12 ARKIV FÖR BOTANIK. BAND 17. N:0 1. 



of the sjjorangium. It surrounds a small circular area, without 

 preserved cell walls, corresponding to the so-called plate in the 

 Schizaeaceae. The annulus consists of a great number (about 

 25) of elongated cells. In pi. 2, fig. 5, the sporangia are seen 

 from above, the cells of the annulus radiating from the round 

 central space or »plate». In a few cases, this central area 

 seems to be much wider than in others; this is probably 

 due to some accident of preservation, since the annular cells 

 generally leave only a small circular space in the centre. 

 Fig. 6 shows the sporangium from the side and the apical po- 

 sition of the annulus. The sporangium in the lower part of 

 fig. 4, has the appearance of being preserved entire, with a 

 globular shape and a transverse annulus round the middle of 

 the sporangium instead of at the apex. Probably, however, 

 what is preserved is not the whole sporangium but only the 

 annulus, as in other cases. 



a b 



Fig. 1. Sporangium of Ruffordia Göpperti (Dunk.) Sew. (Diagrammatic 



drawing) ; a, from the side ; b, from the apex. X 60. 



In some cases it was possible to remove the whole con- 

 tents of a sporangium more or less intact. Three different 

 countings of the spores from one sporangium gave the result 

 417, 394, 401. This number is probably too small: the typical 

 number may be supposed to be 512. 



Diagrammatic drawings of the sporangium as seen from 

 the apex and from the side are given in text-fig. 1. 



The spores are of the tetrahedral type, with a diameter 

 of 0,035 — 0,050 mm., generally about 0,040 mm. Their surface 

 shows the tetrad scar and a distinct sculpture of fine dense 

 ridges, which is more prominent on the side facing outwards 

 in the tetrad. 



As far as the sporangia of Ruffordia Göpperti are known, 

 they would seem to agree with the idea of a schizaeaceous 

 affinity suggested by Sewabd. The sporangia are rather small 



