602 SUMMAEY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



more markedly from the European, but are not clearly distinct from the 

 more northern form, and therefore are best considered as an aberrant 

 geographical variety. (4) A boreal and high Alpine fern found in 

 Eastern Quebec and in the Alpine areas of Western North America is a 

 clearly distinct geographical variety of the Old World yl. alpestre. 



II, The second study is concerned mth Botrychium virginiammi and 

 its American varieties. As a result of his investigation the author has 

 drawn up a key comprising the type, five varieties, and B. cicutarium. 



Systematic Significance of the Fern-spore.'-' — J. B. Kummerle 

 maintains that the fern-spore, whether radial or bilateral, has a systematic 

 significance. The bilateral spore-form is characteristic of Lonchitis ; 

 the species of Lonchitis which possess tetrahedral spores are transferred 

 by the author to the 'genus Antiosorus Roem. Whether the spore-form 

 serves as a generic character in other genera of Polypodiace^, Schizieaceas 

 and Gleicheniaceffi, is determined by vegetative characters, with which 

 there exists an unmistakable internal and external morphological 

 agreement. Even if the spore-form is not characteristic for the genus, 

 it still should be mentioned, since the two spore -forms may be useful 

 guides for subgenera, sections, etc., as, for instance, in Antrophyim 

 according to Benedict. In any case a study of the spore-form is 

 important. There are also cases where in a certain species one of the 

 spore-forms is prevalent. 



Lonchitis.f— J. B. Kiimmerle publishes a monograph of the genus 

 LoncJdtis, in which he recognizes ten species and three forms, while 

 several species hitherto placed in this genus are transferred to Antiosorus 

 and elsewhere. An emended generic diagnosis is given, which repre- 

 sents Christensen's subgenus Eulomhitis. The species are distributed 

 in four sections— Curroriae, Pubescentes, Glabrae, Histeropteridte — 

 which are distinguished by the colour of the frond, the kind of 

 pubescence, and the presence or absence of paraphyses. The species are 

 chiefly African ; and a key for their easier determination is provided. 



Coniogramme.l — G. Hieronymus publishes a monograph of the 

 genus Coniogramme. As characteristics of the genus, and for the dis- 

 crimination of the species and varieties, the author takes into account 

 the rhizome, the scales on the rhizome and stipes, the stipes and rhachis, 

 the fronds and the sori. Points of difference occur in the thickness, 

 length, form and division of the vascular bundles in the rhizome ; and 

 in the relative sizes of the scales and in the development of the apex. 

 The stipes and rhachis show only slight differences, concerned with 

 possible furrows or channels, colour, length and thickness. The 

 development of the frond is of importance. When young it is probably 



* Bot. Kozlem., xiv. (1915) pp. 159-66. See also Bob. Centralbl., cxxxii. (1916) 

 p. 524. 



t Bot. Kozlem., xiv. (1915) pp. 166-88. See also Bot. Centralbl., cxxxii. (1916) 

 pp. 524-5. 



+ Hedwigia, Ivii. (1916) pp. 266-328. See also Bot. Centralbl., cxxxu. (1916) 

 pp. 458-9. 



