494 Tansley and Chick . — On the Structure 
species, so as to obtain all possible evidence as to the relations 
of the different types of structure exhibited. 
The present species shows some interesting features which 
seem worthy of record, partly by way of supplement to 
Boodles excellent comparative account of the family in a 
recent number of this Journal 1 , and partly because they 
suggest a discussion of the phylogenetic problems involved 2 . 
The sequence of cell-divisions at the apex of the stem, so 
far as our rather scanty knowledge of the meristems of Ferns 
goes, is quite exceptional, and is a striking example of the 
impossibility of considering histogenetic distinctions as trust- 
worthy guides to the morphology of adult tissues. 
General Description and Sporangia. 
Schizaea malaccana , Baker, is a fairly well distributed 
species of the Malayan region. It is very common on the 
upper part of Mount Ophir (Johore), where our material was 
gathered in January, 1901. The plants commonly grew 
several together, with their sub-erect stems embedded in leafy 
liverworts or in humus. The stem is short, none of the 
specimens in our material attaining an inch and a half in 
length. It is normally unbranched, yet in two or three cases 
we have found a branch arising close to the apex. In one 
instance at least this was merely owing to the death of the 
apical meristem ; but in another specimen there was a regular 
dichotomy, one branch dichotomizing again almost imme- 
diately. The apical growth is probably very slow, and the 
tissues at the hind end of the stem die off gradually as 
growth proceeds. The surface of the stem is densely covered 
with the bases of fronds and with roots, which together form 
a thick matted investment, and give the stem a diameter of 
3 mm. or more. 
The fronds are well described in the Synopsis Filicum as 
1 Boodle, Anatomy of the Schizaeaceae. Ann. of Bot., June, 1901. 
2 The above was written before the discovery by Mr. Boodle in Schizaea dicho- 
toma of similar features to those indicated. Mr. Boodle’s paper containing an 
account of them will be found in the present number of this Journal. 
