SHORT NOTES. S45 



185, Polypodium cucullatum, Kees. A very large- robust variety. 



223 (130*). PoLTPODiuM (Eupolypodium) deltoideophyllum, Bakery 

 n, sp. Caudex erect. Scales dense, linear, acuminate, mem- 

 branous, pale brown. Stipe scarcely any. Frond lanceolate, 

 6-10 inches long, \-\ inch broad, narrowed gradually to both 

 ends, cut down nearly to the rachis, the central lobes oblique, 

 deltoid, obtuse, \-\ inch broad at the base, many lower ones con- 

 fluent in a mere narrow crenate wing to the rachis. Texture 

 subcoriaceous ; both surfaces furnished with a few short incon- 

 spicuous brown hairs. Veins pinnate in the primary lobes, with 

 many erecto-patent ascending simple parallel veinlets on each 

 side, which fall short of the margin. Sori minute, round, im- 

 mersed, terminal on the veinlets, 4-6 to each central pinna. 

 Near the East Indian P. hhasyanu7n and West Indian P. in- 

 CBquale. 



128. Polypodium blechnoides, Hook. 



130. decorum, Brack. 



189. diversifolium, Sivartz. 

 140. Gymnogramma calomelanos, Kaulf, 

 187, 188. caudiformis. Hook. 

 150. Acrostichum sorbifolium, L. 



190. aureum, L. 

 198. Todea Wilkesiana, Brack. 

 194. Ophioglossum reticulatum, L, 

 192. pendulum, L. 

 197. Eotrychium daucifolium, Wall. 

 173. Lycopodium clavatum, Linn. 



SHORT NOTES. 



Diatoms anb "Wheat-Straw. — At p. 212 attention was drawn to 

 the extraordinary statements of Mr. P. B. "Wilson in Silliman's Journal 

 for May last. The well-known high scientific character of the 

 periodical in which the article appeared seemed to forbid any point 

 blank denial of the apparent facts as stated by the observer, though 

 we thought it necessary to state distinctly that the inferences drawn 

 as to the mode by which the Diatoms reached the surface of the stem 

 must necessarily be erroneous. We have since seen a rough plate in 

 the " Quarterly Journal of Science " for July (reproduced in the 

 "Monthly Microscopical Journal" for September) representing the 

 •'forms of Diatoms found " in the straw. A glance at this is 

 sufficient to show the utter absurdity of the whole affair ; it is only 



