ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
625 
Production of Apospory in Athyrium filix-femina var. unco- 
glomeratum.* * * § — Mr. F. W. Stansfield treated this fern, which is ap- 
parently barren, by cutting off parts of immature fronds, and allowing 
them to expand during eighteen months in a uniformly humid atmo- 
sphere. The result was the production, in the ultimate divisions, of a 
meristematic tissue, which gave rise to (1) gemmae or bulbils, (2) pro- 
thallia, producing both apogamous buds and ordinary sexual axes of 
growth. One of the prothallia bore both archegones and antherids. 
The primary fronds produced by apospory readily gave rise to fresh 
aposporous growths ; this feature being characteristic of aposporous 
ferns in general. The author suggests, as a consequence derived from 
this fact, that apospory is an atavic character in ferns. 
Leaves of Ferns.f — An exhaustive examination of the structure of 
the leaves of ferns belonging to all the principal genera induces M. P. 
Parmentier to classify those which belong to the flora of France in 
the following groups : — A. Mesophyll composed of a single layer of 
cells ; no stomates ; hairs stellate ( Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes). 
B. Mesophyll composed of several layers of cells ; hairs multicellular, 
unicellular or 0 ; (a) vascular bundle of the petiole single, of uniform 
thickness, arched, then curved towards the plane of symmetry and 
ending in loops ( crochets ) ; secreting canals conspicuous ( Osmnvda ) ; 
( b ) vascular bundles more than three, not arched, forming, with the 
brown sclerenchyme, the figure of the imperial eagle of Austria 
(Pteridium) ; (c) vascular bundles one or two, without small inferior 
bundles (18 out of the 26 genera) ; (d) two thick vascular bundles, in 
addition to 1-5 small inferior bundles, all arranged in an arc ( Blechnum , 
Polystiehum, Aspidium, Polypodium ). 
Matonia.J — Mr. A. C. Seward discusses the structure and affinities 
of this aberrant genus of Malayan ferns, consisting of only two species. 
In structure it presents points of agreement with several families of 
ferns, on the whole approximating more closely to the Cyatheaceae than 
to any other family ; but the peculiarities are such as to justify the 
placing of Matonia in a separate division of the Filices. 
Rejuvenescence of the Adventitious Buds of Cystopteris bulbi- 
fera.§ — In addition to the ordinary adventitious buds, Herr E. Hein- 
richer finds that this fern produces “ regenerating buds ” ( Regenerations - 
knospen), which also have a strong faculty of rejuvenescence. They 
are always produced above the point of insertion of a scale ( Nieder - 
blatf), and on its upper surface. These do not, like the ordinary 
adventitious buds, give rise to fleshy scales containing food-reserves, 
but at once to assimilating leaves. 
Development, Structure, and Affinities of Equisetum. || — Mr. E. 
C. Jeffreys has investigated the development of tissues and organs in 
several species of Equisetum. He distinguishes, in Vascular Crypto- 
* Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.), xxxiv. (1899) pp. 262-8 (4 figs.). 
f Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.), ix. (1899) pp. 289-361 (71 tigs.). 
X Ann. of Bot., xiii. (1899) pp. 319-20; Proc. Roy. Soc., lxiv. (1899) pp. 439-40. 
§ ‘ Ueber die Regenerationstahigkeit d. Adventivknospen v. Cystopteris bulbifera,’ 
1899, 6 pis. See Bot. Centralbl., lxxix. (1899) p. 16. Cf. this Journal, 1896, p. 654. 
11 Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., v. (1899) pp. 155-88 (5 pis.). 
