280 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
opposed to the facts. In the diverse genera which constitute 
the great family of Ferns, the apparatus under consideration has 
very different functions. 
In the Polypodacee the rounded sori are destitute of indusium. 
In Pteris it extends along the edge of the frond, and opening 
from the inner side, protects the sori. In Scolopendrium, the = 
approaching by pairs, are protected by an indusium, which 1s 0 
all appearance bivalve, and disposed in oblique lines. In Osmunda 
the capsules form terminal clusters upon the nervures of the 
upper parts of the frond, contracted and modified, and often 
destitute of the ring as an indusium. 
The reproduction of ferns has been closely studied in our days 
by Herr Negeli, a distinguished German phytologist, and still 
more recently by Herr Leszcyc-Suminski. We shall follow the 
‘curious observations of botanists in their revelations of the strang® 
mode of reproduction among the ferns, remarking, however, that 
the investigations of Mr. Henfrey and other observers, Eng 
and foreign, of high reputation, while confirming many . 
Herr Suminski’s observations, draw other inferences from them, 
M. Thuret, a highly judicious guide, preferring to suppose wie 
the true fructification of these plants still remains to be a 
covered, 
It had long been known that the so-called spores of ferns were 
susceptible, in favourable conditions, of germinating and repr 
_ ducing the original plant, and this is the generally received ee 
of its development: the capsules or sporanges are consi “a 
be the female organs; and the male organs are supposed aes 
found in the hair-like glandular filaments found in their vieinity- 
Some new and remarkable observations, however, have shown 
that the phenomenon was not so simple as it was thought. ” 
structure of the body which was supposed to be the male anger 
did not correspond with the antherids of other ¢ | 
Neither had the presence of antherozoids confirmed the eet 
assigned to them. In short, nature has neither placed the 
antherids of the ferns in the middle of the sorus, nor upon the 
pedicels of the capsules. Contrary to the provisions d a5 
by theory, it is upon plants in procees of germination that we sit 
these organs; upon individuals which have only been in existen®® 
