302 Bowel \ — Some Normal and Abnormal 
even more complete than that of any of the cases cited above ; 
the archegonia are absent altogether, while the antheridia, 
which have only been found in the Kew specimen, have never 
been seen to attain maturity, but show, over and above 
the absence of spermatozoids, a degeneration of certain cells 
of the wall of the antheridium. 
It remains to notice the sporophytic budding produced on 
the old fronds of Tr. pyxidiferum. They originate from single 
cells apart from the sorus, and are at first filamentous, 
ultimately enlarging into the more massive tissues of the 
typical sporophyte. If the filament were of a protonemal 
character this might also be regarded as a case of simultaneous 
apospory and apogamy, the cycle being of a still more 
condensed or ‘ telescoped 5 type than in Tr. alaUim ; the 
characters of the filament will hardly bear this interpretation, 
and the examination of them has led me to the conclusion 
that in them we see nothing more than a peculiar form of 
sporophytic budding. 
Finally, I regret to be unable to offer extensive evi- 
dence as to the permanency of these several phenomena, 
in the species named, or in the individual plant. The 
observation of the aposporous growths in three different 
collections may point to either of two conclusions : either it 
is a frequently recurring natural phenomenon in the species, 
or it is to be regarded as pathological ; the latter is quite 
possibly the true explanation, and, as above suggested, the 
peculiarity may result from keeping the sporophyte constantly 
in an atmosphere saturated with moisture. A comparison 
of cultivated plants in many different collections with speci- 
mens taken from the natural habitats would be o value in 
the decision of this point. 
