842 REPORT — 1901. 



means of bulbils. On the sometimes submerged margin of Loch Brandy, however, 

 numerous sexually produced plants and prothalli can be found growing in the soil 

 between the stones. The difference in the conditions under which the sporophyte 

 can exist and those necessary for the successful germination of the spores is 

 analogous to what has been found to be the case for Helminthostachys. 



.'3. On some large prothalli of Lycopodium cernuum. 



The prothalli of this plant, described by Treub, were of small size, one of the 

 largest measuring 2 mm. in height by 1 mm. across. On the banks of roads close 

 to Kuala Lumpur much larger prothalli were found. They were calce-like 

 structures, of a deep velvety green colour, about 2 mm. in vertical thickness, but 

 measuring sometimes 6 mm. across : they were attached to the soil by numerous 

 rhizoids springing from the flat base. Such specimens have lost all trace of the 

 definite form which sometimes characterises the smaller prothalli, and are of 

 interest for comparison with the large prothallus next described. 



4. On the prothallus of Psilotum. 



The prothallus of this plant was searched for without success in Ceylon. The 

 sporophyte occurred on tree-fern trunks on Maxwell's Hill in J^erak, and a single 

 prothallus was found there embedded among the roots of the tree-fern close to a 

 Fsilotum plant. No other plants grew on this tree-fern, and, although a few 

 species of Lycopodium occur sparingly in the locality, there seems a strong 

 probability in favour of this specimen being the prothallus of Pdlotum. The 

 specimen measured one quarter of an inch in height by ^'^ inch across at the 

 widest part. It consists of a cylindrical lower region covered with rhizoids ; 

 near the lower end of this is a well-marked conical projection (primary tubercle). 

 The upper part widens out suddenly, and its thick overhanging margin bears 

 numerous antheridia. The summit of the prothallus is depressed and smooth. In 

 general form the prothallus resembles some small specimens of Lycopodium 

 cernuum, but the upper region, from which assimilating lobes are absent, finds its 

 closest analogue in prothalli of L. clavatum. 



7. Note on an Ophioglossuin collected hy Mr. Ridley. 

 By Professor F. O. Bower, F.R.S. 



Professor Bower exhibited a specimen of Oj^hioglosmim simpler, n. .sp., collected 

 by Mr. Eidley in Sumatra and handed to the author by Professor P. Groom. It 

 appears to be entirely without the sterile leaf-lobe, though the fertile spike is 

 characteristically that of an Opliioglossum. If it is actually demonstrated that 

 the sterile lobe is really absent, this peculiar plant may give rise to considerable 

 morphological discussion. 



8. Ahnormal Secondary Thickening in Kendrickia Walkeri, Hook. f. 



By Miss A. M. Clark. 



1. Kendrickia Walkeri, Hook, f., one of the Melastomaceae, is a tropical 

 epiphytic climbing shrub. 



2. The anatomy of the young stem is typical of the family Melastomacere. 



3. At a fairly early stage numerous .imall patches and several large wedge- 

 shaped areas of thin-walled unlignified wood-parenchyma are cut off from the 

 iimer .side of the completely circular cambium ring. 



4. Tylosis is of frequent occurrence, and the tylosed cells may develop into 

 sclerotic cells inside the vessels and tracheids. 



5. Later the imligniiied wood-parenchyma cells at the central margin of the 

 wedge area take upon themselves new growth accompanied by cell division. 



The product of this new growth proceeds to split the axial woody ring into a 

 yarying number of portions, partly by forcing a way between rows of adjoining 



