154 
MORPHOLOGY 
formed first a rather large, undifferentiated mass of tissue (fig. 365) 
in which at least three growing points (foot, root, and stem) become 
organized, the leaf appearing 
later. In this embryogeny of 
Botrychium there is a general 
resemblance to the Lycopodiales 
in the belated organization of 
some body region; and a still 
further resemblance to those 
species of Lycopodium in which 
the embryo begins with the 
FIG. 361. Gametophyte of Botrychium: development of a protocorm 
antheridia in dorsal ridge; archegonia along the (p_ I ^i\ The same belated ap- 
slopes; region of endophytic fungus in ventral 
region. -After JEFFREY. pearance of one or more body 
regions has been observed also 
in species of Ophioglossum. In the whole group there seems to be no 
such early and complete differentiation of the body regions as in 
Equisetales and Filicales. 
362 363 364 365 
FIGS. 362-365. Archegonium and embryo of Botrychium Lunar ia : 362, fertilized 
egg, in venter of archegonium ; 363, first division of egg; 364, quadrant stage; 365, later 
stage of embryo, the body regions not yet differentiated. After BRUCHMANN. 
Conclusions. The Ophioglossales have certain features in common 
with the Lycopodiales, notably the structure of the gametophyte, the 
adaxial relation of sporangia to sporophylls, and the irregular and some- 
what indefinite development of the embryo in its early stages. The 
"fertile spike," however, may have arisen from lateral branches, which 
would eliminate this feature of the resemblance to Lycopodiales. The 
same kind of irregular and indefinite development of the embryo proba- 
bly also occurs among the Marattiaceae, so that this feature finds its 
resemblance among both Filicales and Lycopodiales. In the reduced 
number of foliage leaves and their corresponding increase in size, and 
in the sperms, the resemblance is decidedly with the Filicales. In vas- 
