On the Prothallus and Embryo of Danaea 
simplicifolia, Rudge. 
BY 
GEORGE BREBNER. 
— -M 
With Plate IX. 
■ — m — 
A LARGE number of young plants of Danaea simplicifolia , 
Rudge, were forwarded to the Royal Gardens, Kew, 
in the spring of 1895, by G. S. Jenman, Esq., F.L.S., Superin- 
tendent of the Botanic Gardens, British Guiana. At the 
suggestion of Dr. D. H. Scott, F.R.S., Honorary Keeper of 
the Jodrell Laboratory, I undertook the examination of the 
material. 
Among the youngest plants a few prothalli were found, 
which showed an abundance of adult, as well as degenerating, 
archegonia, and also afforded sufficient material of healthy 
young and adult antheridia to enable their structure and 
development to be satisfactorily followed. Some of the 
archegonia contained embryos. 
The fact that hitherto the prothallus and embryo of Danaea 
have not been described, makes the present opportunity rather 
a fortunate one, on account of the large amount of attention 
which is being given at present to the study of both the 
sporophyte and the gametophyte of the Marattiaceae. 
Prothallus. 
In its essential characters the prothallus of Danaea 
simplicifolia agrees with that of the other genera of the 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. X. No. XXXVIII. June, 1896.] 
I 
