234 



a small percentage of best type halothrix. The produc- 

 tion of spores on halothrix can be stimulated by removing 

 the plant from a moist to a drier atmosphere for a year. 

 The explanation being that the plant (long accustomed to 

 uniform atmospheric conditions) feels that there is a screw 

 loose and, evidently realising that things are going from bad 

 to worse, makes one supreme effort to perpetuate the race 

 (even although the effort results in the loss of its own life) 

 before life becomes unbearable. 



A similar effort but on different lines takes place with 

 Trichomanes radicans. If fronds are cut off and allowed 

 to remain on the ground in a uniformly warm and moist 

 atmosphere until they decompose, nothing takes place for 

 some time. The detached fronds retain their vitality, 

 remaining more or less green for a year or two ; evidently 

 they are "waiting for something to turn up." In this 

 they are, like ourselves, usually disappointed, and find they 

 must rely on their own efforts. 



Just before they decompose and whilst the vital spark 

 is still flickering, they rush out a crop of bulbils, which often 

 covers the whole frond as is seen in Woodwardis Orientalis. 

 The decomposing frond affords the necessary sustenance 

 to establish the young plants and give them a start in life. 

 All the species of Trichomanes appear to possess this capa- 

 city for bulbil formation, but experiments with Todea 

 super ba Sbiid Hymenophyllums have hitherto given a negative 

 result. 



H. Stansfield. 



Sale, October, 1917. 



The fronds sent are a very interesting series all having 

 the kalothrix character in a varying degree combined with 

 cresting to a still more varied extent, some showing merely 



