162 
Notes. 
are capable of fertilization, for in some instances normally produced 
embryos were found. 
After the process has in this manner attained a greater or less 
length, its tip becomes yellowish, contrasting with the deep green 
colour of the region behind. Near the apex ramenta develop, which 
soon completely clothe the tip of the process and render it white and 
conspicuous. Archegonia are present to just below the ramenta. 
Longitudinal sections at this stage show that one or two small 
elevations corresponding to the rudiments of the apex of the stem 
and the first leaf of the sporophyte have been formed. Beneath the 
broad tip a flat mass of small merismatic cells extends ; the meris- 
matic tissue is continuous with that of the stem- and leaf-apices, but, 
on passing away from these, is separated by several layers of large, 
non-merismatic cells from the surface. In a slightly older stage the 
stem-apex has become conical, and a number of leaves have formed 
which are circinately curved, and formed a bud clothed with ramenta. 
In the merismatic mass numerous tracheides have been developed. 
One large group is central in position, and extends to the limit 
between prothallial and sporophytic tissue, while others are found 
beneath the bases of the leaves, and are in continuity with their 
procambial strands. The apex of the stem is occupied by an initial 
cell, the relation of which to the initial cell or cells of the apex of the 
process has not yet been traced. The young sporophyte appears to 
be a direct continuation of the process. It is possible that some of 
the cases of apogamy recorded by Slange 1 were of this nature, but in 
Doodia caudata , R. Br., which is the only one of his species yet 
investigated in detail 2 , the elevations, from which sporophytes 
developed, were situated on the under surface of the prothallus. This 
case appears to be intermediate in character between Scolopendrium 
and the species investigated by De Bary 3 . 
Several prothalli were found bearing sporangia ; these were grouped 
together in large numbers, usually upon the upper surface of the 
cylindrical process, but sometimes both above and below. Archegonia 
were situated close to the groups of sporangia. In the region of the 
prothallus, underlying the group, a strand of tracheides was found ; 
in one instance this was connected with a spherical mass of tracheides 
developed to all appearance within the venter of an archegonium 
1 Ber. der Gesellsch. f. Bot., Hamburg, 1886, p. 43. 
2 Heim, Flora, 1896, p. 329. 3 Loc. cit. 
