THE POLYPLOID SERIES IN OSMUNDA 



SUMMARY 



A brief account of the salient facts in the origin, morphology, cytology and repro- 

 ductive effects of the autopolyploid series in Osmunda regalis has been given with 

 essential details illustrated photographically. The series consists of haploid, diploid, 

 triploid and tetraploid gametophytes and diploid, triploid and tetraploid fern plants, 

 together with a limited number of their descendants. The information so obtained is 

 intended in part as a standard of reference to aid in the interpretation of the facts to be 

 elucidated elsewhere in the Pteridophyta. The evolutionary importance of the auto- 

 polyploid series itself is believed to be nil. 



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