184 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 



sidered as pollen by some, and as abortive spores by others. 

 The other kind of spore-case contains three or four roundish 

 fleshy bodies, which are marked at the apex by a three- 

 branched line, and are many times as large as the granular 

 bodies which have been already mentioned. These larger 

 bodies have been called spores or oophoridia, and by some 

 observers anthers. 



The true explanation of these parts is a matter of doubt. 

 All that is certainly known is, that the larger bodies do 

 germinate, or at least vegetate, and according to a statement 

 of Willdenow the smaller ones germinate also. , It seems 

 probable that the suggestion made by Dr. Lindley is correct, 

 namely, that the powder-like grains are true spores, while 

 the large ones are buds or viviparous organs. This view is 

 supported by the descriptions which have been given of the 

 supposed germination of these larger bodies, in which a 

 process quite analogous to the vegetation of a bud is clearly 

 pointed out. 



The granular matter is produced by all the species of 

 Lycopodmm, but the large fleshy bodies are found only in a 

 few of the species. It has been usual to regard both sets 

 of organs, when present, as axillary to the leaves or bracts, 

 and so they may be considered for all practical purposes. 



