ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 463 



mitochondria, their general function and their lipoid character. 

 According to this theory, the mitochondria are a support to and the 

 region of the process of oxidation. This theory appears to assume that 

 all mitochondria are of the same chemical nature, an assumption which 

 has no support ; but if it can be shown that they all contain lipoids, the 

 objection might be overcome. The present writer considers that both 

 these hypotheses may be correct, and concludes by pointing out the 

 importance of the solution of the problem in dealing with the cmestion 

 of nutrition. 



CRYPTOGAMS. 



Pteridophyta. 

 (By A. Gepp, M.A., F.L.S.) 



Phylogeny of the Filicales.* — F. 0. Bower publishes some studies 

 in the phylogeny of Blechnum and allied genera — Plagiogyria, Mat- 

 teuccia, Sadleria, Lomaria, Stenochlsena, Brainea, Woodivardia, Doodia, 

 Scolopendrium, Asplenium — and gives the following summary of his 

 work. 1. These Blechnoid ferns and Blechnoid derivatives are believed 

 to represent a true phyletic sequence. 2. Its origin has been traced in 

 relation to the Cyatheoid ferns. 3. An actual point of probable contact 

 has been found in Matteuccia intermedia C. Chr. 4. From such a source 

 appear to have sprung several divergent lines. The main line leads 

 through section Lomaria to Eu-Blechnum. 5. This involves the origin 

 of the "flange," and diversion of the "phyletic margin" to indusial 

 functions, as the structure styled by the older writers the " false in- 

 dusium." 6. Minor lines led to Acrostichoid derivatives, respectively 

 in Stenochlsena and Brainea. 7. Interruption of the fusion-sorus, fore- 

 shadowed as an anomaly in Blechnum, led to the status shown in 

 Woodivardia and Doodia. 8. An outward arching of the fusion-sorus of 

 Blechnum, ultimately combined with interruption, foreshadowed in the 

 varieties of B. punctidatum, gives the key to the origin of Scolopendrium. 

 {). An outward swinging of the interrupted fusion-sori, variously com- 

 bined with archings and new formations of partial sori, and various 

 branchings of the leaf, give the several types of Asplenium. 10. The 

 relation of Plagiogyria to the whole series is problematical. It seems 

 probable that it is an isolated, as it is certainly a relatively primitive 

 genus. 11. All the ferns here considered belong to the Superficiales. 

 But in the methods of their advance they show interesting parallels with 

 representatives of the Marginales. 



Jurassic Osmundacese from New Zealand.f — E. W. Sinnott gives 

 an account of some Osmundacea? obtained from the Jurassic formations 

 of the north and south islands of New Zealand. 1. They are referred 

 to Osmundites Dunlopi. 2. They show a parenchymatous pith, with no 

 phloem or endodermis. Leaf-gaps are very narrow and often " delayed," 

 but always present. 3. One specimen shows in the pith typical diarch 



* Ann. of Bot., xxviii. (1914) pp. 363-431 (11 pis.). 

 t Ann. of Bot., xxviii. (1914) pp. 471-9 (1 pi.). 



