Edgbrlet. — ProtJuzllia of Three New Zealand Lycopods. 1 3 



(fig. 21) three young sporophytes had reached practically the same height. 



Although they were all about 1| in. high, the prothallium showed no signs 



of decay. 



Unfortunately, it was not possible to obtain sufficient stages to trace 



the development of the em- 

 bryo, but it is probably of 

 the L. clavatuin] type. The 

 foot is large and persistent, 

 a fact which is in relation 

 to the depth of the pro- 

 thallium below the surface 

 of the soil, and the,' late 

 appearance of the first root. 

 The foot may be recognized 

 as a small projection at the 

 base of a young sporophyte 

 which has become detached 

 from the prothallium. The 

 first-formed leaves are scale- 

 like. 



A longitudinal section of 

 the base of a young plant 

 still attached to a prothallium 

 passing through the foot 

 shows essentially the same 

 structure as in L. volubile. 



Figs. 20, 21. — Prothallia of L. scariosum, bearing 

 one and three young sporophytes respectively. 

 Natural size. 



There is a limiting layer of cells with more abundant contents and large nuclei. 



Fig. 22. — Section through foot of young plant of L. scariomm 

 still attached to prothallium. xy, xylem ; pr.l, prothallial 

 tissue ; l.l, limiting layer of foot X 267. 



The cells of the foot are large, and though there is no prolongation 

 of the vascular tissue into the foot the central cells are elongated to 

 assist conduction (fig. 22). 



