892 



which vary in form according to the stage of development at which 

 they are examined. Each of these bodies consists of a celhilar sac 

 filled with a granular matter." For a correct description of the fertile 

 receptacles, with their involucres and capsules, the author refers to 

 Sir W. J. Hooker's account of those parts. 



Under the head of Morpliology, the author institutes an enquiry 

 into the true nature of the peduncles, and of the so-called male recep- 

 tacles and anthers ; and shows that the latter bodies bear no relation 

 to those organs in flowering plants. He is of opinion that the lobed 

 receptacles and the peduncles "may be considered as metamorphosed 

 fronds," of which a longitudinal section shows them to be continua- 

 tions; "the grooves of the peduncles are continuations of the grooves 

 on the lower surface of the fronds, and they enclose the same spirally 

 dotted filaments." 



" The flat receptacle is lobed like the fronds, its structure is the same, on the lower 

 surface, filaments in grooves covered with scales, and a cuticle with stomata on the up- 

 per surface ; and the fact that one of the notches is larger than any of the others, and 

 the concavity on one side of the peduncle, appear to lead to the inference, that this re- 

 ceptacle is a small frond folded horizontally upon itself. In M. conica the relation of 

 the two is more evident, the receptacle in this species being sessile, and still more so 

 in that variety of M. hemispheerica where the receptacles are always sessile, and em- 

 bedded, as it were in the substance of the frond." — p. 110. 



With respect to the bodies termed anthers, the author institutes a 

 comparison between them as found in Marchantia and Riccia, a nearly 

 allied genus. In the latter genus the capsules are spherical, in Mar- 

 chantia the sacs " are flask-shaped, and have a long neck protruding 

 by an orifice at the surface." The inclosed bodies also differ some- 

 what in shape, but in both genera they consist of "a cellular mem- 

 brane enclosing minute granules." Hence the author is disposed to 

 consider these bodies as gemmae, or one means by which young plants 

 are produced, but remarks that " it may appear rash to an*ive at any 

 such conclusion until they are actually seen to germinate under fa- 

 vourable circumstances." 



XIV. Remarks on some curious Metamorphoses of the Pistil of Salix caprea. 

 By the Rev. J. E. Leefe, M.A., Audley End, Essex. 



The author commences his remarks by quoting Professor Lindley's 

 observation, that the pistil is seldom found " converted into stamens, 

 but it often takes upon itself the form of petals, and although cases 

 are very rare of pistils bearing pollen, yet several instances are known 

 of ovules being borne by the stamens." This rare instance of conver- 



