209 
Bower . — Ophioglossum simplex , Ridley. 
and in the structure of the root, suggested a fresh examination of the 
vascular supply to the leaf and spike in that species. Prantl 1 in his 
diagnosis of the three sections of the genus gives for \Euophioglossum , 
‘ petioli fasciculi basi tres * : this section includes the bulk of the species 
of the genus. For \Ophioderma (including O. pendulum ), and § Cheiroglossa 
(including O. palmatum), ‘petioli fasciculi numerosi.’ It is true that there 
are three bundles at the base of the leaf-stalk in E uoph ioglossu m , but 
on entering the axis they fuse to one, before insertion on the main system 2 . 
Hitherto this insertion as a solitary strand has been found uniform in 
the Ophioglossaceae examined : but in O. pendidum it is not so, as the 
following description of a definite example will show ; but it is possible 
that in a species which varies so greatly in size, the vascular complexity 
may vary also. The leaves in this species differ in vascular supply accord- 
ing as they bear spikes or are sterile. In the latter case the transverse 
section of the leaf-base in the specimen examined shows an open arc 
of some seven bundles (Fig. 3), which are reduced by fusion to five ; these 
remain as distinct strands, till they insert themselves individually upon 
the system of the axis (Figs. 6 to 13, leaf to the left). In the case of 
leaves which bear spikes, the transverse section of the leaf-base shows 
a complete ring of bundles with their xylems facing inwards (Fig. 4) ; 
fusions on the adaxial side show that the distinction of the two margins 
near the base is not always maintained. As the base of the leaf is 
approached this foliar ring opens on the adaxial side — with or without 
some previous fusions on that side (compare Figs. 6 to 13). The strands 
which are reduced in number by further irregular fusions are then inserted 
individually upon the system of the axis. This, which is at times in form 
of an almost complete ring (Figs. 6, 7, 8), opens to receive the foliar 
strands upon the margin of the gap. 
This vascular system is in itself not very uniform in detail, and differs 
from that of other Ophioglossaceae in the leaf-trace not being united at the 
base to a single strand. 
In the sterile leaf the strands pass upwards from the system of the 
axis as a single curved series (Figs. 2-17, leaf a ), showing occasional reticu- 
lations : the series is open on the adaxial face. As the strands enter the 
flattened region of the lamina the curve is flattened out also, with the 
xylems directed upwards. In the leaves which bear spikes the strands 
on passing from the system of the axis form a circular series, closed on the 
adaxial face (Fig. 4) : irregular branchings and fusions are often seen 
between the bundles at the opposite margins of the curve, so that those 
strands which occupy the adaxial side are connected indifferently with both 
1 Beitr. z. Syst. d. Ophioglosseen, p. 299. 
3 Holle, Vegetationsorgane der Ophioglosseen, Bot. Zeit., 1875, p. 269 ; Rostowzew, Recherches 
sur V Ophioglossum vulgatum , p. 21, PI. I, Fig. 5. 
