484 Pteridophyten. 



of the prothallium; as they grow older the prothalli tend to become 

 more and more flattened. The internal Organization of the prothal- 

 lium follows the sarae general lines as in Lycopodium clavatuni or 

 L. annotinum. An apparently symbiotic fungus is always present 

 and develops very differently in different cells. Two or even three 

 sporophytes are commonly found attached to a Single prothallium. 

 The embryo has a massive foot and no protocorn is developed. 



In L. scariosum the prothallium is constantly subterranean and 

 associated with a fungus, but the proportion of tissue invaded hy 

 the fungus is less great than in L. volubile. In the position and 

 structure of the gametangia and in the number of sporophytes borne 

 by a prothallium L. scariosum agrees with L. volubile. 



In L. Billnrdieri the prothallium contains a fungus. The game- 

 tophyte is a filamentous structure devoid of chlorophj^ll. The fila- 

 ments are sparingly branched; after they have attained a certain 

 length the ends of some of them become thickened and give rise 

 to antheridia and then to archegonia. The gametangia are always 

 borne on the upper side of dorsiventral branches. The prothallia 

 multiply vegetatively by the dying of the proximal end of the bran- 

 ches; each prothallium, however, bears but a Single sporophyte. 

 No protocorm is found, but the embryo develops a foot and suspensor. 



Bruchmann and Treub have held that the striking diffe- 

 rences within the genus Lycopodium in the structure of the prothal- 

 lus indicate a polyphyletic origin. Lang and Goebel on the 

 other hand, think that the differences between the various forms 

 are due to physiological adaptations and do not justify the esta- 

 blishment of several genera. Isabel Browne (London). 



Holloway, J. E., Preliminary note on the protocorm of 

 Lycopodium laterale R. Br. Prodr. (Trans. Proc. New Zealand 

 Inst. XLVIL p. 73—75. 1914.) 



This note records certain additional observations not included 

 in the authors former paper: "A comparative study of the Anatomy 

 of six New Zealand species of Lycopodium'\ in Vol. XLII of the 

 Trans, of the New Zealand Institute. L. laterale has a protocorn 

 which is at first similar to that of L. cernuum, but later grows late- 

 rally as a rhizomatous extension producing protophylls on its upper 

 side and rhizoids on its lower side. A slight tendency to similar 

 lateral growth was observed in L. cermium. The rhizomatous 

 protocorm is devoid of vascular System except for the blind 

 endings of the Strands passing into it from the protophylls. When 

 the true stem develops on the dorsal side of the rhizomatous pro- 

 tocorm it produces vascular tissues which descend into the latter 

 receiving Strands from the neighbouring protophylls. These vascular 

 tissues die out at the base of the first exogenous root which termi- 

 nates the growth of the rhizome, The same thing occurs, mutatis 

 mutandis, in L cernuum. 



The author believes that the subgenus Rhopalostachys compri- 

 ses the more primitive members of the Lycopodiaceae and holds that 

 the genus should be read as a reduction series. He regards the 

 protocormatous rhizoms oiL. laterale as an adaptive structure intended 

 to carry the young plant over the dry season. 



Isabel Browne (London). 



