8 HOLDEN, Abnoyjual Spike of Ophioglossum vulgatum. 



Two other points are also worthy of mention, the 

 first being that there is, throughout both sterile and fertile 

 parts of the spike, a dominant median strand, and the 

 second, that, a little way below the point of union with 

 the sterile assimilatory portion, the vascular supply con- 

 stantly consists of three strands. The results obtained 

 are thus in complete agreement with the work of Camp- 

 bell, and of Holle, upon the subject. 



The peduncle of the abnormal specimen was in exact 

 agreement with the normal forms as regards the posses- 

 sion of three vascular strands before separation from the 

 sterile segment, and in having five strands immediately 

 above the point of separation (Text-fig. IV. Text-fig: 

 \\\.D,d,a). 



Fig. l\\ 



Tr. S. petiole just previous to the separation of the three 

 traces (/j, /.,, ^,) to supply the peduncle. 



A very short distance above the base, however, the 

 strands subdivide rapidly, until the number is considerably 

 in excess of even the most robust of the typical specimens. 

 Apart from these features, there is nothing abnormal in 

 the behaviour of the vascular supply until it reaches 



