166 



apparently composed mainly of cytoplasm, but the exact origin 

 of this is not quite clear. This second coil extends into a third 

 much smaller one which, so far as could be made out, seems to 

 be a flattened band along whose upper edge the blepharoplast 

 is closely applied (Figs. 95 — 96). The resemblance of the sper- 

 matozoid to that of Equisetum is very striking, but the nucleus 

 is even more shortened than in the latter. In size the sper- 

 matozoid of 0. pendulum is probably superior to that of any 

 other Pteridophyte. The cytoplasmic envelope and vesicle are 

 not very clearly separated, and probably are similar to those 

 of 0. vulgatwn or of Equisetum. In some cases seen (Fig. 96) 

 this protoplasmic envelope completely surrounds the lower 

 part of the spermatozoid and recalls somewhat the peculiar 

 spermatozoid of the Cycads. Owing to their large size the 

 spermatozoids were often sectioned, and in many sections the 

 blepharoplast was seen free from the body of the spermatozoid, 

 and the attachment of the cilia was very evident. 



Mettenius figures the free spermatozoids of 0. pedunculosum, 

 but his figures are certainly not accurate. Bruchmann, who has 

 figured those of 0. vulgatum, found that they resembled the 

 spermatozoids of the true ferns, but were more massive, and 

 the vesicle which envelopes the posterior ceils adheres more 

 closely to the spermatozoid than is usual in ferns. He did 

 not, however, trace the spermatogenesis. Lang was unable to 

 obtain the spermatozoids of 0. pendulum, and gives no infor- 

 mation as to their structure. 



Jeffrey figures the spermatozoids of Botri/chium virginianum, 

 and Bruchmann those of B. Lunaria. Certain stages of the 

 development were described by Jeffrey, but he did not see the 

 blepharoplast nor did he study the origin of the cilia. In both 

 species of Botrychium the spermatozoids are decidedly smaller 

 than those of any of the species of Ophioglossum so far as 

 could be judged from the free spermatozoids of 0. pendulum 

 found inside the open antheridiam (Figs. 95 — 96) ; these closely 

 resemble those of 0. vulgatum, as figured l)y Bruchmann, but 

 are decidedly larger. 



