532 MR. E. J. LOWE ON SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE. 
prothalli having the female organs, and in fact there is an 
absence of the whole of the original prothallus. 
In the experiments described in this paper the first division 
was made on January 6th, 1888; this was again divided in the 
autumn of 1893,* a third time it was divided in September, 
1894, and a fourth in February, 1895. One of these divisions 
produced fronds in May, 1895, whilst under a bell-glass, and 
without any artificial impregnation, 7 e., new generative organs 
had been formed. There were two of these divisions, one 
having four and the other five plants growing round the 
margin, whilst in both cases a very peculiar plant grew from 
the centre (I have only taken two of these examples, as these are 
the only ones that have been microscopically examined by 
experts). 
The portions did not all form fronds at the same time, 
but they were spread over several mouths. One portion on 
January 8th, 1896, is yet in the prothalloid condition, and is 
being watched by Mr. Lang, Dr. Scott, and Professor Farmer. 
The middle plants in the before-mentioned two examples 
had quite a Marchantia look and were actually mistaken for 
Liverwort, until it was pointed out that they must be fronds, 
as they bore stipes; the margins of these fronds also curled 
back in a singular manner. No two central plants have beer 
alike, but they all had originally Marchantia-looking fronds. 
These have been examined by Professor Bower and Mr. C. 
Druery, and subsequently by Professor Farmer. The last 
prothallus is now at Kew; this prothallus is not in such an 
advanced state, so that we may yet expect the development of 
other peculiarities. 
The marginal plants are not botanically different, but they 
«pparently show the parentage of Scolopendrium vulgare, var. 
erispum, in the offspring. The archegonia were not present 
until after the new prothalloid growth, it will therefore be 
interesting to see the development of their characters; the 
plants are yet too young to ascertain their peculiar features 
* It may be explained that between 1888 and 1898 T made no sub- 
d ivisions, I was then only ascertaining how long a prothallus could be kept 
alive without frond-life, every now and then crossing one or more, but in 
1893 it occurred to me to ascertain by a series of subdivisions what would 
result from such experiments, and a peculiar growth of plant-life, apospory, 
archegonia, and antheridia, has been the consequence. 
| 
| 
