438 



OPHIOGLOSSALES 



O. vulgatum that an understanding may be arrived at as to the true 

 morphology of O. palmatum. The fertile spike in O. pendulum is commonly 

 simple, and its insertion is very constant at a median point on the upper 



'/ill/' D 



FIG. 239. 



A -F= Various spikes of O. palmatuin, showing details of branching and insertion. 

 G, //, 7=spikes of O. pendulum. J, A'= abnormalities of O. vulgatum. .Z, -/* = abnor- 

 malities of Helminthostachys. O and P are from drawings by Prof. Goebel. A -N are 

 one half natural size. 



surface of the frond : it appears that there is no close parallel in this 

 species between the lobing of the sterile and the branching of the fertile 

 portions. The mode of branching of the spike, when it occurs, is sub- 

 stantially similar to that in O. palmatum. Figs. 239 G and H illustrate 

 branchings in which the series of sporangia is almost or completely 

 continuous over the branches, but in Fig. 239 i the series is interrupted, 



