ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 209 



JSf. ramosa as a simple C-shaped strand. Sperlich's view as to the 

 origin of epiphytism in the genus is well borne out by a study of 

 N. voluUUs. He regards the stolon as having been the initial stage 

 in the gradual emancipation of the plant from the soil. Veleuovsky's 

 adoption of a new morphological category, the " Achsentriige " (shoot- 

 bearer), to include the stolons of Nephrolepis, has no justification in 

 view of the evident cauline nature of these organs. The primitive 

 organization of the stolon is not indicative of primitiveness of the 

 genus. More probably it is an organ highly specialized for the con- 

 ducting functions entrusted to it. Possibly because of the exceptionally 

 favourable physiological conditions in which it is placed (connected by 

 the stolon to the absorbing system of the mother-plant) the lateral 

 plant of N. cordifolia (and perhaps of other species) in its ontogeny 

 omits some of the earlier stages in stelar evolution which are shown by 

 the sporeling. 



Fossil OsmundacesB.* — R. Kidston and D. T. Gwynne-Vaughan, in 

 the fifth part of their memoir on fossil Osmundacete, give descriptions 

 and figures of the structure of OsmuncUtes spetshergensis, from Spitz- 

 bergen, of the type of 0. Carnieri, from Paraguay, and of two 

 fragments from Queensland. 



Anatomy of Hybrid Squisetum.f — Ruth Holden gives an account 

 of the anatomy of a liybrid Equisefuin ; and in summing up her results 

 says : — (1) Eqaiseiuni variegatum var. Jesupi is probably a hybrid 

 between E. variegatum and E. hiemale, for the following reasons : 

 (a) It has some ot the characters of the first, some of the second, and 

 some intermediate ; {b) a large number of its spores are always abortive. 

 (2) Whether it represents the immediate offspring (Fj) of the cross, its 

 relation to other varieties also intermediate between E. variegatum and 

 E. hiemale, whether the cross is repeated for each individual, how far 

 hybridization will explain the large number of transitional forms in the 

 genus Equisetum, are all points to be cleared up by further investigation. 



Protocorm of Lycopodium.J — J. E. Holloway publishes a pre- 

 liminary note on the protocorm of Lycopodium laterale. He finds that : — 

 (1) In L. laterale, and occasionally in L. cernuuyn, the protocorm is 

 capable of separate existence for a lengthy time, thus bridging over the 

 period between the dependent embryo and the independent plant. The 

 vascular strand of the stem and first root takes a course through its 

 tissues. The rhizome' of L. laterale may soon branch and give rise to 

 more than one stem-axis. (2) In L. laterale there is a marked develop- 

 mental distinction between the protocorm and its rhizomatous extension. 

 (8) The manner of development of the protocormous rhizome suggests 

 that its large size is an adaptation to carry the young plant over the dry 

 season. (4) lu L. laterale the protocorm is associated with the cernuum 

 type of prothallus. Such a type of prothallus is regarded as primitive 



* Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh, 1. (1915) pp. 469-80 (4 pis. and figs.). 



+ Amer. Journ. Bot.. ii. (1915) pp. 225-38 (4 pis.). 



% Trans. Proc. New Zealand Inbt., xlvii. (1915) pp. 73-5. 



