Garden

The title might sound like a mysterious and, frankly, academic question but the significance may become clear in this article.

In the Pteridologist magazine in 2000 Patricia Watt mentioned that Anthony Parsons (AP) was honoured by having a fern, Gymnogramma chrysophylla parsonii , named for him. This is a Victorian name, no longer in use, so it was a bit of a mystery as to what this fern could be. No records have yet come to light from this once renowned gardener or from family archives that would shed light on what this fern looked like, or why AP was honoured by having it named for him.  Plants cultivars are often named for the first person to come across or cultivate the unique variation. The usual internet search did not throw much light on this as there seemed to be no readily available Victorian taxonomy to modern plant names translator.
Our friend Peter Blake of the Pteridological Society had a look at some historic books that he was familiar with and has found the modern name of the original. He feels it is a cultivar of Pityrogramma austro-americana, a small fern from central and southern Americas only suitable for hothouse growing but difficult to make thrive. Part of a group that have glorious golden or silver powder effect on young frond stipe, or stalk, and later a complete golden covering on the reverse of each mature frond, in the case of P. austro-americana.

We have found the following enticing information. In the 1850s AP was a well respected gardener, cultivator and exhibitor of both his fruit and flowers. In the 1860s he continued showing and added ferns, particularly his Pityrogramma calamelanos parsonii. He was mentioned in the ‘ Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener in 1865 for showing and gaining First Class Certificates.

Benjamin Samuel Williams of Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, London, wrote a book in 1868 called ‘Select Ferns and Lycopods: British and Exotic’. It is a comprehensive instruction book and catalogue of ferns no doubt intended to encourage visits to his nursery and on page 140 he says:
“G chrysophyla parsonii – A most beautiful variety, obtained from seed (spore, Ed.) in this country. It retains all the beauty of the species, and, in addition, the apex of the fronds and every pinnae is densely and beautifully tasselled. This plant should be in every collection of tropical Ferns.”

George Schneider’s “Book of Choice Ferns” , 1893 describes Gymnogramma calamelanos parsonii as “A beautifully crested form, of comparatively dwarf dimensions, with fronds seldom exceeding 1ft. in length, and covered on their under-side with a beautiful dark yellow powder. They are of a very upright habit, their extremity being formed into a broad but finely-divided tassel, while each leaflet terminates in a crest, becoming smaller as they reach the base of the fronds. This variety is very variable in its mode of fructification, some plants producing fronds with more or less flattened crests. It is very liable to damping-off through excessive or accumulation of moisture in the crests of the fronds during the winter, when it must be kept in a particularly dry place, and as close to the light as possible.”

Peter has seen the un-crested Pityrogramma austro-americana in his travels to India and Ceylon as well as growing them in his own glass-house. He mentions that they are hard to grow but, as I have seen, are gloriously yellow stipe when young. 

So in conclusion, it appears our Victorian gardener here at Danesbury Fernery was either lucky or brilliant at cultivation and was one of the few people recorded then or since to have cultivated the Gymnogramma chrysophylla parsonii. We now believe it to be based on Pityrogramma austro-americana, which if anyone can find a crested version should again be named for Anthony Parsons.

The following is written and posted by Colin Adlam

Am I a Pteridologist, or a Pteridomaniac?

I was looking through my old photos to see what triggered my interest in ferns. The photos show a tendency towards structural things, those not of family and friends. Buildings, trees, vehicles and latterly ferns. We used to visit a lot of National Trust properties with the kids and I think my first fern purchase probably came from one of them as a memento. In the mid ‘Noughties’ we had our front garden landscaped and had to re-plant the whole area. I acquired a small plot for the few ferns I had in containers and planted them out eagerly. The site was in the shade but above the root system of 2 vast Laurels that had once been the hedge, and a tall conifer. Not ideal.

Every spring copious watering would bring the ferns back to life again and continuous watering kept them lush for the summer months. I always looked forward to seeing those first croziers peek out and unfurl. They fascinated me. From about the year 2000 to 2010 my random collection grew to over 20 different species and cultivars with purchases at other NT houses and at Hampton Court RHS Flower Show, mainly bought from two guys that call their company ‘Fernatix’.

In 2009/10 we landscaped our back garden, with patio, water feature and fish pond, and I moved the main collection to two new areas. Leaving just a couple of large Blechnum nudum out front, the remaining plants were split between the small area next to our patio and a larger area below the pond. Both are on the southern boundary and shaded by a tree or the tall hedge. Masses of organic material was, and still is, dug in to keep the soil moist. Pride of place was given to the Polystichum setiferum ‘Plumosum Bevis’, a very darkly attractive Soft Shield fern.

Lower Fern Bed

The interest in collecting leads naturally to wanting to learn more about ferns; to see, photograph and uncontrollably purchase more. I am a besotted and incurable ‘fernatic’, or what the Victorians called – a Pteridomaniac! In the last 10 years I have taken over 3 further areas of the garden, the most successful being the shady and sheltered unused strip along the side path.

A few years back my wife and daughter, visiting the Chelsea Flower Show, saw a stand run by an organisation with an unpronounceable name. Deciding that it would be a good joke, they signed me up for membership of the British Pteridological Society. The regular publications started arriving, 3 different formats of newsletter plus emails, and I eventually got to this year’s AGM. I was fearful that the number of ‘Dr.’ prefixes in the organisation would make for a very academic day. Far from it. The day included a reasonably short formal AGM, some interesting presentations and slide-shows, a sale of BPS branded goods and a spore exchange. I met nice people with a similar interest, but often a far greater knowledge of ferns than I have memory capacity for.

Having recently visited two couples in Norfolk who are Pteridoligical Society members I realise my collection, and my retention of details, is woefully short of optimum. So I consider myself a Pteridomaniac, rather than a Pteridologist, enjoying collecting ferns and learning what I can from browsing books and catalogues.

I hope to help the Friends’ of Danesbury Local Nature Reserve community that have welcomed me with open arms, and occasionally get the name of a fern correctly identified. I look forward to seeing you all at working days at Danesbury as often as I can make it.

Colin Adlam

The following is reported by Colin Adlam

For the June 17th Open Day, I planted some spare ferns from my garden, leaving them at that stage in their plastic pots. Most of these have survived thanks to the teams’ brilliant watering efforts throughout this exceptionally hot summer. Wasn’t it glorious?

All those new ferns that survived have now been properly planted in the beds where they were located, as the beds have now been properly dug-over. Only one or two ferns were lost completely, and those can easily be topped up later in the year.

I also trimmed any totally scorched fronds on other plants and can report that many of those had new croziers popping their heads up. We should see some good growth in a mild damp autumn.

All the ‘Tatting ferns’ up the back wall of the dropping well have survived, and I hope for a good show of an interesting decorative fern next year.