228 BOTANICAL GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 
or indicate a line of descent. The route of the pollen-tube is 
dependent upon mechanical obstruction, nutritive material, pos- 
sibly chemiotaxis, and this route may or may not include the 
micropyle, quite independent of plant affinities. Illustrations 
were given showing that chalazogamy is favored by a closed 
micropyle region, and by unfavorable position of the micropyle 
associated with favorable structure of the ovule, such as well- 
developed sterile macrospores. 
L.M. UnpERwoop: The habitats of the rarer ferns of Alabama.— 
The state of Alabama is especially interesting to the students of 
the pteridophytes (1) from the fact that it represents the south- 
ern limit of a number of species of the Appalachian district 
which follow the spurs of the mountains well into the interior of 
the state, and on the other hand the northern limit of several of 
our subtropical species; (2) because of the remarkable Zricho- 
manes Petersii found only within its borders; and (3) because it 
contains the only station where the rare Asplenium ebenoides has 
been found in any quantity. The state has a comparatively 
large pteridophyte flora, including some forty species of ferns 
besides at least five species of Ophioglossacez, having been well 
explored by Judge Peters, Professor E. A. Smith, and Dr. Charles 
Mohr. We have been able to add one species (Dryopteris Flon- 
dana) to the list, and to rehabilitate one of the early species of 
Botrychium, B. dipinnata (Lam.), which is clearly distinct from 
B. ternatum, with which it has been confused for many yeal® 
largely because of the deficiency of collectors through the 
southern country, 
A visit to the original station of Zrichomanes Peterstt has gi 
_ Some new points in regard to its habit and habitat. Likewise ® 
visit to the out-of-the-way ravine in Hale county has enabled “ 
to show the absurdity of regarding the rare Asplenium eb : 
= 8 hybrid. This species, far from possessing the habit of 
either of its supposed parents, is entirely distinct, and is more 
closely allied in its habit to its congeners, A. pinnatifidum and A. 
oe Atle evidently a very old species, of which the pre 
ven 
