Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Iv. (191 1), No. <). 3 



The fertile spike, in normal specimens of Ophio- 

 glossum, consists of a fairly long, unbranched axis, oval 

 in section, and bearing apically a double row of large, 

 more or less globular sporangia. 



The vascular supply is apparently subject to con- 

 siderable variation (Cf. Text-fig. III. a, b, c) but in the 

 sporangium-bearing region it appears constantly to 

 consist of a central, purely cauline strand, and two lateral 

 strands, the latter of which give off traces between each 

 adjacent pair of sporangia. The lateral and median 

 strands are connected by obliquely transverse strands at 

 fairly frequent intervals. {Text-fig. I.). 



P'-D 



Fig. I. The diagram lo the left represents a camera-lucida drawing of the 

 outhnes of part of the fertile region of a sporangiophore with its 

 vascular supply. Figs, A to E represent the variation in the vascular 

 supply as seen in transverse sections at the points indicate!. 



Ophioglossnm, in common with other members of the 

 group, is also characterised by the relatively frequent 

 occurrence of abnormal forms, and these monstrosities 

 have received considerable attention both from Bower 

 and Chrysler, and others. (Cf Bower, :08, p. 438,7?^. 239, 

 j & k). The abnormal specimen, which is the subject of 

 the present paper, was collected some years ago by 

 Professor Carr, from a locality near Skegby, Nottingham- 

 shire, and he very kindly handed it over to me for des- 

 cription. The peduncle was somewhat stouter than the 



