392 Boodle . — On some points in the 
This anomaly -was traced by him for a distance of 30 cm. 
with no sign of dichotomy. This is referred to again in a 
later paper 1 , and the conclusion arrived at that the anomaly 
is due to the root preparing for division, where the processes 
of the dichotomy proceed slowly, the first stage being very 
persistent, or that it is a case of abortive dichotomy. 
The view given in the earlier paper 2 , that it was a case 
of return to diarch structure, is given up, as it had been 
suggested by a supposed case of another species in which 
monarch roots (of the type of O. vulgatuni) as well as diarch 
and triarch roots occurred. This was found to be due to 
the roots of two species being mixed in the material used. 
In this case of Ophioglossum vulgatum with two phloem - 
masses, no definite conclusion can be drawn without a know- 
ledge of the development of the xylem-mass. 
Poirault states that after dichotomy the roots have only 
one phloem-group, and are not concentric, as described by 
Rostowzew. 
The observations in Bower’s paper 3 concerning the monarch 
structure in Ophioglossum have been quoted above. His con- 
clusion, that the xylem is monarch, has been confirmed by 
the facts described in the present paper, but the latter do 
not tend to support the view of the primitive character of 
monarchy in Ophioglossum to which he inclines. 
I am indebted for material of Botrychium Lunaria to 
Mr. J. Lloyd Williams of University College, Bangor. The 
rest of the material, with the exception of the young plants 
of Botrychium virginianum sent by Mr. Jeffrey, was obtained 
from the Royal Gardens, Kew. 
I wish to express my thanks and obligation to Dr. D. H. 
Scott, F.R.S., under whose direction this research has 
been made, for his kind advice and criticism throughout the 
work. 
1 Poirault, Recherches sur les Cryptogames vasculaires, Ann. des Sci. Nat., vii. 
ser., t. 18, 1893, p. 144. 
2 Journal de Botanique, t. vi. 
3 Bower, 1 . c. 
