594 



FILICES. 



ing rather to the Himalaya, than the Affghan Flora. Of the 

 remaining 5, three only were met with in the Eastern Affgha- 

 nisthan. So that the proportion of Ferns to Western and 

 Northern Affghanisthan, which are both more characteristic 

 than Eastern, is reduced to three — a proportion of 1-6J0, to 

 the general vegetation. 



The only species that appears to me worthy of remark is 

 the Grammitis, which is from one technical character equally 

 referrable to Gymnogramma. It is remarkable for its minute 

 size, and the appearance it presents at first sight, of having 

 two forms of fronds, both being soriferous. 



Some of the sketches of this submitted, represent what I 

 suspect to be the male organs of Ferns, the appearance of 

 which is pretty uniform in the few Polypodeaceae I have exa- 

 mined. 



These bodies appear to me important on account of their 

 universal presence, and their structure, which is essentially that 

 of the anthers of Jungermanniae or Musci, the curious changes 

 they undergo, are especially remarkable, particularly the 

 coagulation of the contents. I have also seen appearances, in- 

 dicating the application of the glandular head to the frond, 

 though this may obviously arise from mere mechanial causes, 

 consequent on the direction of the young fronds. They require 

 to be observed at an early period, in connection with which 

 I may remark, that the fructification of the family has ap- 

 peared to me to be determined at an early period. 



It also appears worthy of notice, that a muscoidal form of 

 anthers as in Syrrhopodiae probably occurs in Platycerium bi- 

 forme, and that this form, excepting as regards the canal of 

 dehiscence, is easily reducible to a form which occurs, and in 

 which the rament are divided, each division ending in an 

 anther. 



The curious structure of the bodies, among which occur the 

 capsules of Platycerium biforme, was first pointed out to me 

 by Mr. Grant. The occurrence of muscoidal anther in a Fern, 

 which I take to represent Alga?, appears to me to indicate the 



