32 



COENOPTERIDACEAE 



[CH. 



are all alike. The inference from these facts is that the sorus is monangial, 

 and its type Eusporangiate, but that these terminal sporangia are of a more 

 rudimentary kind than is seen in any living Fern. 



The sections of Etapteris Lacattei bearing sporangia, originally described 

 by Renault, have lately been re-examined by Dr P. Bertrand, who confirms 

 the reference, of the sporangia to the genus by the characteristic vascular 

 structure of the pedicels. The sporangia were pear-shaped, and were borne 



Fig. 333. Etapteris Lacattei. 1= Group of four sporangia on a common pedi- 

 cel \a). ( X 10.) 2 = Two sporangia on pedicel: the upper shows the annulus 

 [c] in surface view, with spores exposed at/; the lower is in section. ( x 20.) 

 2 bis = Sporangium cut in plane passing through annulus. 3 = Group of 

 sporangia in transverse section. ( x 20.) Lettering common to the figures: 

 a, common peduncle; ^, sporangial wall; c, annulus; f, tapetum(?); f, spores; 

 711, pedicel of individual sporangium; «, probable place of dehiscence. All 

 after Renault. (From Scott's Studies.) 



in groups upon a common stalk (Fig. 333), through which a vascular strand 

 passed dividing into smaller strands traversing the several pedicels. The 

 sporangial wall consisted of at least two layers of cells: the outer was formed 

 of larger cells, and was differentiated so that several rows of indurated cells 

 traversed each side of the sporangium vertically to the summit. They thus 



