278 Bower. — Some Normal and Abnormal 
Sphorophytic Budding . — When the fronds grow old, there 
may be seen an additional mode of propagation, by direct 
budding from them, which results in the formation of new 
sporophytes. These growths appear on the lower surface of 
the frond, and are commonly associated with the ribs ; or they 
may occasionally be found at any point on the thin lateral parts. 
To the naked eye they appear at first as brown velvet-like 
patches, consisting chiefly of dark-coloured rhizoids (Fig. 18). 
A section through such a frond, on which sori may be entirely 
absent (Fig. 19), shows that these growths begin by the exten- 
sion and division of single cells. I have been unable to trace 
any regularity in the succession of divisions, or direction of 
growth, but the result is the formation of irregular filaments, 
bearing numerous brown rhizoids, and enlarging sooner or 
later into massive growths (Figs. 20, 21, 22, 23). These ulti- 
mately acquire the characters of a sporophytic axis, bearing 
leaves which are at first of simple form, as is the case with the 
first leaves of the sexually produced embryo in this and other 
species. Although their development corresponds in some 
points to that of the buds described in other Ferns by Hein- 
richer 1 , the initial filamentous stage makes a different inter- 
pretation of them possible, and this point will be further 
discussed at theconclusion of this paper. Meanwhile, however, 
it is to be noted that they originate at points quite apart from 
the sori, and they appear to have no connection with any sporal 
arrest. 
Trichomanes alatum, Sw. 
My attention was called some months ago by Prof. Dickson 
to a peculiar development on the tips of the older fronds of a 
specimen of Trichomanes alatum , which was growing in the 
Edinburgh Botanic Garden. This peculiarity had been noted 
by him some time before, and a drawing made from another 
specimen in the private collection of Mr. Neill Fraser showed 
that the development is not restricted to the single indi- 
1 Sitz. d. Akad. Nat. Wiss. zu Wien, July, 1878. 
