28 Bower, — Studies in the Phytogeny of the Fili cates. VI. 
other Ferns of Cyatheoid affinity, a bud may be formed in E. latifolium 
at the leaf-base on the abaxial side. Its vascular supply comes off from the 
stele below the leaf-trace itself. Its position is indicated in (b) } in which the 
gap of the next higher leaf (x) has just been formed. 
The venation of certain species of Elaphoglossum is without any 
anastomoses. 1 In most species 
the veins fork irregularly near to 
the midrib, and towards the mar- 
gin they show anastomoses (Text- 
fig. 14). In some species there 
may be two or more rows of 
meshes of great irregularity. 2 
Diels 3 has tabulated the genus 
Syngramme on the basis of vena- 
tion. Elaphoglossum shows similar 
variations in this respect, its 
simplest types corresponding to the state of Metaxya. 
While Metaxya and Syngramme have hairs only, Elaphoglossum bears 
dermal scales, often of very elaborate structure, which are used in specific 
Text-fig. 14. Venation of margin of leaf of 
Elaphoglossum latifolium. x 4. 
Text-fig. 15. Elaphoglossum latifolium (Sw.), J. Sm. a, vertical section of young lamina ; 
b, c, origin of sporangia ; d , transverse sections of sporangial stalks and hairs ; e, tangential section of 
young soral area, showing the sporangia originating between the veins, x 75. 
diagnosis. Hairs are said to be absent : but they exist in the sori. In this 
respect it is in advance of the other genera. 
The sorus in E. latifolium covers the whole lower surface of the 
lamina with a uniform coating of sporangia, with a few hairs. In the young 
leaf the soral surface bears a deep epithelium (Text-fig. 15 , a), from which 
1 E. hdiconiaefolium , Christ, 1 . c., p. 133. 2 Christ, 1 . c., p. 50. 3 1 . c., p. 257. 
