Certain Points in the Morphology of Frullania, &c. 469 



scientific botanist, skilful anatomist, and careful observer, 

 makes a somewhat similar appeal to our faculty of wonder, 

 it is necessary to give tlic matter our gravest consideration. 

 I am not in a position to offer any criticism of the develop- 

 mental evidence adduced by Leitgeb in support of his views, 

 but the result of my examination of the adult conditions 

 in Frullania Tamarisci, and Madotheca {Pordla) platyphylla^ 

 goes far, in my opinion, to prove that tlie amphigastrioid 

 scale — which, for convenience, we may call "a;" — obliquely 

 subtending the base of the lateral branch belongs really to 

 the main axis, and not to the lateral branch ; and further, 

 that, in spite of its amphigastrioid appearance, this scale 

 "x" is nothing but the auricle (supposed to be amissing) 

 of the adjacent lateral leaf — which we may call " y." The 

 reasons which have led me to this opinion are as follow : — 



\st. In Madotheca and Fridlania, the amphigastrioid 

 scale "x" appears to spring from the main axis, much 

 rather than from the lateral branch. This is particularly 

 manifest in Madotheca, where the insertion of scale " x " 

 extends down the main axis to a ver}'- considerable distance 

 below the origin of the lateral branch. 



2nd. It is to be noted that scale " x," obliquely sub- 

 tending the lateral branch, as it does, is not in line with 

 the amphigastria of the branch, as it ought to be, were it 

 the first leaf of that series, as Leitgeb supposes. 



3rd Although Leitgeb's statement as to the absence 

 of any connection between scale "ic" and the adjacent 

 leaf " y" is correct as regards Madotheca, yet if careful 

 examination be made of the parts in Fndlania Tamarisci, 

 it will be found that in that plant the base of scale " x" 

 extending obliquely outwards and downwards on the main 

 axis, curves upwards at its outer extremity, and is there 

 continuous with the obliquely downward extension of leaf 

 " y" by a slight but quite distinctly-marked raised line or 

 ridge (PL XV. fig. 2).* 



'ith. In a monstrosity of Frullania Tamarisci which I 

 have the pleasure of exhibiting to you, we see a lateral 



* In this plant, it is not always easy to see the space between the bases of 

 scale " X " and leaf " y," inasmuch as in a dorsal view it is usually hidden by 

 the lower part of leaf " y," while in a ventral view it is always out of sight. 

 In cases, however, where — as in the specimen figured — the development of 

 leaf " y " is somewhat feeble, it is in a dorsal view fully exposed. 



