HoLLOWAT. — Studies in the New Zealand Species of Lycopodiuni. 285 



s. distinct epithelial laj-er of small regularly arranged cells (fig. 83). 

 There was also a central core of lignified cells Avhich was continuous with 

 the sclerenchyma zone of the stem. Although the prothallus of this 

 species was not found, it is evident from the presence of the foot and 

 its depth below the surface of the ground that the prothallus would belong 

 to one of the subterranean types, as in the case of the three succeeding 

 species, and that the young plant is dependent upon its parent prothallus 

 for a considerable time. 



L. ramulosum. 



The young plant of this species corresponds very closely in its struc- 

 ture and manner of development to that of L. laterale. There is a 

 protocorm which attains to a comparatively large size before the stem- 

 axis is originated, and, as in the case of L. laterale, this protocorm may 

 even branch. One peculiar feature, however, in the young plant of the 

 present species must be referred to. In the young plant shown in fig. 32h 

 it will be seen that, contrary to what normally takes place, the growing 

 ■end of the protocormous rhizome has continued its growth after the stem- 

 axis and first root have developed. In fact, the end of this rhizome 

 seems to have branched, the two developing branches appearing as bulbous 

 outgrowths, each surmounted by a single protophyll. I am inclined to 

 regard these bulbous branches as vegetative bulbils which would be 

 capable of independent existence. In another instance seven young 

 plants Avere found bunched together. They had to be extricated from 

 one another. Two of them were exceedingly small, showing respectively 

 one and two i^rotophylls each; three others were of slightly larger size, 

 having three or more protophylls ; while the two remaining were much 

 larger and apparently older, with somewhat irregularly grown rhizomes. 

 Each of these plantlets or j^ortions was developing, its growth being 

 localized in some particular spot, which was a vivid green, while the 

 rest of the plantlet was browner in colour. From the appearance of these 

 plantlets and from the manner of their occurrence I concluded that they 

 were vegetative outgrowths from, or portions of, one original and ii-regu- 

 larly grown protocormous I'hizome. In several other instances I have 

 found two or more young plantlets in the closest proximity to an older 

 and brown-coloured rhizome. These plantlets almost invariably consisted 

 of a brownish basal portion surmounted by a few protophylls, one or two 

 of which were semi-decayed, while at some point or other on the plantlet 

 there was a bluntly rounded vividly green area which was obviously the 

 growing region. Ih none of these instances was a prothallus or the 

 remains of a prothallus to be seen anywhere near the j'oung plants, 

 although some of the latter were exceedingly small. Further investiga- 

 tion of this point is necessary, but it would appear to be probable that 

 the protocormous rhizome of L. ramulosum under certain circumstances 

 gives rise to vegetative bulbils which develop into young plants. 



L. volubile, L. fastigiatum, L. scariosum. 



In these species the prothallus is subterranean, and is large, firm, 

 and long-lived, so that it supports the young plant till the latter has 

 attained to a considerable size. In fact, two or even three plantlets may 

 arise on the one prothallus in the case of each of these three species, 

 although eventually only one continues its development. It will suffice 

 to state that, as in the last species, and also in L. clavatum as described 

 by Lang (14), the foot in the embryo plant of these three species is of a 



