212 Bower . — Ophioglossum simplex , Ridley . 
abaxial, the part in question will be of the nature of a spike ; if we find that 
the strands are in a complete ring with the xylems central, the part where 
that occurs will probably be of the nature of a leaf-stalk. Further, if the 
leaf-trace continues downwards as separate strands, till the insertion of those 
strands separately upon the vascular system of the axis, then not only 
will the affinity with O. pendulum be confirmed, as apart from the rest 
of the genus, but also there will be a strong presumption that the appen- 
dages of O. simplex are the true correlatives of those of O. pendulum , not- 
withstanding the absence of the sterile lamina, as above noted for our plant. 
It may be said at once that the question of orientation is difficult in the 
upper region of any elongated succulent part, having approximately cylin- 
drical form ; and especially will this be the case when, as here, the only 
specimen has been pressed and dried. Certain results as to orientation can, 
in the present case, be obtained only at the base, and especially at the 
point of insertion of the appendage upon the axis. With this caution 
the facts available may be stated as follows. 
A transverse section of the stalk at point A, Fig. i, shows the vascular 
strands five in number, forming an arc open on the flattened side, which 
will presumably correspond to the abaxial side in a normal Ophioglossum 
(Fig. 24) ; it is however impossible in this dried specimen to be certain that 
its direction is actually abaxial. The xylems are directed towards this 
flattened side, and the structural arrangements are such as to indicate that 
here we have a part corresponding to that of a normal spike — a conclusion 
which the external form with its rows of sporangia amply bears out. 
It seemed useless in the absence of precise knowledge of orientation to 
pursue the details continuously downwards throughout the stalk, so the 
next section was taken at level B , in Fig. 1. Here the transverse section 
was more rounded, and the number of strands was found to be as high 
as seven, arranged in a regular circle, with their xylems directed centrally 
(Fig. 25) ; this result coincides fairly with the observations on the stalks 
soaked out (Fig. 2) : the number seven is slightly in excess of the number 
of strands there shown — possibly in the crushed stalk one of the strands 
may have overlain another. Comparing this result with the transverse 
sections near the base of the stalks of fertile leaves of O . pendulum (Fig. 4) 
and of O. palmatum (Fig. 14), it appears that the form of the section 
and the vascular arrangement are similar, though of a rather simpler type, 
as shown by the smaller number of the strands ; and thus the structural 
evidence points to the lower part being of the nature of a leaf-stalk. It 
remains to trace these strands downwards to their insertion on the system 
of the axis. This is shown in the successive sections (Figs. 27, 28, 29) 
for O. simplex , and it is clear from these that though there may have 
been reduction in number by fusions, the strands do not unite as in most 
Ophioglossaceae into a single strand, but remain as some four or five 
