THE LYCOPODS (CLUBMOSSES) 



observations on British material are therefore confined to roots. Fortunately, these 



were unusually clear and they have been supplemented by roots fi-om a specimen 



fixed in Switzerland (Fig. 251) and also by a few cells 



in meiosis obtained at Storlien in Sweden in July 



1948. The meiotic material is somewhat scanty and 



requires confirmation. One cell, however, is illustrated 



in Figs. 247a and 248, and the chromosome number 



appears to be ^ = 34 as in L. clavatum. This is in close 



agreement with the evidence from roots (Fig. 247/)) in 



Britain in which also 2n = probably 68. It is therefore 



certain that L. annotinum both in Britain and on the 



Continent is very similar to L. clavatum and is probably 



identical cytologically with that species. 



This cannot be said of the other two species. L. alpinum, 

 in spite of the high altitude of its habitats, matures its 

 cones some weeks before those of L. clavatum in the same 

 district, and June would be the best month to seek for it. 

 In the first week of July 1944, only a few residual cones 



Z. c/oi^atum n ^34 



Fig. 244. Explanatory diagram 

 to Fig. 246^. X 2000. 



I 







+ 



AJ X 



L. a/pinum n ^ 24 - 5 

 Fig. 245. Explanatory diagrams to Figs. 2466 and c, for description see text, x 2000. 



were still young enough to be used, while L. clavatum at the same date had scarcely 

 begun meiosis. Figs. 245 and 246 /> and c show two stages in spore mother cells of 

 L. alpinum. At the metaphase of the second meiotic division (Figs. 245a, 246<:) 

 there appear to be 25 split chromosomes, of which one half-chromosome in the 

 middle of the field appears to have become separated rather widely from its fellow in 

 the making of the preparation. This specimen is of importance because, unsuited as 



248 



