-8 3 - 



Siskiyou county, where it was collected in August, 1893, by Dr. E. 

 B. Copeland. Mt. Eddy is a neighbor of Mt. Shasta, the station 

 already known. 



Pilularia Americana Al. Br. The same distribution contains 

 specimens of this plant, from a third station, Ramona, San Diego 

 county, collected by Mr. Brandegee, May, 1902. They grew in 

 pools, on a clay mesa. 



RAISING PROTHALLIA OF BOTRYCHIUM AND 

 LYCOPODIUM. 



By Willard N. Ceute. 



The prothallia of most species of Botrychium and Lycopo- 

 dium are so rare that the finding of any of them is regarded as 

 a noteworthy occurrence. Indeed, the prothallia of many species 

 are absolutely unknown, for although the spores germinate, it 

 has thus far been impossible to bring the prothallia to maturity. 

 In the specimens that have been accidentally discovered the outer 

 cells are always infected with a fungus and it appears nearly 

 certain that a sort of symbiotic relationship has been struck up 

 between prothallus and fungus which makes them mutually de- 

 pendent. If this be the case, then it would seem only necessary 

 to inoculate the germinating spores with cultures of the fungus 

 to get a fine crop of prothallia. This theory, which does not 

 appear to have been advanced before, is very easily tested and 

 it is hoped some reader of this magazine may make the trial. 



A somewhat similar state of affairs has been found to exist 

 among the orchids. Seedling orchids have always been notor- 

 iously hard to bring to maturity. The seeds will germinate 

 readily, but the young plants are prone to die when still seed- 

 lings. Recently this has been changed by the discovery that 

 the seedlings will thrive if grown in soil in which old plants of 

 the same species have been growing, because they thus are able 

 to come in contact with a fungus necessary to their existence. 



One who undertakes to raise prothallia of Botrychium or 

 Lycopodium, is advised to procure soil from the immediate 

 vicinity of the growing species he wishes to rear. Upon this 



