The Fern Bulletin, October 1903: A Quarterly Devoted to FernsVarious
Science
The Fern Bulletin, October 1903: A Quarterly Devoted to Ferns
Various
Ferns
Miss Angie M. Ryon, Niantic, Conn., reports finding fine plants of
_Ophioglossum vulgatum_ upon a very rocky hillside, the roots crowding
themselves between the bits of rock that had been broken up by loads of
heavy timber passing over them the previous year. The plants were
exposed to the full rays of the sun for most of the day.
WILLIAM RALPH MAXON.
William Ralph Maxon, whose portrait is presented this month, first saw
the light at Oneida, N.Y., on Feb. 27, 1877, where his parents reside.
He graduated at Oneida High School in the class of 1894. From there he
went to Syracuse University, where he took the degree of Ph. B. in 1898.
The bent of his mind was toward botany and almost immediately after
graduating he went to New York and was employed for a few months in the
herbarium of the Botanical Garden at Bronx Park. From there he went to
Washington and took a temporary position in the U.S. National Museum.
But in August, 1899, as the result of a Civil Service examination, he
received the appointment of Aid in Cryptogamic Botany in that
institution, and still retains that position.
Mr. Maxon joined the Fern Chapter in 1895, served as its secretary for
the year 1899, and as president of the Chapter for the two years 1900
and 1901. He is a member of the Botanical Society of Washington, of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, and of two other
local societies in Washington. He has published several valuable papers
on botanical subjects, among which are “A List of the Ferns and Fern
Allies of North America north of Mexico;” “On the Occurrence of the
Hart’s-tongue in America,” which formed his presidential address before
the Fern Chapter at its meeting in New York in 1900; “A Study of Certain
Mexican and Guatemalan Species of Polypodium”; besides several shorter
papers containing descriptions of new species, including a continued
series in the Fern Bulletin entitled “Notes on American Ferns.” For a
young man Mr. Maxon has done some notably good work, and his position in
the National Museum is one which will give him exceptional opportunities
for original work in the future.—_B. D. Gilbert._
ANOTHER STATION FOR ASPLENIUM EBENEUM HORTONAE.
It affords me much pleasure to report another station for the remarkable
fern now known as _Asplenium ebeneum Hortonae_.
A single fine specimen some eight or ten inches high was discovered by
Miss K. A. French at the base of a ledge in Pittsford, Vt. No sign of
fertility is discernible in the old fronds decaying about the base, the
season’s growth or the newer fronds stretching up indoors. Whence came
this beautiful variation in the midst of type specimens galore?—_G. A.
Woolson, Pittsford Mills, Vt._
INDEX TO CURRENT LITERATURE RELATING TO FERNS.
Readers are requested to call our attention to any omissions from this
list.
Clute, W. N. _Fernwort Notes—III._ Fern Bulletin, Jl. 1903.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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