NOTES. 
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT 
OF SPORANGIA UPON FERN PROTHALLI 1 . By William H. 
Lang, M.B., B.Sc. — The observations recorded in this paper were 
made in the course of an investigation into the relation existing 
between variability in the Fern plant and apogamy in the prothallus. 
This research was undertaken at the suggestion of Professor Bower, 
F.R.S., and has hitherto been conducted in the Jodrell Laboratory, 
Royal Gardens, Kew. To Dr. Bower and Dr. Scott I am indebted 
for valuable assistance and advice. 
In two of the species investigated, Scolopendrium vulgare , L., and 
Lastraea dilatata , Presh, sporangia were borne upon the prothallus. 
In the former they were sometimes associated with apogamous 
development of the sporophyte, the details of which differ, however, 
from previously recorded cases of apogamy. As a considerable 
period must elapse before an amount of material sufficient for the 
complete study of details of development can be obtained, it appeared 
advisable to describe the results obtained from the material at present 
available. Cultures are about to be commenced in the Glasgow 
Botanic Gardens for the further study of these abnormal prothalli. 
The prothalli of the two species investigated will first be described, 
and the theoretical bearing of the results briefly considered. 
Lastraea dilatata , Presl., var. cristata gracilis , Roberts. 
The spores from which the cultures of this Fern were made were 
obtained from a plant in the collection of Mr. C. T. Druery, F.L.S., 
who kindly supplied me with material. This variety was found 
wild in Carnarvon in 1870. Spores were sown in the first week 
1 From the Proceedings of the Royal Society, Vol. lx, 1896. 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XI. No. XLI. March, 1897.] 
