266 MR. F. W. STANSFIELD ON APOSPORY IN 
base; the enlarged process begins to look like the stnmp of a 
frond, but is not cireinate. 
Sept. 1, 1898.-—The fleshy process from prothallus No. 1 has 
assumed the form of an axis of growth, a bud or crown forming 
at the bifureation, and the blunt processes assuming the character 
of fronds. 
Oct. 1.—The pinnulets or leaflets upon the various fronds 
from the prothallus and buds are semi-translucent and 
lacerated at their edges. Iam pinning down a few of them to 
see if they will develop into protball. The first bud which 
appeared (not from a prothallus) is now a dense tuft of ramulose 
fronds like the parent unco-glomeratum. Prothallus No. 1 has 
three distinct axes of growth, from all of which ramulose fronds 
are arising. The prothallus is beginning to shrink. 
Oct. 18.—Some of the pinnulets which I pinned down on 
Oct. 1 are obviously growing at their edges, and one or two 
which do not quite touch the soil are developing root-hairs. 
These are, however, short and scanty. 
Nov. 6.—A frondlet is emerging from the sinus of a third 
prothallus. There does not seem to be any functional difference 
between the upper and lower surfaces. Close to the sinus the 
prothallus has twisted upon itself, the under surface coming 
uppermost and taking on the smooth shining character of the 
normal upper surface. Root-hairs are emitted from what was 
the upper but is now the lower surface. 
Dec. 8.—The root-hairs which were visible a month ago on 
one of the pinnulets from prothallus No. 1, whieh was not in 
contact with the soil, have perished. Those in contact with the 
soil are living and pre sumably rooted, but very little growth is 
now going on.) 
SuMMARY OF RESULTS OF EXPERIMENT. 
(1) The fact that detached portions of frond from a deciduous 
fern can be kept alive for over eighteen months is a little re- 
markable. Had they been left on the parent plant they would 
undoubtedly have perished the first winter. 
(2) Influence of environment on the development. 
(3) The rapidity and energy with which the isolated protoplasm 
