The comparative examination of the meri- 
stems of F eras, as a Phylogenetic Study. 
BY 
F. O. BOWER, D.Sc. 
Regius Professor of Botany in the University of Glasgow. 
With Plates XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, and XXIV. 
Introductory Remarks. 
I T is the ultimate aim of all working morphologists who 
entertain a view of evolution in one form or another, to 
reconstruct as nearly as possible from the fragmentary records 
at our disposal the developmental tree. All must however feel 
that not only is the series too greatly broken to allow of 
launching out with certainty upon definite views as to the exact 
relation of existing forms, but also that our knowledge of the 
details of structure and development of many of the organisms 
we see living before us is too slight to provide sound ground for 
argument. At the same time, no details are to be considered 
as too trivial provided their value be not over-estimated. It 
is the interest and the duty of investigators at present to 
attempt to build up short branches of the main tree, rather 
than to hazard guesses as to the relation of organisms which 
are but remotely connected ; by careful investigation to arrange 
the more closely related organisms serially according to their 
characters, in the hope that this may lead to the affinities of 
such series to others being the more clearly recognised at 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. III. No. XI. August, 1889.] 
