Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Iv. (191 1), No. 9- 5 



Judging from the external appearance of the spike 

 there appear to be two possible interpretations of its 

 structure. The first is that it represents two, or possibly 

 more, fused spikes, when it would be a further elaboration 

 of the condition figured by Chrysler for Botrychiuni 

 {Ann. Boi., 1910. PI. l\.,Jigs. 26-28), in which the second, 

 as well as the first pair of pinnae have become fertile 

 and partial fusion has occurred. In the case of the specimen 

 recorded here, if this interpretation were correct, the fusion 

 is much more complete than any of the abnormalities 

 cited by Chrysler. The alternative view is that the 

 normally unbranched spike has undergone a process of 

 division or chorisis, a feature which normally obtains in 

 OphioglossuDi palmatuui. It may be as well, perhaps, to 

 state here that the anatomical evidence is in complete 

 accord with this latter interpretation. The spiral arrange- 

 ment is a further complication, but this feature is 

 foreshadowed, to a certain extent, in specimens such as 

 that shown in Text-fig. II. C. These slightly abnormal 

 specimens are apparently of fairly frequent occurrence, no 

 less than eight occurring in the class material at the 

 University College, this being obtained from Aberystwyth 

 and York respectively. 



It was decided to cut serial sections of the sporangium- 

 bearing region and of the peduncle, but owing to the 

 imperfect preservation, and the quantity of air in the 

 tissues, which even prolonged treatment under the air- 

 pump failed to dislodge, this proved a task of considerable 

 difficulty, certain portions shattering very badly. The 

 material yielded, however, a sufficiently good series to 

 elucidate the more important anatomical features. The 

 peduncle was first examined and, as might have been 

 expected, showed a comparatively massive and complex 

 vascular system {Text fig. III. D). 



