VOL. IV.] Recent Literature. 307 



B. Renault: The Botryoptf.ridece* 



The representatives of this family are especially characterized 

 by the leaves, which usually are destitute of any blade, and the 

 organs of fructification are therefore to be found at the apex of 

 the nerves, thus resembling the species of Thyrsopteris and 

 Osmunda. The sporangia are large, 2 mm. in length, their 

 form varying from oblong to pyriform, or sometimes semilunar, 

 circular, or polyedric; their membrane consists of two distinct 

 layers of different structure. The spores are present in large 

 number, and show various forms, some being round with smooth 

 surface and showing the three radiating lines, which are charac- 

 teristic of the macrospores; some others are polyedric, but have 

 not the radiating lines. 



These plants seem to have been herbaceous or frutescent, and 

 to have grown in the water, sometimes even submersed. They 

 resemble Osmunda in regard to their habit, but they seem, 

 however, to represent a family, which is well distinguished 

 from the ferns. It is a family that existed already in the Permian- 

 formation, and the numerous specimens which have been obtained 

 were so well preserved as to enable us to establish several genera. 

 These genera are based upon the various forms of the mestome- 

 bundles of the rachis, considered in transverse sections. Following 

 forms are to be distinguished: The " sword-shaped " in Clepsy- 

 dropsis, the *' H-shaped " in Zygopteris, the "'"-shaped" in 

 Botryopteris (showing a form like the Greek letter w), and 

 finally the "linear" in Grammopteris. The name "Botryop- 

 teris ' ' does not indicate the corresponding form of the mestome- 

 bundles as in the other genera; the name has been chosen from 

 the fact that this genus was the very first one in which were 

 observed the large sporangia, united into voluminous masses and 

 botryoidally arranged. The author gives, also, a very complete 

 description of these genera and their respective species. 



M. MoBiUS: Australian fresh-water Algc7.\- 



This paper is based upon a collection of fresh-water Algae 

 which were collected by Mr. Bailey near Brisbane, in Australia; 



*Note sur la fatnille des Botryopteridees. (Societe d'hist. naturelle 

 d'Autun, Vol. 4. p. 349-373) 



t Australische Stisswasseralgen. (Flora, 1892. p. 422-450. 22 figs.) 



