5S2 



F1LICES. 



that the less developed of the peculiar scaiiform bodies called 

 ramenta, and which are to be found towards the first subdi- 

 visions of the frond, bear to certain organs occurring in 

 some of the lower orders. 



Keeping in view this apparent similarity, I examined young 

 fronds at a still earlier date, and found that the resemblance 

 was not only more striking, but that the bodies near the 1st 

 ramification of the frond, presented some resemblance to 

 those organs assumed to be the female of Mosses and Jun- 

 germannese ; and that further, there was a sort of disposition 

 detectable in these bodies, which warranted me to limit my 

 examinations to them, at least for the present. 



With this view 1 have examined the only species of Filices 

 amounting to 4, to be procured about this plaee — and so far as 

 I have been able to judge, throughout the extensive portions 

 of Khorasan, I have hitherto visited. They consist of one 

 Adiantum, a Cryptogramma, a Grammitis, or Ceterach, and 

 an indetermined form, in venation nearly allied to Crypto- 

 gramma. 



I have found the same occurrences in each, in some more 

 evident, in others more obscure, presenting among the above 

 small number, such gradations as I think allow me to assume 

 that in certain forms, more especially those that border as it 

 were on Marchantiaceae, the resemblances will be so striking 

 as to set the question at rest, so far at least as regards the 

 identity in function between these ramenta, and the assumed 

 male organs of Mosses and Hepaticae. 



At the early stage I allude to, the ramenta at the termina- 

 tion of the new development, present the appearance of arti- 

 culate cellular bodies, consisting either entirely of a simple 

 superposition of cells, or being more compound at their base ; 

 but the last cell is invariably simple, turgid with a minutely, 

 granular fluid, and in Ceterach and Cryptogramma distinctly 

 capitate, and in the former, tinged with a yellowish colour — 

 the ordinary tint of moss anthers. The nearest approach to 

 the structure of these, are to be found in the newly developed 



