8o BOTANICAL GAZETTE [august 



a definite linear-oblong area above the brace and close to it 

 {mirabilis) . 



In a plane perpendicular to that of the sporangiophore at its 

 distal extremity is a narrow plate, as much as 2 mm. wide, which 

 will be called the "guard," for in certain species (linearif alius, 

 grandis) its development is such that it serves obviously for the 

 protection of the sporangia. This guard assumes a characteristic 

 attitude for a given species, which may be expressed in terms of 

 the angle which it makes with the pedicel, measured in the plane 

 of the sporangiophore. This angle ranges from practically 90° 

 to 150°. The sporangiophore with the upper termination of the 

 guard often forms a distinct angular or cornicular process which 

 will be called the "beak." The brace appears to terminate against 

 the guard usually near the junction of pedicel and blade. 



The oblong or elliptical sporangia are flattened against the 

 sporangiophore and are attached to it apparently by a relatively 

 narrow neck. In some species they appear to have been nearly 

 coextensive, but usually the sporangia do not extend quite to the 

 foot nor to the outer edge of the crest. The limited space between 

 sporophylls at the axis of the cone would allow only for greatly 

 flattened extensions of the sporangium, and this space appears 

 not usually to have been invaded at all. The sporangia of cultri- 

 Jormis usually did not extend within 2 . 5 mm. of the cone axis. 

 Although throughout this genus normal sporangia at maturity 

 appear generally to have become detached from the sporangiophore, 

 the writer has found several specimens with apparently normal 

 sporangia still in place, from which it has been possible to cut away 

 a part and reveal the sporangiophore beneath. Several of these 

 are figured. What may have been defective or somewhat impover- 

 ished sporangia still attached to the sporangiophore are not really 

 uncommon. The area upon the sporangiophore once covered by 

 a sporangium which has become detached may sometimes be known 

 from a faint impression of the latter, and indeed the shape and size 

 of the sporangia in some cases {cultriformis, subulatus) are as yet 

 known only from these impressions. The surface of the sporan- 

 gium, which is often traversed by a distinct median longitudinal 

 furrow, may be smooth, farinose, or fine-granular. These sporangia 



