horticulture: Past,
Perspectives (page 260):

: ; i imi Imo

‘Even until 1970, though, the selection of available fern species was limited ai

to a smattering of native American species plus a few English crested ferns and two specie

st entirely

274 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

from Japan, Athyrium nipponicum cv. ‘Pictum’ and Dryopteris erythrosora. A major impetus
for public interest in fern cultivation was the establishment of two nurseries in the Seattle
area. Sue Olsen was the first to break the impasse in 1970 with her mail-order nursery
Foliage Gardens”.

And so it was that | was swept up and launched on what has been an exciting search for
new predominantly hardy species that | could add to our North American gardens.

There was very little current literature available until the publishing of the late Reg Kaye's
classic book Hardy Ferns which arrived in American bookstores in the early ‘70’s. At last
we had a resource and a chance to really learn. A real boost to my motivation to learn
came with an invitation to lecture at the 1972 annual meeting of The American
Horticultural Society and with Reg’s help | had a good idea of what would be hardy,
ornamental and practical in the fern garden. As Foliage Gardens was expanding
exponentially by then this was also helpful for developing the mail order aspect of the
nursery (| would say “division” but this was a one person operation).

About this time the Northwest Horticultural Society decided to promote the use of ferns
via an annual plant sale which | chaired and continue to chair today. That has
subsequently expanded to a Fern Festival with displays, speakers and garden tours. Our
speakers have included BPS members Chris Page, Reg Kaye, Barbara Hoshizaki, John
Mickel, and Carl Taylor among others. | have also been very active with The Hardy Fern
Foundation which was founded in 1989 to test ferns throughout the United States for
hardiness and ornamental value and to promote and distribute them for public and
private gardens.

In 1990 the nursery took on a new dimension when my husband Harry retired from his
position at the Boeing Company (and started working for me at a nickle an hour). He had
enjoyed a love for Japanese maple cultivars for many years without the time to indulge
his enthusiasm. Once he became involved with building a collection and propagating, it
wasn't long before we wondered how he ever had time to go to an office! So in 1992
Foliage Gardens added maples to our offerings...now customers can buy shade along
with their ferns. All this is taking place on an almost one half acre lot which the nursery
Shares with our house and garden. We are crowded!

We have been on many marvelous trips some of which were specifically programmed
around ferns i.e. China, Oaxaca, and the outstanding BPS Centenary. We’ve been
introduced not only to exotic ferns (many of which are now in the nursery catalog), but to
some wonderful people. Over the years Foliage Gardens has introduced well over 100
types of ferns from all over the world to North American gardens and produced a video:
Foliage Gardens Presents a Short Course on Ferns. All of this is the result of that original
quest for plants of Dryopteris erythrosora \t has been very rewarding and we |l00

forward to many more years in the delightful world of plants and plant people.

FOLIAGE GARDENS

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 275

THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE
NEDERLANDESE VARENVERENIGING (DUTCH FERN SOCIETY)
MARTIN RICKARD, Kyre Park, Tenbury Wells, Worcs., WR15 8RP

Just before 9am on Friday, 2nd September 1994, my wife and | arrived at Alphen an der
Rijn in central Holland. We were outside the nurseries of Hans Lemkes, soon to be
joined by Helmuth Schmick (from Glinde in Germany), Jan Greep (secretary of the
Nederlandese Varenvereniging) and Pieter Hovenkamp (of Leiden University, our
interpreter). After a very welcome cup of tea in the nursery foyer our group was shown
through greenhouse after greenhouse of small ferns in plugs. Lemkes seems to be the
largest producer of ferns in the world, with about 120 different hardy taxa available.

Conditions for fern production have been optimised so that from sowing to saleable plug
only takes 6 months or so and, since the principal season for hardy fern sales in this
formis spring, the season is geared for sowing in September for sale in May/June. At the
time of our visit the nursery
season was directed towards an
alternative crop - about 50 differ-
ent kinds of tender fern. Most
noticeable were the various
forms of Nephrolepis, Adiantum,
Pellaea and Pteris, but | was

lia fijensis, Humata tyermanii and
Platycerium alcicorne.

My interest is primarily hardy
ferns, but | was not disappointed
as the nursery does hold a good
for

Fig. 1 - Part of the hardy fern collection at Leiden

inspected closely with much dis- Botanic Gardens.

cussion of naming technicalities.

This collection covered a greater range than their commercial nursery list, reflecting the
difficulties of mass producing certain taxa. For example, Asplenium septentrionale and
Polypodium vulgare agg. ‘Cornubiense’ were pleasant surprises here.

All too soon we had to move on. Our next visit was near Aalsmeer at the nursery of wim
Braam. We arrived just before lunchtime, yet our host made us most welcome, showing
us acres of fern prothalli all looking remarkably healthy. As at Lemkes, the plants in
production at the time were all tender species, but there were a few hardy ferns in one
corner. Unfortunately the hardy fern mother plants were not kept at the nursery, but the
stock plants of the tender species were on site. They made a truly magnificent sight,
greatly enhanced by numerous plants of a tree-fern, probably Cyathea cooper. Sadly
Wim only grows tree ferns for pleasure and does not envisage mass production. Tender
fern production here is probably similar to the Lemkes output, but Braams produce a
more restricted range of hardy ferns - some 40 of the more popular taxa at the asta
However, the full colour nursery catalogue produced by Wim Braam is the best I've ever
seen, and of more use than some published books!

After such a fascinating morning, it was a real pleasure to mull over our auacecamague
a late lunch in excellent company at a nearby restaurant which overlooked a huge
freshwater lake.

There was no time to linger. After lunch we rushed off to the Royal Eveleens nursery
near the famous auction rooms at Aalsmeer. Production here was mainly aimed at tender

276 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

ferns, but it was most interesting to learn about some of the problems of mass fern
production. By this time my wife and | were beginning to wilt, but a refreshing cup of tea
in the Royal Eveleens board room came to the rescue. While we were relaxing, the
‘phone rang. It was Bert Hennip-
man suggesting we drive over to
yet another nursery and meet
him there.

We shot off, passing through
some very attractive residential
areas where, incredibly, virtually
every garden included some
ferns, usually Matteuccia struthi-
opteris. Our target was Wim
Tasse’s nursery where, in col-

Fig. 2 - Nederlandse Varenvereniging plant ex- most notably eon _—

change. [Helmut Schmick: third from left - Johan dopoda. We were show gnc

Eek: sixth from left - Jan Greep: far right, back- by Bert and Wim Tasse, ;

ground]. was against us and we only saw
a fraction of the whole nursery.

We had to rush off for our overnight stop with Bert at Bilthoven. | was not surprised, sis
very pleased to see a wonderful fern collection in his garden. A delicious dinner an
pleasant evening with Bert’s family set us up for another big day.

We had to be in Leiden for the anniversary meeting organised by the digits! ov
Varenvereniging. At 10am the meeting started with a chat over coffee. With most of the
nurserymen we had met the
previous day present it was like
meeting old friends again. At
10.30 we settled down for intro-
ductory comments by the Varen-
vereniging president, Johan Eek,
before Helmuth Schmick gave
the first paper - “Ferns and their
application”. Although given in
German, and translated on the
Spot into Dutch by Pieter Hov-
enkamp, neither my wife nor |
understood much of the spoken
word. But ferns is an_ interna-
tional language and, because
Helmuth’s talk was illustrated b -
many excellent slides taken in Fig. 3 - Hazel Rickard and Harry a
his garden, we still enjoyed it ing the hardy fern collection of 1594: is fragilis
immensely. filix-mas, Polypodium vulgare, Cystopter

and Asplenium scolopendrium.

Next on the agenda was the
opening of the fern exhibition in ss ellent
the orangery of the Leiden Botanical Gardens. To accompany this it cea avin first
book, Varen, Varen, Varen (Ferns, Ferns, Ferns) was launched. | believe this

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 277

book on ferns produced in Holland in recent times. After several short speeches we had
time to enjoy the exhibits before strolling back through the gardens to admire the recently
planted hardy fern borders. Ferns were donated from many sources, but notably by Wim
Braam and Harry Roskam, who will be known to many BPS members from his
attendance at our 1991 centenary celebrations. This collection has to be one of the best
I've seen in any public garden. The sheer quantity of ferns was almost overwhelming
(Fig. 1). Common cultivars and species were represented by drifts of many plants, but
some rare taxa were also on view, most notably several good Polypodium cultivars and
an odd Gymnocarpium. |t was found in the wild in France by Harry, and could be a
hybrid between G. dyopteris and G. robertianum.

Over a buffet lunch, provided in the Botanic Garden, there was a chance to buy the book
Varen, Varen, Varen and a pair of beautiful colour posters, one showing a typical fern life
cycle using Polypodium vulgare as an example and the other illustrating the various
technical terms used by pteridologists. At this stage there was also a plant exchange
where members bring along
spare plants and everyone just
seems to help themselves. Sev-
eral members had obviously
brought plants along but one,
the president Johan Eek, had
some real treasures on Offer,
and | was very grateful to him for
some interesting plants (Fig. 2).

After lunch it was my turn to give
a talk on “Variation in Polypo-
dium”. \t was quite an experi-
ence for me to have an inter-
preter, but it seemed to work
well thanks to the skill of Pieter
Hovenkamp, and we even man-
aged a few amusing moments
thrown in. Fig. 4 - Ferns represented in Clusius's original
collection of 1594.

The next paper was given by
Ronnie Viane on “Interesting Shoe
ferns from Poros”. Unfortunately Ronnie gave this in Dutch, and since he’d given a
similar talk during the BPS excursion to Central France in 1993, Hazel and | decided to
tour the fern collections instead. Here we were very lucky, as Harry Roskam decided to
miss Ronnie’s talk to give us a guided tour of the gardens (Fig. 3). This included a look
behind the scenes at fern propagation and the reconstruction of Clusius's original
garden, including six ferns cultivated here at the end of the 16th century (Fig. 4).

Following tea there was a discussion (in Dutch) on where the Dutch fern society will go
from here. Finally it was back to the orangery for wine and cheese to finish a very
successful day.

To have been a guest of the Nederlandse Varenvereniging for these two days sept
wonderful experience. Although the schedule was complex, everything went smoot y-

i ing. The society, and Jan Greep in
particular, are to be congratulated on a very successful meeting which was ipa
well organised. | thoroughly recommend the Botanic Gardens in Leiden to any stat
travelling through Holland. Who knows, you might even be lucky enough to meet Harry
Roskam there.

278 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

THE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
Oo
SCOTLAND’S RARE FERNS

A summer meeting of the Society was organised under this title by Stuart
Lindsay, Adrian Dyer, Heather McHaffie and Chris Page. It was based at the
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and lasted four days from Thursday
July 28 to Sunday July 31, 1994. The first two days consisted of lectures, guided
tours and demonstrations at RBGE and the second two days were occupied by a
field trip with an overnight stop near Aviemore. An outline account by Margaret
Nimmo-Smithof the programme at the Botanic Gardens and a record of the field
trip written by Peter Edwards was published in the Bulletin, Vol. 4 (No. 5) pages
200-208. Here we are presenting edited highlights of each paper given at RBGE.

Adrian Dyer and Stuart Lindsay

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Dr. David Mann, Deputy Director, RBGE.

Welcome to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and its 70 acres of garden and
glasshouse. As an algologist, my links with pteridology have been limited. The two main
ones are an undergraduate Honours project on the pteridophyte flora of part of the
Brecon Beacons, and, perhaps as a consequence of the experience gained during that
project, my discovery about ten years ago of a new site for Woodsia ilvensis in the
Cairngorms while leading a student field trip. This discovery demonstrates that it is still
possible to find new localities for one of the most sought after and rare British ferns. The
take-home message from this must be that even though the British fern flora is one of the
best known in the world, there is much still to be done to fully document what grows
pe let alone to learn the factors that determine that distribution. How is this work to be
one?

With the Director, Professor David Ingram, | have to decide how our funds are to be spent
on research at the RBGE. These funds are declining and, increasingly, their use is
restricted by attached conditions. It is therefore essential that we have good information
on scientific needs and priorities so that decisions can be made wisely and not arbitrarily.
This points to a role for societies like the BPS (British Phycological Society as well as
British Pteridological Society!). They must be pressure groups and sources of information
for their subject areas, providing informed opinion to botanical institutes and to the
paymasters of research and conservation activity. These paymasters are civil servants
but behind them are politicians and behind them are the public. We need to convince all
of them that there is worthwhile, relevant, achievable work to be done and then we must
make sure that we are equipped to do the work well and deliver the results in the form
required. The BPS must try to co-ordinate this activity and seek every opportunity to get
the right message across to those who form opinion and make decisions at local, national
and international levels. This meeting is one such opportunity, a forum for exchange of
information, discussion of new initiatives and promotion of co-operation and integration.

PTERIDOLOGY AT RBGE - THE PAST
Dr. Chris Page, RBGE.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has played a central role in the history of
Pteridology in Scotland. Scotland has a relatively rich fern flora and Edinburgh provides a
good centre with access to a variety of fern-rich habitats. This was first appreciated during
the Victorian “fern craze” of the 1850’s onwards when the newly built railways provided

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 279

many more people with the opportunity to travel to and within Scotland on fern
excursions. At that time, pteridologists did not merely survey the flora but also collected it.
As a consequence, the RBGE has an excellent herbarium collection but unfortunately
many of the more local populations, like the Woodsia ilvensis colonies in the Moffat Hills,
were largely eliminated. The interest also resulted in the propagation and cultivation of
hardy and tropical fern species from all over the world for public display at the RBGE and
other Botanic Gardens. An impressive example of a “fernery”, the Kibble Place, survives
at Glasgow Botanic Garden. For some pteridologists, the fern craze involved a passionate
interest in unusual variants found in the wild and then propagated and further selected as
horticultural varieties. A surprising amount of spectacular variation was found in a very
short time and many gardens, including the RBGE, maintained a collection of these
varieties but most have since been lost.

In parallel with the interest in fern growing, there developed a curiosity about the scientific
aspects of pteridology. This grew, as did the RBGE itself, out of the interest in the
medicinal use of plants. In the late 1700’s, John Lindsay was a medical student studying
under Dr. John Hope, Professor of Botany and Materia Medica in the University of
Edinburgh, King’s Botanist in Scotland and Superintendent of the Royal Garden. Lindsay
subsequently sailed as a ship’s surgeon to Jamaica where he then lived for some years.
There he noticed that young fern plants appeared wherever earth had been exposed and
then left shaded and untouched for a few months. He investigated the cause of this by
observation and experiment. Under the microscope, he observed and recorded the
germination of the spores to form “bilobate liverwort-like scales”, (the first description of
prothalli), and later “a small membranous leaf’. He sent his account to Hope for
presentation to the Royal Society of Edinburgh but Hope’s death intervened. In 1789, Sir
Joseph Banks wrote from Kew to ask Lindsay to send live ferns from Jamaica. Lindsay
replied that he did not think that plants would survive the journey but that he could send
“seeds” (spores) and sent a copy of his notes on development from spores. These then
appeared exactly 200 years ago in the Transactions of the Linnean Society for 1794 (Vol.
2, 93-100) as the first published description of stages of the fern life cycle.

Scientific pteridology, starting as a study of the life cycle in cultivation, can thus be said to
have emanated from the University and Garden at Edinburgh. Not only does the tradition
of growing ferns from spores from all over the world continue at Edinburgh, as at Kew and
elsewhere, but so also does the link between the Royal Botanic Garden and the

PTERIDOLOGY AT RBGE - THE PRESENT AND FUTURE

Dr. Chris Page, RBGE

The RBGE is now the main focus of pteridology in Scotland and has agit
collaborative projects with conservationists, ecologists and palaeobotanists a ade
Organisations. In addition to the continuing fundamental activities of a botanic garden,
such as critical taxonomic authentication, maintenance of living and cathy
collections, and provision of expert advice on distribution and ecology, — rage - ps
four areas of more specialised activity which are likely to remain important in

as environmental awareness increases.

280 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

1 Studies of indigenous Scottish pteridophytes.

The British fern flora with about 100 taxa is depauperate (compared with Japan, which is
similar in area, latitude and isolation but has about 2000 species) as a result largely of
the effects of Pleistocene glaciation. However, there are compensations. The British
pteridophyte flora is actively re-creating diversity to fill the empty “evolutionary canvas” of
the wide range of habitats to be found, especially in Scotland. The high hybrid:species
ratio in several genera is a reflection of this activity. Hybridisation is an important step in
pteridophyte speciation and the relatively small flora of Scotland provides an opportunity
to study more easily the formation and ecology of hybrids, and thus learn about the
evolutionary process. The Scottish climate is relatively severe but this has the advantage
of producing a wide range of habitats from alpine to atlantic maritime. Studies are
continuing on Equisetum hybrids, Diphasiastrum alpinum and its putative hybrids, the
Cystopteris fragilis/dickieana complex, and the neglected and taxonomically unclear
alpine Athyrium species, amongst others.

2 Studies of pteridophytes from within or outside Scotland for which Edinburgh
provides the necessary expertise.

Bracken: Recent research has revealed bracken in Britain to be more diverse than
previously appreciated. The specific and infra-specific taxonomy and evolution of British
bracken, including the distinctive northern bracken of native pine forest, is being
re-assessed in the context of bracken world-wide.

Equisetum: Taking advantage of the fact that Britain has more Equisetum species than
anywhere else, the genus is being studied from a world and fossil perspective using
Scanning Electron Microscopy to reveal new micro-morphologicalcharacters.

Selaginella: \nitial observations on megaspore dispersal in Selaginella selaginoides
reveal a new mechanism that requires further examination. All four spores in each
megasporangium are propelled several feet, two by compression followed by two ejected
by a slingshot action. As this species is of the “primitive” group with isomorphic leaves,
this mechanism might be traceable back to a Carboniferous origin. It does not occur in
more recent species with heterophyllous leaves; these eject the microspores rather than
the megaspores.

Such knowledge of the bio-ecology of living pteridophyte species can thus help to make
inferences about the environment of fossil species, especially in Tertiary times when
ferns were widespread.

3 Provision of an information source on Scottish pteridophyte conservation.

RBGE is increasingly active as an information resource for specific pteridophyte
conservation issues within Scotland. Expert advice is available on several aspects
including the great changes in pteridophyte diversity which have resulted from changes
in land use by both agriculture and forestry. One fern, bracken, has itself destroyed
habitats for many other native species of plants and animals as its spread was promoted
by over-grazing and excessive burning.

Two approaches which have been particularly developed in Edinburgh in recent years
are likely to attain wide significance. The first concerns the appreciation of the value of
certain fern species as environmental indicators. For example, in Britain, the occurrence
of Phyllitis scolopendrium in an otherwise acidic area is likely to be due to the presence
of old mortar, and Phegopteris connectilis and Gymnocarpium dryopteris are important
as indicators of ancient woodland. Hymenophyllum and Ophioglossum are associated
with long-undisturbed habitats, while Osmunda regalis reveals the absence of grazing.
More recently, it has been shown that natural soil spore banks occur for many species,
and these have considerable conservation potential.

4 Int tional pteridophyt ation

RBGE is expanding its role in the conservation of overseas ferns, targeting in particular

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 281

endangered temperate floras and oceanic islands of high natural endemism. The new!

established Edinburgh Spore Bank provides low-temperature storage conditions to
increase the longevity of spores and provide a “gene-bank” of rare species from an
increasing list of sources. In conjunction with the Spore Bank, ex situ cultivated
populations of several rare temperate species are maintained as tion collections
in the gardens at Edinburgh, Dawyck, Benmore, Logan and in west Cornwall. In addition,
the Mauritian Rare Ferns project, funded by the Darwin Initiative, aims to train Mauritians
in fern propagation and conservation techniques in order to ensure the survival of

endangered species endemic to Mauritius.
APPROACHES TO CONSERVING RARE FERNS IN SCOTLAND
Mr. Phil Lusby, Rare Plants Project, RBGE.

Long term conservation of rare plants depends on a multi-angled approach including
education, taxonomy, population monitoring, ecological and biological research and
horticulture.

Conservation relies ultimately on the interest and support of the public, including
landowners and land users. The attention that ferns received during the Victorian
“Pteridomania” had negative as well as positive consequences. The positive
consequences included a greater understanding of propagation methods, recognition of
valuable taxonomic characters, awareness of hybridisation, and an increased
appreciation of fern beauty and diversity. Negative consequences included frenzied
collection of rare species and unusual variants. Now there is a more enlightened
attitude to collecting but there is a need once more to draw attention to the diversity of
British pteridophytes. National Botanic Gardens can provide living reference collections
which can do much to encourage appreciation and assist identification. Increased
understanding of most species is accompanied by a greater concern for their
well-being. Collections of British species are being established at the RBGE and its
specialist gardens at Benmore and Dawyck and also in Cornwall. The Scottish Rare
Plant Trail at RBGE includes most of our Scottish threatened species.

selecting plants for legal protection. The assignment of a t
reflects a close relationship to other taxa, and is not an a
significance.

In order that monitoring shall provide the information required, the aim must be a
from the outset. Monitoring ranges from checking that the species still exists at a si
a demographic study involving ecological research into recruitment, growth, repr >
tion and death of individuals. The more detailed and expensive studies give & ’
warning of subtle changes in age structure. Less detailed monitoring, cbitiert .
example, mapping plants on location photographs or accurately locating indivi
permanent quadrats or plots, is useful in detecting more obvious changes.

on habitats means that
h and reintroduction,

dmission of lesser biological

While in situ conservation is always preferable, pressure
maintenance of ex situ collections as a gene bank, and for researc

282 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

is frequently necessary. Cultivation of plants provides horticultural information which will
benefit attempts at reintroduction while spore storage provides a convenient way of
preserving a wide range of genotypes. An ex situ low-temperature spore bank for British
and world rarities has recently been set up at RBGE but more research is required into
the effects of storage conditions on spore longevity. Regeneration by controlled
disturbance of natural soil spore banks in situ offers a potential alternative to
labour-intensive translocation of ex situraised plants at sites where rare species have
been destroyed.

Discussion. For conservation legislation to work, the public and particularly the law
makers must be convinced of the credibility of the professional judgement in selecting and
defining the plants to be included. To avoid the complications created by limiting
protection to species, we need to be able to identify rarities regardless of rank and get
them scheduled. These rarities will include subspecies and varieties and even hybrids,
some of which will be incipient species, the building blocks of future evolution. Indeed, in
terms of conservation, it may be wiser to abandon ranking of taxa within a species as
there have been persuasive arguments that taxonomic varieties are more likely to be
incipient species than are subspecies. Infra-specific taxa, whatever their present rank,
should be considered for protection even when the species is common outside Britain,
provided that the British form is genetically distinct, as they frequently will be because our
geographic position results in a flora which includes several geographical elements at
their climatic margins. In Pennsylvania, USA, recommendations on conservation
regardless of taxonomic status are made on the basis of a collective judgement by a
committee of professional botanists. Anyone can petition this committee for protection for
a rarity and the committee’s decision is then embraced by the legislation. Where there is
uncertainty about the taxonomy, habitat or abundance, plants can be included for 5 years
under an informally recognised “tentatively undetermined” category pending further
research. In Britain, the Wildlife and Countryside Act is under review and attention will be
given to the question of extending coverage to subspecies. However, if protection is to be
effective, it must be possible to prove that the subspecies can be identified from all others
and so only plants which are sufficiently distinct should be scheduled.

SOIL SPORE BANKS AND CONSERVATION
Dr. Stuart Lindsay, RBGE and University of Edinburgh.

About 10% of the world’s 13,000 fern species are threatened with extinction. Wherever
possible, conservation should be attempted in situ but frequently ex situ procedures are
necessary as alternative or additional measures. Ferns can be brought into ex situ
conservation as sporophytes, gametophytes, fresh spores or as soil spore banks
(reservoirs of live spores buried in the soil). Sporophytes are easy to identify, long-lived in
Cultivation, and useful for education and display while providing a spore source, but are
bulky and vulnerable in transport, expensive to maintain in cultivation and their removal
depletes the population. Most gametophytes are difficult to find and identify and are short
lived in cultivation, although the perennial gametophytes of the filmy ferns are more easily
found and grown than are the sporophytes. Fresh spores have the advantages of being
available in large numbers and easily transported, stored and grown, and for this reason a
fern spore gene bank has now been set up at RBGE. However, the spores of many
species, especially temperate ones, are only collectable during a short season, and the
so-called “green spores”, such as those of Osmunda regalis, are short-lived under
conventional storage conditions. Because of the limitations of these sources of material,
soil spore banks have some advantages.

Soil spore banks of ferns are widespread geographically, ecologically and taxonomically
(including more than half the British flora). They invariably contain two or more species,

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 283

frequently including species not present in the immediate vicinity of the sample site, and
are found to depths of more than 1m. Most spore banks are known to be “persistent”, i.e.
last for more than one year. The maximum longevity is unknown but is suspected to be
several decades. Dry spores of certain desert species have survived for over 50 years on
herbarium sheets, refrigerated spores live longer than those at room temperature (viability
after 10 or 20 years is common), and we have discovered that spores stored wet maintain
their viability much longer than those stored dry, even at room temperature. This is even
true, at least over a more restricted time scale, of green-spored species.

These properties of persistent soil spore banks indicate potential advantages as a source
of ex situ collections. Sampling can be undertaken at any time of year, storage and
culture to obtain plants or a spore source is relatively easy (although it should not be
assumed that the native soil that supported the parent sporophytes is necessarily the
optimum medium for raising the gametophytes), there is no disturbance close to the wild
plants and it uniquely creates the possibility of retrieving genotypes lost from a dwindling
population, or even retrieving a lost population after a recent natural or man-made
catastrophe. Theoretically, it provides a means of resurrecting a species that has recently
become extinct. It also opens up new possibilities of in situ conservation. Controlled
disturbance at the site might create the micro-habitats required to stimulate “spontaneous”
regeneration from the native soil spore bank.

Application of this approach to British rarities depends on the existence of soil spore
banks in these species. Recently we have tested eight species: Asplenium septentrion-
ale, Cystopteris dickieana, Dryopteris cristata, Gymnocarpium robertianum, Osmunda
regalis, Thelypteris palustris, Woodsia alpina and W. ilvensis. Soil samples from selected
wild populations of each were brought back to the laboratory, sealed inside petri dishes
Over a layer of sand, and cultured. When gametophytes produced sporelings, they were
transferred to pots and grown on until they were mature enough to identify. (In order to
allow more rapid identification, a reference collection of British species is being grown to
provide information for the eventual construction of an identification key to juvenile
sporelings of British ferns). The rarities were then selected and maintained as
conservation collections.

Soil spore banks have so far been confirmed for at least one site for seven of the species
examined. These species are: Asplenium septentrionale (large spore bank, three Scottish
sites); Cystopteris dickieana (no spore bank of any species detected at the type locality,
perhaps due to high salt content, but similar material abundant in spore bank with other
species at nearby site); Dryopteris cristata (recently extinct in Scotland but obtained from
spore banks from East Anglia); Gymnocarpium robertianum (large spore bank found at
the only, very small, Scottish locality and from two large populations near the Lake
District); Osmunda regalis (a small spore bank detected even after two years In samples
from East Anglia even though spores are green and reputedly short-lived); Thelypteris
palustris (large spore bank in several samples from East Anglia); Woodsia alpina (plants
obtained in considerable numbers from soil samples from two Scottish populations and
these plants in turn yielded abundant spores in under a year). For one species, Woodsia
f a persistent spore bank at
any of the three sites (2 in Scotland and 1 in England) sampled. Gametophytes appear in

none have yet been
"to test for Woodsia

itions on
among the gametophytes and to investigate the effects of environmental conditions
tahlict +f cnores

sporelina
fe wre wrens ah |

One of our further aims is to extend this approach to overseas species wg oe
threatened. Our first attempt at this has involved sampling at sites for a i pages
endemics, Adiantum reniforme and Asplenium hemionitis, on Tenerite.

284 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

awaiting results for the latter, but success with the former indicates that a similar approach
should be employed with its critically endangered close relative Adiantum asarifolium, one
of the target species in the Mauritius Rare Ferns Project recently established with Darwin
Initiative funding at RBGE.

Discussion.

Despite the potential longevity of fern spores, spores from old herbarium sheets are
unlikely to be a reliable source of plants from long extinct populations of rare species
because of storage conditions, chemical treatment of herbarium specimens and
contamination by spores from other sheets.

THE POST-GLACIAL HISTORY OF SCOTLAND’S RARE FERNS
Heather McHaffie, University of Edinburgh.

About 14,000 years ago the ice, which at times during the previous Ice Age had covered
even the mountain tops of Scotland, began to retreat as the temperature rose. This
created large areas of base-rich moraine, available for colonisation by plants. Some idea
of the flora of the period can be obtained by identifying the fossil pollen and spores
deposited at that time and now retrieved from the bottom of peat bogs or old lakes. A
similar picture is obtained by recording the present flora of similar habitats in, for example,
Iceland. The pteridophytes present in this open, tree-less, landscape included Botrychium
lunaria, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Cystopteris fragilis and Selaginella selaginoides. Where
the ground-water was rich in silica, Equisetum species, such as E. variegatum, would
have flourished. A brief colder phase between 11,000 and 10,000 years ago resulted in
development of tundra in which species now recorded as arctic-alpines, including
Woodsia ilvensis and Diphasiastrum alpinum, would have been widespread.

Although there were climatic oscillations, over the next 5,000 years it became generally
warmer and drier. Trees established, initially juniper, willows and tree birches (as distinct
from the dwarf birches of the tundra). Some of the previously abundant pteridophyte
species, such as those mentioned above and Cystopteris montana, Dryopteris oreades,
and Equisetum pratense, would have become more localised, as would the snow-patch
species Athyrium distentifolium and A. flexile. These species are now all restricted to
montane areas. The lower ground would have been very wet 10,000 years ago and
Osmunda was abundant. In the widespread mineral-rich fens, Thelypteris palustris also
thrived. As the larger trees established, hazel was initially abundant because of the basic
soils. Pine appeared about 8,500 years ago and at about that time some soils began to
be more acid as a consequence of leaching, and Calluna became more common.
Bracken, perhaps including Pteridium pinetorum although this cannot be confirmed from
the fossil spores, became more common as a plant of forest clearings. Lycopodium
annotinum was very abundant 8,000 years ago, with pine and juniper; it is still found in
pinewoods, even plantations, although it has declined significantly in recent years.
Lycopodium clavatum was also present, probably in Calluna as now, but there was no
ee moorland, and heather, though increasingly common, was still limited to forest
clearings.

By 6,000 years ago, the temperature was warmer than now but the climate had once
more become wetter. As a result, large areas became acidic through leaching, and peat
formation increased in area and depth. Stumps of the early pine forests can be found
buried under many feet of peat. Base-rich habitats were restricted, as now, to the vicinity
of exposed and eroding basic rocks such as mica schist. Species we now think of as
“western”, like Hymenophyilum wilsonii, would then have been much more widespread.

It was at about this time that man also began to have some effect on the frequency and

distribution of pteridophytes. As conditions became cooler and drier, man began to clear
the forest for grazing land and for cultivation. Some pteridophytes would have benefited

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 285

from this. Where grassland developed in the ever-expanding forest clearings, new
habitats for Ophioglossum vulgatum would have resulted. Where cultivated land was
abandoned, bracken often invaded before trees could re-establish to shade the bracken
out. Other pteridophytes were adversely affected by the increase in agricultural activity.
Isoétes appears to have been temporarily eliminated from lochs where it was buried
under silt washed in from surrounding disturbed and eroding hillsides, and this still
happens.

Early cultivation was restricted to the lighter soils on high ground. By 2,500 years ago,
when the cool, wet climate was the same as now, the gradual taming of the landscape
was visible as cultivation terraces, still detectable today in some places. In mediaeval
times, natural habitats were further reduced as cultivation moved into the lower ground.
To overcome the problem of poor soil drainage, the runrigg or ridge and furrow system
was widely used until superseded in the 18th Century by underground field-drains. This
agricultural improvement, which has continued until the present, has resulted in the
marked reduction of wetland habitats and the once abundant species, such as Dryopteris
carthusiana, that inhabited them.

In at least one instance, however, draining may have been beneficial. Thelypteris
palustris, now very rare in Scotland, was recorded last century from several lochs which
were drained in the late 18th Century to remove the buried post-glacial deposits of
base-rich marl. Exposure of the marl would have re-created the immediately post-glacial
environment favoured by Thelypteris. A few other species also benefited from man’s
activities. For example, Polypodium and, in particular, Asplenium ruta-muraria, took
advantage of mortared walls. Equisetum arvense was well equipped to exploit disturbed
ground.

more research-based informationon the species biology.

Looking to the future, less intensive agriculture and “set-aside” might allow restoration of
some wetland habitats. Climatic change will have effects, but they are hard to predict.
Earlier springs with late frosts would damage frost sensitive species like bracken. A teed
Climate would discourage Botrychium and C. montana, for example, and several ot “dl
Species, like Asplenium ceterach, would spread from the south. Warmer conditions wou
threaten the alpine species. Increased rainfall would allow the eastward spread of species
like Dryopteris aemula but perhaps put continental species like A. septentrionale at ;
disadvantage. As has been the case throughout the last 14,000 years, some species wi
decline and others will increase as conditions change. The rarities of one era become the
common-place of a later one, and vice versa.

SETTING UP A MONITORING SYSTEM FOR WOODSIA IN THE
WEST OF SCOTLAND
Mr. John Mitchell, ex-Nature Conservancy Council.

Although having had an interest in the genus Woodsia for a
until joining the Nature Conservancy Council (now SNH)

good many years, it was not
in 1966, and subsequently

286 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

taking on responsibility for the Ben Lui National Nature Reserve in the mid-1970s, that |
was able to put this interest to practical conservation use. Having quickly discovered that
there was virtually nothing in the Regional Office file as to the precise locations of any of
the reserve's rarer mountain plants, | gave some thought to devising a system of plotting
the position of selected species, together with some rough and ready method of
monitoring the performance of each colony.

Woodsia alpina seemed the most obvious species to start off with, and the project gave
me a good feel for the type of habitat the W. alpina seemed to prefer - typically a
weathered exposure of banded limestone or calcareous schist, with a distinct lack of any
vigorous competitors. The four known W. alpina colonies on Ben Lui were photographed
using a Polaroid camera, the position of each marked on the instant print there and then.
Because | was unable to get a satisfactory answer as to the life expectancy of an instant
print, a duplicate photograph was taken on conventional film. Later, the data from the field
instant print were transferred onto the conventional archive print once the film was
processed. As it was also essential that anyone attempting to monitor the reserves W.
alpina colonies in future years could readily find the documented site, a large-scale map
was marked and a distant photographic shot was also taken on instant and conventional
films, the prints annotated as before.

Two developments led to the W. alpina survey on Ben Lui reserve being extended to all
of its other known stations in the western highlands. First, both British species of Woodsia
had just received legal protection under the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild
Plants Act of 1975. From then on a much clearer picture of the national status of both
Woodsias was going to be required by the Nature Conservancy Council in their role as
advisors to the government. Secondly, in the mid-1970s much of Britain was in the grip of
a summer drought, and the first warning grumblings of global warming were being heard.
If global warming was to be a reality, what was going to be the effect of an increase in the
average summer temperature on Britains relict arctic-alpine flora and fauna? It was clear,
even back in the 1970s, that a reliable baseline survey needed to be undertaken if
meaningful assessments on changes in Woodsia populations in Britain were to be made
in the years to come.

Let us take a look now at the monitoring system in practice using as an example a pretty
well-known W. alpina site on the Perth/Argyll border. The background information collated
included the site name, map reference, vice-county, altitude, direction of exposure, rock
type, list of plant associates and, where known, previous recorded history. Every tuft of W.
alpina at each site was allocated an identification number and marked on the photograph.
As a rough guide to performance, the number of fronds on each accessible tuft was
counted and a measurement taken of the largest frond. This is an exceptionally dry site
with a southerly exposure and, with its potential for desiccation, it was found that the
average number of fronds was only 8, with a maximum of 18 on the older, larger plants.
Fronds reaching 3.5 inches in length were few and far between.

Not all the W. alpina sites in the western highlands are as impressive looking as those on
Ben Lui, a rather nondescript hill, which is probably why it was overlooked by the
Victorian fern collectors. At this site | found it was just not practical to document each W.
alpina tuft as before - for once there were just too many of them! In this case the rock
faces were given an identifying letter, and little more than a count made of the number of
W. alpina on each of them. In 1990 my successor to Ben Lui NNR, Andrew Campbell,
assisted by a small team of observers working in rather better weather conditions than |
had endured 13 years earlier, counted no fewer than 340 tufts concentrated in this
section of the hill alone. As | had found as well, there were some luxuriant plants amongst
them too, with as many as 40 fronds, occasionally up to 5 inches long. This is most
certainly the finest individual colony of W. alpina remaining in Britain today.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 287

In 1977-8 this photographic monitoring technique was also applied to the two known
surviving colonies of W. ilvensis in the Moffatt hills of southern Scotland, again to
establish a baseline to assess future changes in the fortunes of these even rarer British
fern. My colleague, Dr Vincent Fleming, takes up the W. ilvensis story.

WOODSIAS IN SCOTLAND
Dr L. Vincent Fleming, Scottish Natural Heritage
John Mitchell has described the photographi itoring techniques that he established for

selected colonies of both Woodsia spp. My aim is present some of the results obtained
from that monitoring, to provide an assessment of the current status of both species and to
discuss potential conservation action.

Overall, there would appear to be no more than 95 known clumps! of W. ilvensis surviving
in the wild in Britain compared to at least 1000 known clumps of W. alpina. Over 99% of
the latter occur in Scotland compared to only 25% of W. ilvensis clumps. W. ilvensis is now
restricted to only five localities in Britain (three in Scotland) with 9 sub-colonies. At least 35
sub-colonies can be identified for alpina within close to 20 broad localities. Nevertheless,
most colonies are small with all but one W. ilvensis colony below 10 clumps and most W.
alpina colonies below 20 clumps. Three colonies (one of W. ilvensis, two of W. alpina) hold
the bulk of the Woodsia population in Britain. However, the small size of most colonies,
even of the more abundant W. alpina, means that most of these are likely to be vulnerable
to extinction through demographic and stochastic factors alone.

It is impossible here to present all the monitoring results but | will present data for three
colonies of W. alpina before discussing the present status of W. ilvensis in the Moffat Hills.
The W. alpina sites were monitored in 1977, 1985 and 1994. All populations were
remarkably stable between 1977 and 1985 but all have subsequently increased. In two 0
the colonies this increase has been due solely to recruitment with no apparent mortality, all
the clumps from 1977 still being present in 1994. In the third colony, however, despite an
increase from 8 to 10 clumps over the recording period, only three plants were common to
both 1977 and 1994. The increase here then, has involved five mortalities and seven new
recruits indicating a more dynamic turnover than may have been suspected. These results
indicate the value of this monitoring technique because it enables us to follow the fate of
individual clumps and, therefore, to begin to determine important parameters of population
biology such as longevity and recruitment. This informationcannot be obtained from simple
counts alone.

Monitoring alone cannot tell you why any changes in a population have occurred.
However, it is noteworthy that both 1977 and 1985 were preceeded by years of severe
drought. Both Woodsias seem vulnerable to water stress and it is likely that both colonies

recorded) but have subsequently recovered. Regardless, despite this wiser “sie 2
some small increases, there is no room for complacency in the conservation of WY. alpine:

The Moffat Hills of southern Scotland are one of the classic haunts of W. ilvensis saath
but from which they were thought to have been extirpated by collecting soon i beaie
of the century. Subsequently, two small colonies were re-discovered, one by i
in 1954 and the other by M Rickard on a BPS excursion in 1972. This last colony ane ota
have remained stable at 2 clumps from its discovery through to 1985°. septa eageeae
discovered and larger colony is in evident steep, linear decline. From the : .
Present in 1954 only three now survive; if current trends continue the tag Gi
extrapolated extinction date of 23 October 1995! It is clear from monitoring that there

oe

i#thin a clump
aan +

1 Clumps is used in preference to plants since it is usually difficult to gui
or tuft. 2 A site visit in 1994 blished that only one clump survives at this colony.

288 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

been no recruitment of W. ilvensis plants to the colony since 1977. The three clumps that
survive today% are, therefore, at least 18 years old but may be older still. This downward
trend in the population is clearly cause for concern with local extinction a possibility for a
second time!

Some factors that may have contributed to this decline include:

i) collecting - despite legal protection the species may still be vulnerable to this threat,
yet there is no recent evidence of this from Moffat and some surviving plants are in
readily accessible locations; ii) rockfalls - comparison of site photographs indicates that
rockfalls from these crumbly, treacherous cliffs could have only accounted for the loss of
single clump; iii) loss of genetic variability - the former massive collecting pressure
may have forced the population through a genetic bottleneck leaving surviving plants
vulnerable to, for example, inbreeding depression; iv) drought - the two recent drought
years (1976 & 1984) may have taken their toll. However, in 1992 a summer visit revealed
only one dried up W. ilvensis clump, but a subsequent visit following late summer rainfall
found three clumps in the same locality indicating some ability of plants to recover.

Although the plants are on crags that may be grazed by feral goats we have seen no
evidence that grazing damage occurs.

What should we do about such a decline? Should we continue to monitor to extinction or
should we intervene to prevent this. If so, what action should we take? An immediate and
urgent first step must be to capture as much of the existing genetic variation as possible
by establishing ex situ collections, whether of spores or cultivated plants. This would
provide a safeguard against extinction as well as material for research needed to guide
future conservation policy. Plants could also be provided to enable re-stocking of existing
colonies, if appropriate, and to restore Woodsia to sites from which it has long been
absent. In doing so, we may have to consider whether we only use genotypes native to
the site or whether, more controversially, we mix genotypes between colonies to restore
genetic variability (if indeed that is part of current problems). Woodsia ilvensis, as an
Arctic-alpine relic, may ultimately be threatened with extinction in Britain as a result of
global warming but the proximate threat is clearly a legacy of the Victorian fern craze. In
such circumstances it seems only reasonable that we intervene both to maintain and
restore populations.

TEMPERATURE AS A FACTOR DETERMINING THE DISTRIBUTION OF
ASPLENIUM SEPTENTRIONALE IN BRITAIN

Dr. Adrian Dyer, RBGE and University of Edinburgh.

When we talk about the ecology of British ferns, we are really talking only about the
distribution of the conspicuous sporophytes described in relation to major features of the

macro-habitat: latitude, altitude, moisture, shade, soil type and pH etc. We know very little
abcut the factors determining t! aie aia oe

J

| want to show how investigation of aspects of the growth and reproduction of a fern can
help to explain its distribution, particularly for rare, local species or those with a very
specialised and restricted habitat. This involves investigation of the other phases of the
life cycle as well as the sporophyte.

As we have already heard, A. septentrionale is scarce and very local in Britain. This is
only partly explained by the fact that it has been lost from some stations because of
over-collecting in the past or by shading due to overgrowth by gorse or adjacent forest
plantation more recently. The main reason for its local distribution is its restricted habitat,
common features of its widely separated sites are dark-coloured volcanic or metamorphic
rocks lacking calcium or other bases, such as slates, grits, granites and basalts, on

ee ee
3 A sub-site of this colony, with a further 3 clumps, was discovered by John Miitchell in 1977. Because of the
dangerous nature of the site, there have been no more visits to gather more recent information.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 289

exposed, often south-facing, low to mid-altitude cliffs. On the rare occasions it is found on
walls, they are mortar-free walls of the same rocks.

The localities suggest a requirement for a hard, base poor, substrate and a warm
situation. This would explain its absence from the eastern half of Britain, dominated by
sedimentary rocks, and from high altitudes in mountains, where temperatures are lower.
Our results suggest a previously unsuspected explanation for this.

Our experiments were simple. We grew spores of several British species, including A.
septentrionale, at a range of different temperatures to find the temperature requirements
for germination. The spores were sown on nutrient medium and placed under artificial
lights at controlled continuous temperatures. The percentage germination was then
recorded daily until there was no further germination.

Asplenium septentrionale was unusual in that although the germination response at 20°C
was similar to that of the other species, germination at 15°C was very slow and there was
no germination at all at 10°C over the 9 weeks of the experiment. This confirms some
earlier unpublished observations of Elizabeth Watt. The fact that temperatures of 15°C or
higher, perhaps even close to 20°C, are necessary for full germination suggests that there
may be very few sites in Britain where germination is possible.

Our spores were collected from a local population on Arthur's Seat; one of the nearest
weather stations is at RBGE. Temperature records at RBGE for 1993 reveal that the
maximum shade temperature reached 15°C or above on only 97 days per year (of 146
between 7.5.93 and 30.9.93) and never maintained a temperature of 15°C or above
throughout the 24 hours. It reached 20°C only 9 times in total and presumably for only a
few hours. For much of the year, perhaps all, the temperatures at RBGE are too low for
germination and RBGE will be warmer than many places in Scotland.

requirements for germination would alone be sufficient to restrict the species distribution.
What then is the adaptive advantage of this apparently restrictive requirement? Bearing in
mind that this is a species with a continental distribution in Europe we would like to
suggest that it is a mechanism for preventing germination during or just before the harsh
winters and thus limiting development to the summers. The temperatures necessary for
germination will be regularly achieved during the warm continental summers. This
interpretation presupposes that the germination response recorded in British material is a
species characteristic and not unique to British ecotypes.

ze co that

We have obtained spores from southern Germany. Preliminary investigat on
this continental material also has the high temperature requirement for germination.
Thus, an adaptation related to the seasonal extremes at the centre of its arse Saar
range in Europe imposes restrictions on its ecological distribution at the oceanic fringe ©
its range, in Britain, to sites that reach unusually high temperatures for long erga
Combined with its edaphic requirements, this restricts it to sunny rock faces in north an
west Britain and is enough to explain its rarity.

Support for this interpretation comes from a similar investigation of —
ruta-muraria, the Wall Rue. This is also a continental species and spores of -_
material also have a high temperature requirement for germination, with no germination a
10°C, and in one experiment, none at 15°C.

Again like A. septentrionale, we have looked at spores from pale
have the same temperature requirement for germination, ncaa

thern Germany. These
ing that again itis a

290 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

species characteristic associated with a predominantly continental distribution. It is
interesting to note therefore that A. ruta-muraria in Britain is frequently found on
south-facing surfaces. However, A. ruta-muraria unlike A. septentrionale, is not rare in
Britain. This is because it is a calcicole which can exploit not only the sedimentary basic
rocks of south and east Britain in addition to calcareous rocks in the north, but also the
lime mortar of walls all over the country.

This study illustrates the need for further autecological studies of germination and
gametophyte development in other species. Without them, the distribution and habitat
requirements of ferns can never be understood.

WHAT IS CYSTOPTERIS DICKIEANA?
Professor James Parks, Millersville University, PA, USA

The Cystopteris fragilis complex, including the variable species C. fragilis, is circum-
boreal. In the 19th Century, a variant of Cystopteris was discovered near Aberdeen and
later given the name C. dickieana. Material from the type locality is pretty distinctive. The
stipe tends to lack the dark colour of C. fragilis (basally). Fronds, which are bright green,
are fairly wide relative to their length and pinnae tend to be closely spaced and often
overlapping. These distinctive morphological characters can be seen even on plants that
have been maintained for years in cultivation. C. dickieana is also unusual (in the genus)
in having non-echinate spores (often referred to as rugose). In recent years, this
character has acquired high taxonomic importance and as a result, plants with fronds
resembling those of C. fragilis but bearing non-echinate spores are being labelled ‘C.
dickieana’. This practice raises taxonomic concerns in view of the fact that, at least in
North America, spore morphology in C. fragilis is variable, sometimes even within a
population. Partly for this reason, R.F. Blasdell, in his monograph of Cystopteris (1963),
chose to demote C. dickieana to a variant of C. fragilis. Haufler and Windham (American
Fern Journal, 81:7 1991) have recently reached the same conclusion, in part, using
allozyme studies of North American Cystopteris.

In 1993, while on sabbatical in Scotland (and in collaboration with Adrian Dyer, Stuart
Lindsay and Chris Page), | took the opportunity to investigate further the taxonomic status
of C. dickieana using material from the type locality. The purpose of the study was (1) to
determine if a set of multilocus allozyme phenotypes would distinguish the type
population of C. dickieana and if so (2) would these allozyme phenotypes be found in
other ‘dickieana’ populations that had fragilis morphology and/or (3) would these allozyme
phenotypes correlate with plants in other populations that had non-echinate spores.

We examined 5 naturally occurring populations:

A The type population of C. dickieana located in a cave near Aberdeen. All plants had

typical C. dickieana morphology.

B A population near the type locality for C. dickieana containing some plants with frond

morphology typical of C. dickieana and others with frond morphology more like C. fragilis.

C A population 150 km south west of Aberdeen containing plants all of which looked, to

us, more like C. fragilis than C. dickieana (though we knew from Dave Tennant that at

least some had previously produced non-echinate spores).

; HAL tee 20 km from C (above). All plants had frond morphology typical of C.
is

ragilis.
E A population near Perth. All plants had frond morphology typical of C. fragilis.

At each site we collected one fertile frond from each of 30 to 70 plants. A sample of each
frond was subjected to isozyme analysis [A fairly complicated but standard protocol
whereby one can genetically fingerprint individuals by determining the forms of proteins
that each contains] and spores were examined by light and electron microscopy.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 291

Each multilocus phenotype was assigned a number (1-20) in the order in which they were
discovered. Each population had a unique set of allozyme phenotypes except for A and B
which shared the same 2 multilocus phenotypes. The only allozyme phenotype recovered
from more than one population (with the exception of A and B) was allozyme phenotype
No. 3 which was found in C and D. Interestingly, the spore types of this allozyme
phenotype differed in populations C and D. The four plants from C exhibiting it all had
rugose spores whereas the one plant from D had echinate spores. Only population C had
more than five allozyme phenotypes (13 in total were recovered).

Allozyme phenotypes and Spore Types in Scottish Cystopteris Populations

Population A B Cc D E
iit iti etal

Phenotypes no. 1 no. 1 nos. 3-15 | no. 3 no. 20

present no. 2 no. 2 nos. 16-19

Total no. 2 2 13 5 1

phenotypes

Spore types Rugose Rugose & | Rugose & Echinate Echinate
resent Smooth Echinate

Total no. 31 67 34 31 6

individuals

We were interested to discover that in population B, 9 out of 55 fertile plants bore spores
that were neither rugose nor echinate, but smooth. Jermy and Harper (British Fern
Gazette, 1971) have previously observed this third spore type In other Scottish
populations. Population C which exhibited the greatest array of allozyme phenotypes also
exhibited two spore types, rugose & echinate.

Discussion and Conclusions

no more than a distinct populational variant of ' : :
correlation between allozyme phenotype and spore type in population C, this a a
correlation did not exist in other populations. in brief, we found no overall cen ral
between frond morphology, spore type or allozyme phenotype. amone Pelt
examined. .
The taxonomic status of variants within the widespread and variable % — or
fragilis remains questionable. Vida (1974) demonstrated that C. dickieana et tgs
locality was reproductively isolated from a population of echinate-spores bre other
fragilis from Eastern Europe, but nothing is known about a"

292 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

forms of the C. fragilis complex in Scotland. Berg (1992), in a recent study of Norwegian
C. fragilis, found (as we did in Scotland and others did in N. America) populations with
several spore types, but one frond morphology. Clearly, spore type alone is inadequate
to delimit C. dickieana . Our allozyme study of Scottish C. fragilis found the same results
as extensive work by Windham and Haufler in N. America: that allozyme phenotypes do
not correlate with spore type or morphological variance. Our results lead us to concur
with Berg and Windham and Haufler in questioning the status of C. dickieana as a
species. With them, we believe a conservative treatment of variants in C. fragilis is
warranted.

THE KILLARNEY FERN IN SCOTLAND

Dr F.J. Rumsey, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester,
M13 9PL. (now at Dept. of Botany, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London
SW7 5BD)

The Killarney Fern Trichomanes speciosum Willd. is largely restricted to macaronesia and
the Atlantic fringe of Europe reaching its northernmost extent in Scotland. It is very rare
throughout this range. The species was first discovered near Bingley in Yorkshire (Ray,
1724) from where the sporophyte was last seen in c.1785 (Lees, 1888). This was to
remain the only known British locality until the mid-nineteenth century, by which time the
Species local abundance and subsequent collection to near extinction at many Irish sites
was well documented eg. Newman, 1844; Scully, 1916.

In Scotland T. speciosum was first found in Aug. 1863, on the east coast of Arran, near
Corrie. The initial publication of this find (Babington, 1863) credited Mr. George Combe
with the discovery, although he was shown the locality by the local ‘walking postman’ Mr.
Robert Douglas (1864; 1887). Between them all traces of the plant were removed, the last
“fragment of frond with an inch or two of rhizome” being taken from the already depleted
site by Simson (1887), who successfully cultivated his spoils (specimens at E!). At much
the same time another locality was discovered, on the mainland just North of Ardlamont
Point (Landsborough, 1887). Again the discoverers, Messrs. Cook and Young, seem to
have collected all the material present. Some, however, thrived in cultivation subsequently
(Stewart, 1901). The third Scottish find was made by the palaeobotanist Robert Kidston in
1876, on the west coast of Arran, near Dougarie. He found just “three small and
depauperate roots” one of which he removed to grow on (Landsborough, 1887). The
following year a Miss MacBean literally stumbled upon the plant while walking near the
Cock of Arran. The deep crevice responsible yielding upwards of a yard of rhizome and a
dozen fronds (Stewart, 1901), but attempts to grow on bits were thwarted as it had lain in
a dehydrated state too long. Then for almost a century the fern was believed extinct in
Scotland, until refound on the Scottish coast in 1979 by Dr. Derek Ratcliffe, Carmen
Placido and Peter Wormell, when 3 colonies were discovered during an N.C.C. vegetation
survey.

Subsequently the fern was refound on Arran by Grace Small and Alice Sommerville
(Sommerville, 1981; 1982) and since then 3 further colonies in two separate localities
have been detected on the island by Tony Church (Church, 1990), one, perhaps that of
Miss MacBean. While almost certainly gone from their original sites, some or all of the first
Victorian discoveries may still be in cultivation but in the absence of documentation we
may never know, although the development of molecular techniques gives hope that this
may Someday be resolved.

The discovery of the gametophyte generation of Trichomanes speciosum (Rumsey et al.
1990) has forced us to consider this species in a different light. By virtue of its ecology

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 293

and propagative ability the gametophyte can survive indefinitely in the absence of the
sporophyte. Study has revealed gametophytes to be present over a much greater
geographical range than the sporophyte in both the British Isles and most interestingly,
Continental Europe (Vogel ef al. 1993). In Scotland recent fieldwork has revealed
gametophytes to be distributed scattered around the Scottish coast and inland in a Mid
Perth. site where Hymenophyllum wilsonii just persists. These finds have extended the
species northern limits over 300 km. Both generations appear to be restricted in Scotland
to very low altitudes, often less than 20 m, rising on Arran to c. 120 m. As elsewhere in
the British Isles maxima match those of Hymenophyllum tunbrigense.

The apparently anomalous distribution of the sporophyte and its possible post-glacial
history were discussed by Ratcliffe et a/. (1993). Discovery of the gametophyte has posed
additional problems but may help elucidate this vexed question. An important factor is the
consideration as to whether outlying gametophyte populations represent recent colonisa-
tion or the vestiges of a once wider range. Initial evidence suggests gametophytes
disperse very poorly. Dispersal other than very locally is thus as with other ferns likely to
be achieved by spores. Trichomanes is unusual in possessing green, thin walled spores
which show no dormancy and very limited ability to withstand desiccation. They are also
rarely produced - only one Scottish colony has ever been seen to be fertile and even in
Macaronesia fertility in many colonies is irregular i.e. not annual. Rumsey (1994)
estimated that the total British and Irish spore production over the last century could be

answered.

So what is the future of Trichomanes speciosum in Scotland? Will there ever be a
significant increase in the number of sporophytes? Sporophytic absence may be through
failure in production or mortality once produced. Evidence from throughout the British
Isles suggests archegonial production is a critical limiting step (Rumsey ef al. 1992), these
being markedly scarcer than antheridia. Data as to sporophyte production and
subsequent survival are still limited but suggest a gradient from West to East, probably
reflecting a combination of greater gametangial initiation and more conducive conditions
for sporophyte survival in wetter, winter-warm areas. Examination of the species
reproductive behaviour and success throughout its distribution suggests only subtle
changes in macroclimate may have a profound effect on sporophyte recruitment. In Arran
the species is generating new sporophytes and even the mature plants may have formed
within the last 30 years. This is very encouraging for the species future in Scotland and
may be evidence of change through climatic amelioration, however only a good base line
survey of where both generations occur, regular monitoring for novel sporophytes and
prevention of collection and disturbance will tell us.

REFERENCES
Babington, C.C. (1863) Trichomanes radicans J.Bot. (Lond.) 1:293-294 _ ad.) i
Church, A.R. (1990) Recent finds of Killarney Fern (Trichomanes speciosum Willd.) in
Arran, Clyde Isles Glasgow Nat. 21 :608-609 : dicans in
Landsborough, D. (1887) Additional note on the occurrence of Trichomanes fa
Scotland Trans. Bot. Soc. Glasgow 27:39

Lees, F.A. (1888) The flora of West Yorkshire. Lovell Reeve & Co., London )
Newman, E. (1844) A History of British Ferns and Allied plants. Van Voorst, London ree
Ratcliffe, D.A., Birks, H.J.B. & Birks, H.H. (1993) The ecology and conservation ©
Killarney Fern Trichomanes speciosum Willd. in Britain and Ireland Biol. Conserva
66:231-247

Ray, J.(1724) Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Brittanicarum 3rd. Ed. W. & J. Innys, London

294 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

Rumsey, F.J. (1994) The distribution, Ecology and population biology of the Killarney
Fern (Trichomanes speciosum Willd.) Unpubl. PhD. thesis, University of Manchester
Rumsey, F.J., Sheffield, E. & Farrar, D.R. (1990) British filmy-fern gametophytes
Pteridologist 2:40-42

Rumsey, F.J., Raine, C.A. & Sheffield, E. (1992) The reproductive capability of
independent Trichomanes gametophytes in: Fern Horticulture: past, present and future
perspectives eds. J.M. Ide, A.C. Jermy & A.M. Paul Intercept, Andover

Scully, R.W. (1916) Flora of County Kerry Hodges, Figgis & Co., Dublin

Simson, W.B. (1864) Gardeners Chronicle 10:220

Simson, W.B. (1887) Notes on the finding of Trichomanes radicans in Arran in August
1863 Trans. Bot. Soc. Glasgow 27:35-38

Sommerville, A.H. (1981) Trichomanes speciosum Willd. in Arran, V.C. 100 Trans. Bot.
Soc. Edinb. 43:343

Sommerville, A.H. (1982) Killarney Fern refound in Arran B.S.B.1. Scottish Newsletter 4:4
Stewart, W. (1901) Notes on the occurrence of Trichomanes radicans Sw. in Scotland
Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow 6:18-21

Vogel, J.C., Jessen, S., Gibby, M., Jermy, AC. ‘& noe L. (1993) Gametophytes of
Trichomanes speciosum (Hy yta) in Central Europe Fern Gaz.
14:227-232

TWO APPROACHES TO THE TAXONOMY OF SCOTTISH BRACKEN

1: MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHENOLOGICAL CHARACTERS
Dr. Chris Page, RBGE.

Until a few years only one taxon of British bracken (Pteridium aquilinum subsp. aquilinum
var. aquilinum) was widely recognised. However, in 1989, following a study of the
morphological variation in that taxon, | concluded that we actually had 3 taxa in Britain
(subspecies aquilinum, subspecies atlanticum and subspecies /atiusculum). My most
recent research, incorporating phenological observations, leads me to believe that in
Scotland we should recognise at least 4 taxa: subspecies aquilinum var. aquilinum,
subspecies atlanticum, subspecies pinetorum var. pinetorum and subspecies pinetorum
var. osmundaceum. Subspecies atlanticum and the new subspecies pinetorum are
described briefly.

Subspecies aquilinum var. aquilinum
Not described here.

Cia H a4] oe JAal a l \

Like the common bracken, atlanticum is a tall growing, swamping plant. Its stem (rachis),
however is twice as thick as those of Common Bracken and its croziers are thickly
covered in white hairs. Consequently, pockets of this particular bracken are easy to spot
early in the season amongst common bracken. Moreover atlanticum is much more
upright, its fronds have more drooping-tipped pinnae, the pinna shape is somewhat
different and the vernation is more indeterminate (i.e. fronds get taller as new pinnae are
produced through most of the season). As far as | can see it is also restricted to limestone
soils. So far, in Britain it has been found in the west of Scotland and in North and South
Wales. It has not yet been found in England but | suspect that it might turn up in
south-west England or the South Coast because in thaese areas there are all sorts of
introgressions with it. | have also found herbarium material of the same taxon in Brittany,
Central Spain and the Ivory Coast (West Africa). Clearly, it has an Atlantic distribution
(hence its name) and a preference for warm climates.

Subspecies pinetorum (Northern bracken
Pinetorum is a new subspecies (belonging to the widespread northern latiusculum

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 295

complex) into which | have put bracken taxa which have a preference for pinewood
habitats in more northern cold climates (Pinetorum means ‘of the pinewood’). In Scotland,
| recognise 3 distinct forms of pinewood bracken but only 2 have names at present. All
three forms are also united by the fact that their vernation is strongly determinate (i.e. all
pinnae expand as the crozier unrolls and then no further growth occurs). This is an
extremely fundamental difference which deserves taxonomic recognition. Also, all the
Northern brackens are more frost tolerant than either aquilinum or atlanticum and the
skeletons of dead fronds remain standing over winter.

1. Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pinetorum var. pinetorum.

Variety pinetorum (the type material), grows in the Rothiemurchus pinewoods of the
Cairngorms, near Aviemore. It is extremely distinctive. It is a small low growing plant with
an upright stipe, a rather steeply angled frond, a triangular (almost tripartite) frond, a
coarsely cut blade (very leathery after full expansion), pinnae have very elongate ultimate
segments, and in the spring the croziers are covered with red hairs. | have been able to
match this material with herbarium specimens in Sweden, Russia and even China.
[Worthy of brief mention at this point is that the Swedish herbarium material was that
belonging to Linnaeus and to which he gave the name ‘aquilinum’; the same name that is
now widely used for the common (Southern?) bracken!. My colleague, Dr. Robert Mill
(RBGE) is currently assessing the implications of this].

2. Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pinetorum var. osmundaceum.

The second distinct form of northern pinewood bracken that | found was on the moors
above the surviving pinewood of the Black Wood of Rannoch, near Loch Rannoch. It
looks totally different; It is much more upright that var. pinetorum, it has a coarsely cut
blade, it is very leathery, its colonies are very sparse and its fronds have ultimate
segments that are even larger and more elongate than those of var. pinetorum. Its pinnae
tend to stand very upright but if you lay the frond out as a herbarium specimen you
discover that the blade is also tripartite. This is the only form of Northern Bracken for
which | have actually been able to find a valid name already in existence elsewhere in
Europe. That name is osmundaceum and was first used by Christ in the 19th century to
describe a similar ‘Osmunda-like’ bracken in Switzerland.

3. un-named

The third form of Northern Pinewood bracken which | recognise (but have not yet named)
grows as local patches on the hillsides around Loch Faskally and Loch Rannoch. It is not
yet named, since its affinities are not yet clear, having a peculiar morphology and ecology
which to some extent shares characters of both Common and Northern bracken, but
without indication of being a recent hybrid. It also has a peculiar ecology, growing on
rather shallow soil beside a rich association of other plant species that are not usually
associated with bracken. At first sight, it looks like common bracken (aquilinum) but on
closer inspection it is found to have a bigger frond, a very leathery frond, and a very wiry
and orange-coloured stipe. Its blade is also inclined to the stipe.

Conference organisers footnote: if
Since presenting this preliminary talk, Drs Page and Mill have further refined and pina
the overall classification of bracken in Scotland, taking into account the nomen

iti j i in the broader
aspects te these new British finds with bracken in
Wee A igre: dies are presented in Page,

9-140 and in press.
w becomes species

daceum. Pteridium aquilinum now comprises three su
atlanticum and subsp. fulvum (the unnamed bracken in
illustrations of all of these new taxa are included in the

e Ferns of Britain and Ireland, to be published shortly.

296 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

2: MOLECULAR MARKERS
Dr. Elizabeth Sheffield, University of Manchester.

This work was undertaken in response to Chris Page’s last (1989) taxonomic revision of
bracken in Britain (see footnote). Reference will therefore be made to ‘aquilinum’,
‘atlanticum’ and ‘latiusculum’ but no opinions will be given on whether these should be
recognised as varieties or subspecies. Reference will not be made to ‘pinetorum’ as all
the Scottish material that Chris has now been placed in subsp. pinetorum was, in 1989,
called /atiusculum.

Isozyme analysis is a powerful molecular technique. The details of the technique are not
important as long as you remember that the end product of the analysis (banding
patterns) represents different forms of proteins (isozymes) that are present in the
individual. Isozyme banding patterns can often serve as ‘fingerprints’ to characterise an
individual, species, genus, population etc. Most pteridophyte taxa, including most types of
bracken, can be distinguished in this way. Moreover, isozyme banding patterns
sometimes give clues to an individual’s parentage and/or evolutionary events. For
example, a few years ago we compared the banding patterns of British aquilinum, British
(Scottish) /atiusculum and North American /atiusculum. The isozyme banding patterns for
British and American /atiusculums were not the same and there was no similarity in 2
critical marker enzymes between British aquilinum and North American /atiusculum.
However the pattern for British /atiusculum was consistent with the theory that the other
two taxa had at some point participated as parents in the evolution of British /atiusculum.
This meant that we had found molecular data to supported Chris’s conviction that there is
a latiusculum-type genome in Scotland.

Isozyme analysis of ‘atlanticum’ produced a different result: for every isozyme that we
could detect, the pattern in atlanticum was identical to that in aquilinum. This was
surprising in view of the fact that most people who have seen this taxon agree that,
morphologically, it is quite distinct from aquilinum. It is possible that, by continuing to
screen for different isozymes, we would have eventually found a set of banding patterns
that would characterise atlanticum but it was considered more likely that we were looking
for molecular markers at the wrong level. In view of this we decided to try a more
sophisticated technique involving analysis of the genetic variation in the DNA itself.

This part of the study was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Paul Wolf at Utah State
University. One of the techniques used was restriction (enzyme) analysis. Again, the
details of the technique are not important. Basically, DNA is extracted from the plant and
carefully broken into fragments of different length using digestive enzymes which target
specific points (restriction sites). These fragments are separated on a gel by applying an
electric current (in much the same way as for isozyme analysis). Using lengths of DNA
obtained from a standard bracken as probes to bind to the fragments, the fragments can
be visualised as a banding pattern. Differences between the banding patterns of different
individuals represent differences in the number and type of restriction sites in their DNA
and this in turn can be used to measure genetic similarity/dissimilarit

There are 3 types of DNA in plants: nuclear, mitochondrial and chloroplast, and each can
be subjected to restriction enzyme analysis. Chloroplast DNA was the most extensively
analysed in this study as it has proved extremely useful for detecting phylogenetic
relationships in other taxa.

The study included atlanticum from Britain, aquilinum from Britain and France, and
latiusculum from Britain, North America and Japan.

Data obtained from DNA analysis provided strong evidence for a /atiusculum-type
genome being present in Scotland. They also demonstrated that the Scottish /atiuscu/um
genome is very different from the aquilinum genome. However, genetic evidence to

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 297

support the contention that atlanticum plants are sufficiently different from aquilinum to
warrant taxonomic recognition is still lacking.

Conference organisers footnote:

Since presenting this paper, Drs Page and Mill have again reclassified Scottish Bracken.
See Page, C.N. and Mill, R.R (1995). Botanical Journal of Scotland, 47:139-140.
Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pinetorum (Northern Bracken) has now become ies
Pteridium pinetorum comprising two subspecies: subsp. pinetorum (P. aquilinum. subsp.
pinetorum var. pinetorum in the text above) and subsp. osmundaceum (P. aquilinum
subsp. pinetorum var. osmundaceum in the text above). Pteridium aquilinum now
comprises three subspecies: subsp. aquilinum (as described above), subsp. atlanticum
(as described above) and now also subsp. fu/vum (the third, unnamed, form of Northern
Bracken in the text above).

FERN CONSERVATION: AN SNH PERSPECTIVE
Professor Michael B Usher (Chief Scientific Adviser), Scottish Natural Heritage.

The talk was divided into 6 parts.

1. How many species are there in Scotland? There are about 66 pteridophyte species
in Scotland. One species that we have not yet found is Adiantum capillus-veneris, which
is abundant on west coast of Isle of Man - here's a challenge! There are some questions.
What is Diphasiastrum issleri with its supposed parentage of D. alpinum and D.
complanatum (which is abundant in Norway)? Can we locate more populations of
Dryopteris remota, found last century by Loch Lomond? Is Athyrium flexile a distinct
taxon (perhaps Britain’s only endemic fern)? How many brackens do we really have?

2. Plant communities. In the 3 published volumes of the National Vegetation
Classification, how many times are ferns used to typify plant communities? In volume 1
(Woodlands), there is only one community characterised in part by a fern (Pteridium
aquilinum). In volume 2 (Mires and Heaths) there is not a single community characterised
by its ferns, and in volume 3 no pteridophytes are mentioned as characteristic of the
lowland grassland communities. Cryptogramma crispa, Oreopteris limbosperma, Blech-
num spicant and Pteridium aquilinum are, however, mentioned as characteristic
components of some of the upland grassland communities.

3. Biogeograhical zones in Scotland. n analysing the fern distribution data for
Scotland a map clearly shows that certain areas are characterised by particular
assemblages of ferns and fern allies. For two examples, a Central Highland Zone is
characterised by an assemblage of Athyrium distentifolium, Lycopodium annotinum,
Diphasiastrum alpinum, Dryopteris expansa (all upland species) and Lycopodium
clavatum (a more widely ranging species); and an Oceanic Zone (mostly —
mainland) is characterised by an assemblage of Asplenium marinum, Dryopteris aemula,
Hymenophyllum wilsonii and Hymenophyllum tunbridgense. Biogeographical —
provide a framework for thinking about the distribution of species In Scotland an
demonstrating which species tend to occur together.

4. The legislative framework within which SNH works. At present 4 fern nage
Scotland are protected under schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act ( nd
Wooasia ilvensis, Woodsia alpina, Cystopteris dickieana and Trichomanes so a is
The list of species protected under this Act is reviewed every 5 years. it C. a on (The
reclassified as a variety of C. fragilis, then it might be removed — <tint aa Act
Wildlife and Countryside Act only protects ‘species’, not ‘varieties ). Under the sa a
SNH was permitted to schedule SSSIs. However, only one site has been decla

SSSI primarilyfor its fern interest: the cave in which C. dickieana occurs.

298 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

Trichomanes speciosum is also protected by international legislation (The Bern
Convention 1979 and the Habitats Directive of the European Union). On the IUCN list of
species threatened at the world level, there are 22 vascular plants that occur in the UK,
but none is a fern. Some fern species require special conservation measures in Scotland
and, as the statutory agency, SNH has to advise Government on their management and
conservation.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan was published in January 1994. It recommends that
conservation efforts should be focused first on ‘globally threatened species' and second
on ‘threatened endemics’. No Scottish ferns fall into the first category, but Athyrium flexile
might fall into the second. W. alpina, W. ilvensis, C. dickieana and T. speciosum fall into
other, less urgent, categories of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

5. Monitoring. How are these species changing? In answering this question recording
species distributions is important, as is recording of numbers in isolated populations. The
following table lists all the Scottish pteridophyte species that have apparently declined by
20% or more in the last 25 years (as assessed by the number of 10km grid squares in
which they occur.

Species Pre-1970 Post-1970 % Decline
Ophioglossum azoricum 34 7 79
Pilularia globulifera 63 22 65
Lycopodiella inundata 42 16 62
Lycopodium annotinum 138 76 45
Equisetum variegatum 62 35 44
isetum pratense 125 79 37
Thelypteris palustris 6 4 33
Asplenium septentrionale 10 7 30
Cystopteris montana 20 15 25
Polypodium cambricum 17 13 24

6. What is SNH doing?
There are three particular things that SNH is doing.

First, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, which fulfills the UK’s obligations to the 1992 Rio
Conference, sets targets. Most of these relate to work on habitats, but SNH is also
required to prepare action plans for Scotland’s rarest species and to increase public
awareness of biodiversity.

Second, the Strategic Framework for plant conservation developed by the three country
agencies (Scottish Natural Heritage, English Nature and the Countryside Council for
Wales), working with the Joint Nature Conservancy Committee, has recently been
agreed. The main aims are: to maintain the character of the natural flora; to maintain the
natural range of species and their assemblages; to ensure the viability of species and
assemblages, recognising the risks of depletion of commoner species and assemblages;
to enhance the security of threatened species and their assemblages; to prevent the
anthropogenic extinction of species over all or part of their range; and to recognise the
importance of the UK’s flora in an international context.

Third, SNH is encouraging partnership projects, e.g. the Scottish Rare Plants Project with
the Royal Botantic Garden Edinburgh. SNH's own programme on species recovery is to
be lauched in 1995, but the emphasis on caring for Scotland's rarer species will be in
partnership with other organisations.

Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995) 299

PTERIDOLOGIST
INSTRUCTIONS
TO AUTHORS

i

Pteridologist welcomes contributions written in English on all aspects of the natural
history and horticulture of ferns and related plants, as well as articles about ferns in
literature, art, architecture, music, furniture, folklore ete.....

mors in fact, anything fern-related.

SCRIPT: /deally text should be provided in the form of a file downloaded to a floppy disc
from a PC type of computer (not Mac or AMSTRAD PCW, though I'm trying to find
conversion software and may become able). | can use formatted material from most
popular word-processors, especially WORD, ist WORD PLUS, (as well as WORDPER-
FECT, WORDSTAR, WINDOWSWRITE etc.) WP files should be accompanied by a raw
text file in case | have any difficulties. Please check spelling” grammar ¥ and meaning ¥
with care because even | get very tired and cross dealing with these fundamental
aspects of communication. One space between sentences, please.
Computerless authors, please try. If you really can't, I'll accept type-script. I'll even
tackle spidery scrawl on tatty bits of twice-used fish & chip wrappers! It just means that |
have the labour of typing it all in, and I'm rather slow.
CONVENTIONS: Scientific names should be in italics (underlined in type-script Or
manuscript), the authority normal thus:

Polystichum setiferum Forskal

Polystichum setiferum Forskal

PR ol yabichuan sobifars yr Jorwkab
Variety names should be in normal type, capitalised and enclosed in single inverted
commas thus:

Polystichum setiferum ‘Plumoso-divisilobum’

Common names should be in lower case:
soft shield fern

text. If supplying photocopy silhouettes please ensur
the article and as dark as possible on a pure white background. If ge ha re
them too often, quality is lost. Please do not fold illustrations when sending.

So you can see there are really very few rules.
| look forward to receiving ferny articles In any form, _
but you'll make me particularly happy if you send stuff on disc.

RK.AC.UK if you have any queries

@ 01904 432878/431328 or || JWMS@YO

300 Pteridologist 2, 6 (1995)

PTERIDOLOGIST

him

Please send contributions for PTERIDOLOGIST1996
(the sooner, the better, - pleaseby13th March)

James hit een ther
Biology Department, PO Box 373, University of York, York U.K. YO1 5YW
@ 01904 432878/431328 FAX 01904 432860 @ JWM5@YORK.AC.UK

BRITISH FERNS AND THEIR CULTIVARS
a very comprehensive collection is stocked by
REGINALD KAYE Ltd
36 Lindeth Road, Silverdale, Lancashire LA5 OTY
CATALOGUE ON REQUEST

FIBREX NURSERIES Ltd
Honeybourne Road, Pebworth,
Nr Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8XT
Hardy & tender ferns
Catalogue on request

FANCY FRONDS
Judith | Jones
Specialising in North American and British hardy ferns
Send Two International Reply Coupons for Catalogue

1911 4th Avenue West, Seattle, Washington, 981 19, U.S.A.

FOLIAGE GARDENS
Sue & Harry Olsen

2003 128th Avenue S.E.
Bellevue, WA 98005 USA

HARDY AND HALF HARDY FERNS
Hazel & Martin Rickard
Kyre Park, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire WR15 8RP
@ 01885 410282

HARDY FERNS
RN Timm |

The Fern Nursery, Grimsby Road, Binbrook, Lincs. LN3 6DH
lettered eR RR eT apt

APPLE COURT
Roger Grounds
Hordle Lane, Lymington, Hants
@ 01590 624130

44 Houghton Street, Southport, Merseyside PR9 OPQ

The British Pteridological Society .

CONTENTS
Volume 2, Part 6, 1995
MAIN ITEMS:
Editorial James Merryweather PA
The President's letter Dr Trevor Walker 28
Hiking boots and fern spore dispersal Adrian Dyer 24)
The errant BotavoAoyoc in north-east Corfu James Merryweather 24)
Ferns don't like it acid Peter Hainsworth aut
Variation in Dryopteris aemula Martin Rickard & Alison Paul 24
A pteridological Peter Pan Gavin Stark 2d]
Yet another use for bracken Adrian Dyer 252
Marsilea poisoning in 19th century Australia Michael Grant 250
Exhibiting ferns in competitive classes AR Busby 257
Loss of ferns in Mauritius Yousef Cardinouche 260
Fern hunting in eastern Crete James Merryweather 262
A Cornish tin mine and its ferns Rose Murphy 264
Conservation in action Jack Bouckley 269
Hazards of fern collecting in Ecuador Robert G. Stoltze 26
Foliage Gardens Sue & Harry Olsen an
The fifth anniversary of the Dutch Fern Society Martin Rickard 275
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS: |
The Ecology and Conservation of Scotland's Rare Ferns 278
SHORTER NOTES:
BPS member honoured 238
Matteuccia on the menu Michael Grant 208 |
Bulbils on fronds of Asplenium scolopendrium Martin Rickard = |
Outstanding successes at Chelsea flower show Jack Bouckley 24H ;
The fernery at Danesbury Anthony Piggott 254
.--and yet another use for bracken? James Merryweather se
A scrape from a skimpy scollie Jack Bouckley 266 |
BOOK REVIEWS: |
Flora of Glamorgan by A. E. Wade, Q. O. N. Kay & R. G. Ellis i
Ferns for American gardens by John Mickel a
An illustrated fern flora of west Hymalaya, vol 1 by S. P. Khullar {
Hong Kong ferns by Dr M. L. So ia
INSTRUCTIONS To AUT} 299

—______Preridologist Volume 2 Part 5 was published on 13th May, 1994 __—

WHERE TO SEE
FERNS

A GUIDE TO FERN GARDENS,
COLLECTIONS & NURSERIES

Introduction

The information in this Guide is published with the consent of the owners/managers of the
gardens or institutions concerned. It is by no means 4 comprehensive list although every
attempt has been made to ensure the information given is correct. The Society would very

the Society's activities are available from Mr A R Busby, Hon. Secretary, BPS, "Croziers", 16
Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD.

Appointment essential

Hardy Plant Society Member

British Pteridological Society Member

Nursery or Garden Centre

National Collection recognised by the NCCPG

National Trust property

National Trust for Scotland property

Garden open to the public (whether publicly or privately owned)
Plants for Sale

Private Garden

f this iam i aw

g

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
c/o Botany Department, Natural History Museum, Cronmell Road, London SW7 SBD:

ENGLAND

Mrs Gwladys rion Winslow, MK18 3AW. Good range of ferns in interesting small garden
38' x 38’. A/F/H/M/X. Tel: 0296 712577.

Cambridgeshire

Alison Davies, Comberton, CB3 7EF. Dryopteris (7 vars), Athyrium (7 vars, inc. 'Frizelliae’,
‘Angusto-cruciatum’), Polystichum, Polypodium, Matteuccia, Asplenium. Open: 21 June, 2-Spm
(for charity) or by appt. A/E(charity)/H/X. Tel: 0223 264159.

Mrs M Nimmo-Smith, Cambridge. CB4 1AH. Mainly hardy ferns in small town garden ine.
Asplenium scolopendrium and Polypodium. A/F/M/X. Tel: 0223 65484.

University of Cambridge Botanic Garden, Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1JF. Hardy and
glasshouse ferns. Open all year; M-Sa, 8am-6.30pm/dusk; Su, 10am-6.30pm. B/E(Su)/F(M-
Sa)/P. Tel: 0223 336265.

Cheshire

The Fernery, Tatton Park Gardens, Knutsford, WA16 tie ee including Dicksonia
antarctica, Cyathea smithii, Cyathea dealbata, Woodwardia r Open all year; 12-4pm
every day except Mon (open B.Hols.) E/NT/P/S. Free to hve ar Tel: 0565-54822.

Cornwall

Burncoose and South Down Nursery, Gwennap, Redruth, TR16 6BJ. Mr CH

Tree ferns. Open: M-Sa, 9am-Spm; Su, 2-Spm. Ssegietices)/ oshsaeeyy neta “Tel 0209
861112.

Glen Durgan, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth. National Trust garden including Dicksonia antarctica,
oodwardia radicans, etc. Open: March-Oct. 10.30am-5.30pm Tu-Sa. E/NT/P.

a and Bridget Graham, Polpey, Par. Small fernery; 1 acre garden with various fern
: Woodwardia, Dryopteris, Polystichum (inc. unusual ones from Nepal), Cyrtomium.
aay 11am-Spm by iene only. A/E(donation to BPS)/M/X. Tel: 0726 813219.

Penjerick Garden, Budock Water, Falmouth, TR11 SED. Jane Bird, Head Gardener(M).
Tender ferns: Dicksonia antarctica (5.5m high; 2.10m girth), Pteris cretica, Polystichum
galis,

Botanical n Edinburgh. tours for groups. Open: Sun pm and Wed pm from 1
March-30 Sept. A/E/M/P/X. Tel: 0326 250074,

Trengwainton Gardens, Near Heamoor, Penzance, TR20 8RZ. Peter — Head Gardener.
National Trust garden including Dicksonia antarctica, Osmunda Api
scolopendrium, varieties of Blechnum and Polystichum, also Dryopteris, Matteuccia. O
W,Th,F,Sa & B.Hols; March-Oct. 10.30am-5.00pm(5.30 Apr-Sept). Coaches by Appointment
F/NT/P/S. Tel: 0736 63148.

Trewidden Estate Nursery, Trewidden, Penzance, TR20 8TT. Mr M G Snellgrove, Manager.
Dicksonia antartica. Open M-Sa, 8am-lpm & 2-Spm. E/N/S. Tel: 0736 62087.

Cumbria

Hartside Nursery, Alston, CA9 3BL. Neil and Susan Huntly. Specialist = cg es
good range of container-grown hardy ferns, inc. some rarities. Open: F, 9am-
5.30pm; Sa & B.Hols 10am-4pm; Su 12.30-4pm; Nov-Feb: by appt. rience conor Tel:
0434 381372.

The Lakeland Horticultural Society Gardens, Holehird, Ullswater Road, Windermere, LA23
NP. Miss C J Kelsall (M). National Collection of Polystichum (47 taxa); fern border and

ferns throughout garden (30 taxa of 9 genera). Private Trust open to public all year

F/NC/S(May)/P. Tel: 09662 6008 (11am-Spm, Apr-Oct).

John Mashiter, Elfrigg, Beachwood, Arnside LAS 0AU. Native ferns in woodland; unusual
varieties in garden and rock garden. F/M/X. Tel: 0524 761761.

Plant Hunters’ Plant Centre, Levens Hall, Levens, Kendal. Good selection of hardy fern
varieties in retail plant centre; also Heaves Nursery (wholesale). Plant Centre open: Su-Th from
Easter Sunday to 30 Sept, 10.30am-5.00pm. F/N/S. Tel: 0539 561126

Robert Sykes, Ormandy House, Crosthwaite, Kendal, LA8 8BP. Private collection of British
hardy ferns & varieties, especially Polystichum. A/M/X. Tel: 04488 321.

Sizergh Castle, Levens, Kendal, LA8 8AE. Mr M Hutcheson, Head Gardener (M). National
Collections of Asplenium scolopendrium, Cystopteris, Dryopteris, Osmunda. Open: Apr-31 Oct,
M,T,W,Th,Su,B.Hols, 12.30-5.30pm(gardens) 1.30-5.45pm(castle). E/NC/NT/P. Tel: 0539
560070.

Kings Gatchell, Higher Metcombe, Ottery St. Mary, EXi1 1SL. Mr Kenneth Adiam (M).
Private garden with National Collection of ferns (general). Open see Nat. Gardens Scheme
Yellow Book. A/E(50p)/F(BPS members)/M/NC/S/X. Tel: 0404 813944.

Knightshayes Gardens Trust, The Garden Office, Knightshayes, Tiverton, EX16 7R'
British ferns & varieties. Nat. Trust garden open Apr-Oct, 1lam-5.30pm. Spe “1S. Tel:
0884 253264.

Anthony Marriage, Rocombe, Lyme Regis. 3 acre private woodland garden oe approx. 50

species of ferns and a few varieties, plus rare trees and shrubs. Open occasi Suns/Mons
under National Gardens Scheme in Apr, May & Nov otherwise by appointment. A/E(for
charity)/M/S/X. Tel: 0297 443295.

Dorset

Kingston Lacy House, Wimborne, BH21 = 18 varieties of Dryopteris, Polystichum,
Asplenium, Athyrium, M.T,W,Sa,Su, 11.30am-

Matteuccia, Adian Open
6pm(gardens), 12-4.30(house). E/F(NT members)/NT/P/S(not ferns). Tel: 0202
Mr & Mrs C W W t, Seaborough, Beaminster DTS 3QY. Two-acre garden with many native
ferns inc. Polystich she setiferum 'Plumosum descendant. Open under National
ns Scheme or by appt. A/E/H/S(occasionally)/X. Tel: 0308 68426.

Essex
Robert Bolton, Halstead COO 4BQ. Small choice collection of hardy species and varieties,
many from the original Bolton collection. A/F/M/X. Tel: 044085 246/258.

Gloucestershire

Highfield Nurseries, Whitminster, GL2 7PL. Hardy British fern varieties: Athyrium, Cyrtomium,
Dryopteris, Matteuccia, Onoclea, Osmunda, Polypodium, Polystichum. Open M-Sa, 8am-Spm;
Su, llam-4pm. F/N/S. Tel: 0452 740266.

pshire

le Court Nursery, Hordle Lane, Hordle, Lymington, SO41 OHU. Roger Grounds or Diana
Grenfell(M). 15-20 ferns including National Collection of Woodwardia; varieties of British &
North American ferns. Open daily 10am-Spm. F/N/NC/S. 0590 642130.

Hillier Nurseries (Winchester) Ltd, Ampfield House, Ampfield, Romsey, SOS1 9PA. Small
chain of nurseries in Winchester, Romsey, Sunningdale and Newbury. Basic list of Hardy Ferns,
including Adiantum, Asplenium, Athyrium, Blechnum, Dryopteris, Matteuccia, Onocl
Osmunda, Polypodium, Polystichum.

Open 9am-5.30pm, M-Sa; 10am-5.30, Su & B.Hols. F/N/P/S. Tel: 0962 842288.

Sir Henry Peto Bt, Stream House, Selborne, Alton, GU34 3LE. 150-160 hardy British &
foreign ferns in private woodland with stream. A/F/M/X. Tel: 0420 50246.

Spinners, School Lane, Boldre, Lymington, SO41 SQE. Mark Fillan (M). Over 30 ferns in
woodland garden; hardy species inc. Blechnum, Adiantum, Dryopteris. Open: 20 Apr-1 Sept,
every day, 10am-Spm. A/E/M/N/S. Tel: 0590 673347.

Herefordshire

Abbeydore Court, Abbeydore, HR2 0AD. C L Ward. Private garden with Polystichum,
Polypodium, Athyrium, etc. Open from 3rd Sa in Mar to 3rd Su Oct: 1lam-6pm daily (closed
Wed). E/P/S. Tel: 0981 240419,

Mrs D M Blanchard, Fern Grotto, Near Leominster HR6 8RL. A 'Pulhamite’ Fernery built
1872 by Josiah Newman (brother of Edward) with dropping well and stream containing various
pteridophytes, some probably from the original collection of Edward Newman. Open any time
by appointment. A/F/M/X. Tel: 0568 612063.

The Old Rectory, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, SY8 2HP.
1) Mrs Hazel Rickard: Polypodium, hardy & half hardy fern nursery; many unusual.
A/F/M/N/S, and
2) Mr Martin Rickard: One acre garden with National Collection of Polypodium, Cystopteris
and thelypteroid ferns, plus general fern collection. Some 900 taxa in all, predominantly hardy.
A/F/M/NC/X. Tel: 0568 86282.

Anthony Pigott, Hertford SG14 3AQ. Study collections of Dryopteris and Equisetum.
A/F/M/X. Tel: 0992 552269.

Bernard Williams, Welwyn Garden City. Private garden with 180 mainly hardy species and
varieties. BPS members only. A/F/M/S/X. Tel: 0707 333797.

Humberside f
Culag, Nafferton, Driffield, Humberside. Mrs J K Marston (M). Nursery with wide range ©
~— . varieties. Open: Sa & Su, 1.30-Spm, Easter - mid-Sep, otherwise by appointment.
A/M/N/S.

Kent
Clive Jermy, Otford TN14 5QR. Dryopteris. Open: June/July only by appt. A/F/M/X. Tel:
09592 3654.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, TN17 2AB. Wide variety of hardy ferns
grown for their ornamental value in mixed plantings. Open: Easter to 13 Oct: Tu-F 1-6pm;
Sa/Su 10am-6pm; closed Mons. incl. Bank Hols. E/NT/P/S. Tel. 0580 712850.

Lancashire

Waithman Nurseries, 36 Lindeth Road, Silverdale, LAS OTY. Reginald Kaye (M). British
species & varieties, mainly British hardy species. Open: M-Sa, 8am-12 & 1-Spm; Su, 1.30-Spm.
F/M/N/S. Tel: 0524 701252.

Lincolnshire

The Fern Nursery, Grimsby Road, Binbrook, LN3 6DH. Neil Timm (M). British and foreign
species and cultivars. Open: Weekends and most weekdays 10am-Spm; 1 March- 31 Dec.
F/M/N/S. Tel: 0472 398092.

London

Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS. Historic apothecaries’
garden with collection of ferns first described or cultivated by Thomas Moore (Curator, 1848-
1887); planted in restored 1907 fern house. Open Apr -mid-Oct: W & Su, 2-5pm; also Chelsea
Show Week: Tu-F, 12-Spm. B/E/P/S(rarely ferns). Tel: 071 352 5646.

Merseyside
So aes Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Churchtown, Southport PR9 7NB. Indoor Fernery
built late 1870s with grottos and waterfalls; hardy & half hardy ferns inc. Dicksonia situated in
public park managed by Sefton Parks Dept. Open: 10am-4pm, April - end Sep. B/F/P. Tel:
0704 214164.

Northumbria gn
Howick Gardens, Alnwick, Northumberland. Wooded garden specialising in rhododencrons,
includes Blechnum penna-marina, Matteuccia and Osmunda. Open: Apr-Sep, 2-7pm. E/P. Tel:
0665 577285.

Notti

i i ing from
Newstead Abbey Park, Nottingham NG15 8GE. Hardy ferns in outdoor fernery dating
1860 in abbey gardens managed by City of Nottingham. Gardens open daily: 10am-dusk; closed
last Friday in November. E/P. Tel: 0623 793557.

Oxfordshire
Dr Keith and Mrs Doreen Holly, Oxford, OX2 8DX. Small collection of hardy ferns in a
suburban garden. Open to BPS members only. A/F/M/X. Tel: 0865 515879.

i British
University of Oxford Botanic Gardens, Rose Lane, Oxford, OX1 4AX. Tropical & hardy
erns. Open: 9am-Spm (winter:4.30pm); greenhouses, 2-4pm; closed Good Fri & Christmas Day.
B/E(Jul & Aug)/F(Sep-June)/P. Tel: 0865 242737.
Staffordshire :
Mrs Joyce Heywood, Chapel Chorlton, STS SJN. Various hardy ferns in garden of unusual
hardy plants. A/F/H/S/X. Tel: 0782 680206.

oan Loraine, Greencombe, Porlock, TA24 8NU. Private garden with National Collection
of Sade etc. Open: Sa-Tu, 2-6pm, Apr-July. E/M/NC/S/X. Tel: 0643 862363.

Surrey
Mrs Pat Roberts, Seale, Farnham GU10 ING. Woodland garden with hardy ferns. A/F/M/X.
Tel: 02518 2778.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Approx. 1200 taxa of temperate and
tropical pteridophytes grown, many of which are displayed, mainly in the Princess of Wales
Conservatory. Open: M-Sa, 10am-6.30 (winter: 4pm), Su & B.Hols, 10am-8pm. B/E/P. Tel:
081 940 1171.

Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, GU23 6QB. Extensive collection of hardy

species and cultivars inc. Polystichum, Dryopteris, Polypodium, Osmunda, etc. in gardens,
woodlands and greenhouses. BPS Centenary collection by the glasshouses. Open all year; M-Sa

10am-7pm/Dusk; Su RHS members only. B/E/F(RHS members)/P/S. Tel: 0483 224234.

Savill Garden, Wick Lane, Englefield Green, Egham, TW20 0UU. John Bond, antes of .
Gardens (M). National Collection of Hardy Ferns distributed throughout the garden.
all year B's 25-28 Dec), M-F, 10am-6pm, Sa/Su, 10am-7pm/sunset. E/NC/P/S, Tel: 0753

University of London Botanic Garden, Egham Hill, Egham, TW20 OBN. Brian Gale, Curator
(M). University botanic garden with wide range of species (inc. tropical) of ferns and fern
allies, but no cultivars. Open on Open Days and by appointment. A/B/E/M. Tel: 0784 433303
(Brian Gale or Anne Daly).

Sussex
Nick Schroder, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1JG. General collection of hardy ferns,
especially Athyrium. A/M/X. Tel: 0444 415271.

Wakehurst Place (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17
6TN. Limited collections of cultivated hardy ferns, including Osmunda, saeanet baits
plus ferns of the Sussex Weald in woodlands, incl. Dryopteris aemula. Open: all year, times
vary. B/E/NT/P. Tel: 0444 892701.

Warwickshi
Fibrex Nurseries Ltd, H oneybourne Road, Pebworth, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 8XxT. Mrs
Hazel Key (M). Nursery with British & foreign hardy and tender ferns. Open: Apr-Jul, T-Su,
12-Spm; Aug-Mar, M-F, 12-Spm. F/M/N/S. Tel: 0789 720789.

West Midlands
Birmingham University Botanic Garden, Winterbourne, 58 Edgbaston Park Road, a we
re ge dag some B15 2RT. Prof. R.AD. Cameron. Hardy and Indoor Ferns. A/B/E/P. Tel:

Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham
B15 3TR. Mainly indoor, inc. tree ferns in Palm House, and some hardy ferns. Open daily:
10am-dusk (or 8pm). B/E/P/S. Tel: 021 454 1860.

Clive Brotherton, Sedgeley, Dudley DY3 3BJ. Private garden with magnificent collection of
Cheilanthes. A/E/M/X. ‘Tel: 0902 671482

Mr A R Busby, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8GD. Private garden with National Collection of
unda and a wide selection of British and foreign hardy ferns. Open: July-Sept only.
A/F/M/X. Tel: 0203 715690.

Ray and Rita Coughlin, Lydiate Ash, Bromsgrove B60 1NZ. Garden with extensive collection
of Adiantum, Athyrium, Dryopteris, Polypodium, Polystichum, etc. A/F/M/X. Tel: 021 453
3416,

Alan and Valerie Ogden, Hopwood, Birmingham. Private garden with British & sien Cone
& varieties, incl. Dryopteris, Polystichum, Adiantum, Osmunda, Matteuccia & Onoc
in greenhouse. A/M/X. Tel: 021 445 3804.

Brenda and Ray Smith, Shirley, Solihull. Private garden with hardy and tender fern species and
varieties. A/F/M/X. 021 744 7775.

Worcestershire
Treasures of Tenbury Ltd, Burford House Gardens, Burford, Tenbury Wells, WR15 8HQ. Wide
range of eon in garden borders, garden centre, 18thC house, gardening museum, tea room.
Open March to mid-Oct, M-Sa 10am-5pm; Su 1-5pm:; in winter M-F by appt.
aiodinenypes/ufevee 0584 810777.

Yorkshire
Mr Jack Bouckley, Harrogate, N. Yorks. Private garden, general ferns. A/F/M/S/X. Tel:
0423 566948.

Michael Myers, Smelthouses, Summerbridge, Harrogate HG3 4DH. Approx. 90 varieties of
hardy ferns grown in walls & raised beds.. A/E(for NCCPG)/M/S(occasionally)/X. Tel: 0423
780291.

Northern Horticultural Society, Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens, Crag Lane, Harrogate, N.
Yorks. HG3 1QB. National Collections of oy te te & Polypodium. Open: all year, 9am-dusk.
B/E/NC/P/S. Free to NHS members. Tel: 0423 508237.

ith extensive
Branklyn Garden, Branklyn, Perth PH2 7BB. National Trust for Scotland garden wi
collection of pei ee 40 species and seamen es of ers Asplenium, Athyrium,
Blechnum, Cryptogramma, opteris, Dryop Osmunda, son
Matteuccia, Lig gale Polypodium, Pobatichaunt i elaginella. Open: 1 March - 31 Oct,
9.30am-sunset. E/NTS/P/S. Tel: 0738 25535.

Dawyck Botanic Garden, Stobo, Peeblesshire EH45 WU. David Knott, Asst. Curator. A

ferns in a
specialist garden of the RBG Edinburgh with hardy native and N. American
garden. Open daily: 15 March - 31 Oct. 10am-6pm or by appt. B/E/P. Tel: 0721 254.

Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, a mips QUE. ee i
of Tree sort bble Palace), tropical ferns a ection from Papua New Guinea,
abe , n: Kibble Palace, 10am-4.30pm daily; Main range, 14.30pm

of glasshouses. Open:
daily; Filmy Fern House by request. A(filmy Hacey ena” Tel: 041 334 2422.
P Cter wie oe Achnashellach, Ross-shire. Private garden approx. 100 species plus some
ane] apna rer: grag aga heen a tunnel.
A/F/M/X. Tel: 0520 6218.

Inverewe Garden, Poolewe, Ross-shire IV22 2LG. Peter Clough (M). Indoor & Outdoor fern |
collections. Open: daily, dawn-dusk. E/NT/P. Tel: 0445 86441.

Linn Nursery, Shore = Cove, Dunbartonshire, G84 ONR. Dr J Taggart. Osmunda, |
pai ag Athyrium and Polypodium in lake-side setting, marsh and rockery in Gulf Stream

arden of over 6,000 s Pelee Open: 10am-dusk; closed Thurs & Sun am.
F/N/P/S(not ferns). Tel: 0436 842242.

Logan Botanic Garden, Port Logan, Stranraer, Wigtownshire DG9 9ND (14 miles south of
Stranraer on B7065). Barry Unwin, Asst. Curator. Specialist garden of RBG Edinburgh,
established 100 years ago by sea in Gulf Stream. Temperate, southern hemisphere plants; tree
ferns inc. various Macaronesian and southern hemisphere ferns in walled garden. Open daily:
15 March - 31 Oct. 10am-6pm or by appt. B/E/P/S. Tel: 0776 86231.

Royal Botanic Garden eget Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR. i C bs Page (M).
Subtropical Fern House; various study collections including Equisetum & Pteridium.

: March-April 10am-6pm; May-Aug 10am-8pm; Sept-Oct 10am-6pm; Nov-Feb 10am-4pm.
A(Dr Page)/B/F/P. Tel: 031 552 7171.

Alison Rutherford, Soomrigeter: Dunbartonshire. Trichomanes speciosum, Hymenophyllum
demissum in Wardian e; small fern border in garden; woodland fernery in progress ss. Open:
Evenings (exc. Sa). A/F/M/X. Tel: 0436 71510 (after 10.30am exc. Weds) or 75603 “(eves).

Younger Botanic Garden, Benmore, Dunoon, Argyll PA23 8QU. Arthur Hall, Asst. Curator.
A specialist garden of RBG Edinburgh with 26 species of native ferns in woodland garden.
Open daily: 15 March - 31 Oct. 10am-6pm or by appt. B/E/P/S. Tel: 0369 6261.

WALES
Christopher D Fraser-Jenkins, Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan. National Collection of Dryopteris
(over 300 taxa) and many other ferns, plus greenhouse, rare trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
Open occasional Sundays in May and June (under National Gardens Scheme) and by |
appointment. A/E(for charity)/M/NC/X. Tel: 0656 766880.

CHANNEL ISLANDS

Mrs Gunilla Hailes, Guernsey. Adiantum, Asplenium, Athyrium, Blechnum x 3, Dryopteris,
Gymnocarpium, Matteuccia, Onoclea, Osmunda x 5, Polypodium, Polystichum; plus 100’ tropical
greenhouse. A/F/M/X. Tel: 0481 47293.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Dr Charles Nelson. Tropical fern species in

glasshouses; hardy ferns out of doors; miscellaneous collections of other Pteridophytes. Ope?
Summer 9am-6pm; Winter 10am-4 as posted. B/F/P. Tel: (010 353)
1 374388.

GERMANY
Botanischer Garten der Universitat Freiburg, Schanzlestrasse 1, D-7800 Freiburg LBR. Prot
Dr D Vogellehner (M). University botanical eee including: Polypodium musifolium,
Aglaomorpha heraclea, A. coronans, Hemionitis arifolia, Cyathea australis. Open: : Tu, Th,Sat
2-4pm; Su 10am-12/2-4pm. B/F/P/S. Tel: (010 49) | re 2032763.