192 Pflanzenkrankheiten. — Pteridophyten. 



O'Gara, P. J., A bacterial disease o( western wheat- 

 grass. First account of the occurrency a new type of 

 bacterial disease in America. (Science. N. S. XLII. p. 616— 

 617. Oct. 29, 1915.) 



A disease of Agropyron in man}' respects comparable with that 

 of Dactylis caused by Aplanobacter Rathayi. Trelease. 



Chrysler, M. A., Is Ophioglossum palmatum anomalous? 

 (The Botanical Gazette. LH. p. 151—153. 1911.) 



This paper contains a short reply to the interpretation of the 

 origin of the fertile spike in Ophioglossum as given by ßower 

 (Annais of Botany, XXV, 1911, p. 277—298). Bower considers the 

 several to many fertile spikes as derived by duplication or branching 

 of the Single spike found in 0. vulgatum, in contrast to the usual 

 view that the spikes represent fertile lobes of the leaf. Chrysler 

 points out that the vascular suppl}' of fertile spikes, as far as 

 observed by ßower and himself, fits with his interpretation of the 

 fertile spike as either a Single segment of a leaf or a fused pair 

 of Segments. However he accepts the possibility, that both theories 

 are true and says: May it not be that the spikes of O. palmatum 

 represent lobes of the leaf, and that certain of the upper ones in 

 strong growing plants have suffered Splitting or duplication. 



Bower agrees with Chrysler's and other's interpretation of the 

 spike of Botrychium and of most of the species of Ophioglossum as 

 one or more pinnae or fused pairs of pinnae. Chrysler points out 

 that it is difficult for him to see why an exception should be made 

 for O. palmatum. The pinna nature is most clearh^ seen in Botyy- 

 chium. The vascular suppl}- of the spikes of O. vulgatum or O. reti- 

 culatum originates in a way similar to that of species o{ Botrychium 

 and the spikes may be regarded as representing two fused basal 

 lobes of the leaf. The spike of O. peiidulum has a similar vascular 

 supply and may also be regarded as having the same morphological 

 nature. A basal median spike of 0. palmatum has a vascular supply 

 identical with this, wh}' then should it not be interpreted in the 

 same way? Marginal spikes situated above this would then represent 

 Single lobes of the leaf, comparable to abnormal spikes of Botry- 

 chium. Chrysler is convinced that there is an underlying unitj' in 

 the family, in spite of the complications shown by 0. palmatum. 

 This unitj' appears in Chrysler's interpretation of the fertile spike 

 and forms the only basis so far offered for comparison of all the 

 members of the group. 



Chrysler concludes that the Ophioglossaceae might well remain 

 a* family of Filicales. Jongmans. 



Copeland, E. B., Notes on some javan ferns. (Philipp. Journ. 

 Sc. VIII. p. 139-143. PL 2-4. 1913.) 



This paper contains the new or interesting species found in 

 a javan collection made by the Owen Brj^ant Expedition. Following 

 species are mentioned : 



Marattia ternatea de V'riese, Mount Salak; Cyathea glabra 

 (Bl.) Copel., Mt. Salak, with almost costular sori; C. subdimorpha 

 nov. spec, Plate II, Mt. Salak, like other dimorphous species, 

 such as C. atropurpurea , C. Heivittii and C. biformis, it has the 



