ASPLENIUM. 



621 



PI. CXXXIIT. Fig. I. 



I have just had an opportunity of examining a species of 

 Asplenium. Precisely the same circumstances occur, the same 

 capitate antheriform cell, terminating the hairs, followed 

 by the same loss of turgidity ; the same coagulation, but per- 

 haps the same incurvation to a more remarkable degree, for 

 in many cases the centre of the body is occupied by what ap- 

 pears to be a dark brown tube. It is curious how invariably 

 this change of colour takes place along the lines of union of 

 the cells ; thus the tube when the cells are binarily superim- 

 posed, often appears toothed. The lowermost bodies may per- 

 haps become subsequently ramenta, but most, if not all of 

 those on or about the lobes remain unchanged, except in be- 

 coming charged with brown colour, and fragile. 



Tendency to peltation at the base of the ramenta, each di- 

 vision ending in an antheriform cell, is this an exception 

 against my idea ; it shews great tendency to confervoid growth. 



The anthers are very numerous, and are not confined to the 

 dorsal surface, although they appear to be more common there 

 than elsewhere. I must keep this in mind ; can it be connected 

 with the indusium : one thing is obvious, that the first changes 

 in indusiate and ex-indusiate Ferns, are precisely the same. 



Judging from this I should say that the first appearance of 

 fructification takes place at a later period in indusiate, than 

 in other Ferns : Adiantum is not truly indusiate. 



The anthers are often as abundant on the sterile, as on the 

 fertile fronds ; how is this to be explained ? it shews tendency 



perhaps to revent to the usual which is to have 



dioicous organs. 



1. Pinna of a very young frond. 



2. Supposed anthers, before fecundation. 



3. „ after fecundation. 



4. „ „ at a still later period. 



5. „ „ do. 



6. Tendency to peltation at the base, and antheriform nature 

 of divisions of an anther, passing into a ramentum. 



