ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 777 



small and large doses. Similar results were obtained in the case of 

 sugar-formation, but when very large doses were given there was an in- 

 crease in the amount of sugar, probably because of the complete cessation 

 of the transformation of sugar into polysaccharides. The inversion of non- 

 reducing to reducing sugars was retarded by both small and large doses. 

 Destruction of proteids and formation of amides was accelerated by small 

 and retarded by large doses, but very large doses caused increase in the 

 amount of amides. The ripening process of seeds and its accompanying 

 synthesis of proteids is accelerated by small and retarded by large doses. 

 The results seem to show that in all the above-mentioned cases an 

 exciting phase is produced by small doses of short duration ; this is fol- 

 lowed by the narcotic-phase proper, which is produced by small doses of 

 long duration and large doses of short duration, and is characterized by 

 retardation of the normal processes. Large doses and average doses of 

 long duration cause the toxic phase, characterized by death phenomena. 



CRYPTOGAMS. 



Pteridophyta. 

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



Ophioglossum palmatum.* — M. A. Chrysler discusses the question 

 of whether Ophioglossum palmatum is anomalous, namely whether the 

 several to many fertile spikes are derived by duplication or branching of 

 the single spike found in 0. vulgatum, or whether the spikes represent 

 fertile lobes of the leaf. The former is the view lately advocated by 

 F. 0. Bower ; and the latter represents the usual view. Chrysler dis- 

 cusses the respective arguments for and against. Further investigation 

 is required to settle the question. 



Hemigramma latifolia.f — W. N. Clute gives a description and 

 figure of Hemigramma latifolia, an anomalous fern which has been 

 referred to various sections of Acrostichum, Hemionitis, etc. It is the 

 type of the genus Hemigramma Christ. Specifically it has been known 

 as Zollingeri. It occurs in the Philippines aud other East Indian 

 islands. 



Asplenium alternans in America. — W. A. PoyserJ indicates the 

 identity of Asplenium Ferrissi Clute with the Himalayan A. alternans 

 Wallich. The former was found in Arizona in 1908. The latter is 

 known from Abyssinia also. Both descriptions and specimens of the 

 two species agree. 



J. H. Ferriss§ collected A. Ferrissi in Arizona at an altitude of 

 7 O00 ft. in the Huachuca mountains, Cochise county. Most of the 

 specimens collected have died under cultivation. 



"W. N. Clute || discusses the distribution of the above fern. Of its 



* Bot. Gaz.. lii. (1911) pp. 151-3. 



t Fern Bull., xix. (1911) pp. 46-8 (1 pi.). 



J Fern Bull., xix. (1911) pp. 33-G. 



§ Fern Bull., xix. (1911) pp. 36-8. 



|| Fern Bull., xix. (1911) pp. 38-42. 



