TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION K. 511 



7. Survey Work near B ell in glut lu.^ 

 By Miss Charlotte E. C. Measham. 



8. On the Movements executed by Young Fern Fronds, ivith especial 

 reference to Geotropism. By Miss T. L. Prankerd. 



Young fern fronds are capable of at least seven tyipes of movement — viz. 

 geotropic, heliotropic, epinastic, iiutational, autotropic, thigmotropic, and the 

 sagging due to weight. These are exhibited to a greater or less degree in the 

 three phases into which the life-history of a fern frond falls, both morpho- 

 logically and cytologically. 



The rate of migration of the chlorostatohths and the reaction time are much 

 greater than those corresponding for the Angiosperm, and the former is 

 decreased by severance of the frond. 



The loss of geotropic irritability corresponds roughly (probably accurately) 

 with the disappearance of the statenchyma during the second phase of existence 

 while the frond is still capable of growth. 



9. On the Bidrihuiion of Starch in the Branches of Trees, and its 

 Bearing on the StatoJitli, Theory. By Miss T. L. Prankerd. 



Facts. — Starch is almost always to be found in the buds and twigs of trees 

 in the winter, and is invariably embedded in the protoplasm. 



In the spring, before the buds open, the starch content increases, and in 

 certain of the cells of the stem the grains always become free to fall — i.e., form 

 statoliths. As the bud opens the contained starch is gradually used up, except 

 that in the stelar sheath of the developing stem, which is converted into 

 statoliths. 



In the summer, statoliths are developed in the appendicular organs, and die 

 away in the stems remote from the.se. Behaviour of trophic starch is variable. 



Production of autumn statoliths is under investigation. 



TIteory. — On the whole the statolith theory derives some measure of support 

 from these facts, in that : — ■ 



(1) Statoliths are produced in spring, and are absent in winter and in the 



older parts of the stem. 



(2) Statolith starch is constant in time and place ; trophic starch is variable 



in both, especially in the former. 



(3) The degree of development of the statolith apparatus shows some 



amount of correspondence with geotropic activity, whether comparison 

 be made inter se, or the group as a whole be compared with other 

 biological groups. 



' To be published in The Vasculum. 



