Bower.—Studies in the Phytogeny of the Filicales . VIL 35 
Gwynne-Vaughan. 1 It illustrates what is often seen elsewhere, that 
anatomical and soral characters do not always march parallel. 
This brings to a conclusion the study of selected examples of Prantl’s 
Lonchitidinae, with which Pteris ( Histiopteris ) incisa (Thunbg.), J. Sm., has 
been associated very naturally. There is reason to believe that all of these 
Ferns are more or less related forms, as Prantl recognized them to be. The 
presence of hairs as dermal appendages, of solenostely, of a leaf-trace usually 
undivided, and of a marginal sorus, mostly with two indusial flaps, and an 
early indication of a gradate, passing over to a mixed sorus, are all signs of 
their relatively primitive position. Steps of advance are seen in one or 
another, in dermal scales ( Lonchitis , Histiopteris ), increasing disruption of 
the vascular tracts {Pteridinm, L. hirsuta ), medullary vascular developments 
in old Histiopteris and Pteridinm , partial or complete loss of the lower 
indusium {Histiopteris , Lonchitis , Paesia , and even Pteridinm) , transfer of 
the receptacle from the true margin to the lower surface (. Histiopteris ). 
These and other features indicate advances to the border-line of the genus 
Pteris. That it is so is signalized by the frequent synonymy of the older 
writers. Thus the Lonchitidinae form the natural phyletic introduction to 
the condition shown in Pteris. 
Pteris . 
Of the Pteridinae of Prantl 2 it is Pteris itself which is most clearly 
associated in habit, structure, sorus, and synonymy with the Lonchitidinae. 
The question then arises more directly for that genus than for the rest as to 
a probable phyletic relationship. It will therefore be taken first. Of the 
section \Enpteris the species P. serrulata , L. (= P. multifida , Poir.), P. 
creticag^.p. biaurita , L .,P. longifolia , L., and P. heterophylla , L.(= Anopteris 
hexdgona (L.), C. Chr.), have been examined. Of the section \Litobrochia, in 
addition to Histiopteris incisa described above, P. podophylla, Sw., will be 
taken, and of the section Heterophlebinm, P. grandifolia , L. The section 
Doryopteris , P . sagittifolia , Raddi, has been excluded by Prantl. This will 
for the present purpose be a sufficient representation. It must remain for 
others to carry out the detailed examinations which will be necessary to 
dispose the species of this large genus more exactly in phyletic sequences. 
All these Ferns bear scales on the rhizome and leaf-base, not simply 
the primitive hairs. Though they vary a good deal in habit, they are all 
solenostelic, but with more or less marked advance towards dictyostely, 
while in some of them medullary complications of a high order are found. 
A few notes on their vascular anatomy will be given before proceeding to 
comparison of their sori. 
1 Ann. of Bot., vol. xvii, p. 735. 
* l.c.,p. 17- 
