ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
517 
stains red, though it contains a few blue elements resembling nucleoles ; 
the protoplasm surrounding the nucleus is also an intense red. 
The reactions of the antherozoid of Aneura pinguis (Hepaticae) pre- 
cisely resemble those of Gymnogramme ; no observations were made on 
the archegones. 
Sporophyte of Lycopodinae and Ophioglossaceae.* — Prof. F. O. 
Bower puts forward the theory that the so-called “ fertile frond ” of 
Ophioglossum is in reality an elaborated and partitioned sporange homo- 
logous with the smaller and non-partitioned sporange of the Lyco- 
podinas. This view is supported by a comparison of the development of 
the “ fertile frond ” in Ophioglossum and Ophioderma with that of the 
sporange in Lycopodium Selngo and clavatum. In Ophioderma the arche- 
sporial tissue becomes differentiated into sporogenous masses which 
are soon densely filled with protoplasm and develope further into spores, 
and sterile tissues which intervene between these and develope into 
the septa between the sporanges together with part of the tapete. The 
whole “ fertile frond ” of Ophioglossum and Ophioderma will then corre- 
spond to the sub-archesporial mass of Lycopodium, and will illustrate 
the result of elaboration, partial sterilization, and consequent partition- 
ing of the sporange. 
If this view is accepted, Prof. Bower suggests that it may furnish 
a clue to the bridging over of the gap between the Bryopbytes and 
Vascular Cryptogams ; and that all the stocks of Vascular Cryptogams 
may have originated in an elaboration similar to that which can be 
traced in the spore-bearing members of the Lycopodinae and Ophio- 
glossaceae. If such a process were carried out in a sporogone such as 
that of Anthoceros , it might result in a strobile not unlike those of 
Equisetum and Lycopodium. 
Prothallium and Embryo of Osmunda.f — Prof. D. H. Campbell 
has closely investigated the structure and development of the pro thal- 
lium and embryo of Osmunda Claytoniana and cinnamomea. He states 
that the spores of both species germinate immediately, and may form a 
protoneme similar to that of the Polypodiacem. A single two-sided 
apical cell is formed at an early period, which gives place to a nearly 
cubical one, and ultimately to a row of marginal initials. Adventitious 
prothallia are formed in both species, and that of 0. Claytoniana branches 
abundantly. The chloroplasts are sometimes of extraordinary size in 
0. cinnamomea. The antherids differ in structure from those of other 
ferns, and approach most nearly those of the Hymenophyllaceae and 
Gleicheniaceae. The antherozoids resemble most closely those of 
Equisetum ; they are formed by direct transformation of the nucleus ; the 
cilia and vesicle originating from the cytoplasm. A polar body may be 
present in the archegone, distinct from the ventral canal-cell. The stem, 
leaf, and root are developed from a tetrahedral apical cell which is one 
of the original octants of the embryo. The development appears to 
approach most nearly that of the less specialized leptosporangiate forms, 
and the author points out several points of resemblance between 
O. Claytoniana and the Marattiaceae. 
* Proc. Roy. Soe., 1. (1892) pp. 265-73. 
' f Ann. of Bot., vi, (1892) pp. 49-94 (4 pis.). Cf. this Journal, 1891, p. 627. 
