288 
Bower. — Notes on the Morphology of 
preference for evidence by sections. But Dr. Chrysler has not only ignored 
the evidence afforded by my drawings, 1 he has also neglected the theory 
which was based upon them. This theory is not even mentioned by him. 
But on the basis of observations on other genera, combined with the citation 
of my own observations on a certain specimen of O, palmatum above quoted, 2 
he concludes that ‘ according to the reasoning here employed it may be 
inferred that the lowest spike in this specimen represents two fused lobes of 
the leaf, while the next two spikes represent single lobes \ He continues 
thus : ‘ Bower lays much stress on the observation that the spikes do not 
generally arise from the margin of the leaf, yet the only transverse sections 
which he figures (6, p. 463) clearly show that in the case of the three 
spikes so represented, the origin of the vascular supply at any rate is truly 
marginal, i. e. derived from the free edges of a curved leaf-trace made up of 
a number of separate strands. Probably most morphologists would place 
more reliance on the disposition of the vascular skeleton than on the super- 
ficial “flesh” which clothes the skeleton.’ 
This rough and ready way of deciding a rather intricate morphological 
problem will hardly commend itself to morphologists who take other facts 
besides those of vascular anatomy into their view, least of all to those who 
have personally examined a large series of specimens of O. palmatum. 
Most morphologists have little or no personal knowledge of the plant in 
question, and Dr. Chrysler does not bring any evidence that he has studied 
specimens of it himself. Under these circumstances it would only be reason- 
able to expect some degree of reticence in amending conclusions which are 
explicitly based upon examination of a large series of specimens. In explana- 
tion of the facts derived from such study in 1896, a theory of chorisis or 
duplication was advanced. 3 But as this theory is not criticized, but passed 
over in silence by Dr. Chrysler, it seems necessary to state it afresh, and to 
recapitulate the reasoning upon which it is still held to be the correct 
interpretation of the facts for O. palmatum. 
It is found in such normal types of Eu-Ophioglossum as O. vulgatum 
that the spike is susceptible of occasional branching, especially when the 
conditions are hypertrophic. 4 In O. pendulum the branching is more fre- 
quent, and sometimes involves the lower sterile stalk of the spike (Figs. 
330-2). It was suggested that the condition which appears as an occa- 
sional hypertrophic abnormality in O. vulgatum became frequent in O. 
pendulum , and has become fixed as an almost constant condition in well- 
nourished plants of O. palmatum. The comparison was drawn with those 
Angiospermic flowers in which an increase in number of the parts from the 
probable primitive type is referable to interpolation or chorisis. Comparison 
may be made with the androecium of Hypericaceae, Malvaceae, or Rosaceae. 
1 loc. cit., Figs. 120-9. " Ann. of Bot., 1904, PI. XV. 
3 loc. cit., p. 43 ; see also Land Flora, p. 439. 4 Studies, ii, Figs. 133, 134. 
