The Vestigial Axillary Strands of Trichomanes 
javanicum, Bl. 
BY 
HELEN S. CHAMBERS, B.Sc., F.L.S. 
Assistant Lecturer in Botany , Royal Holloway College. 
With Plate LXXX and five Figures in the Text. 
Introduction. 
I N some specimens of Trichomanes javanicum collected by Dr. M. Benson 
in Fiji, there were observed numerous examples of the curious vestigial 
axillary strand recorded in an allied species by Boodle. 1 Boodle mentions 
the axillary strand, together with the fact that it fuses with the leaf-trace 
during its passage through the cortex ; but he does not give any details of 
its structure nor of its ultimate fate beyond the following general statement: 
i Axillary branches occur very generally in the Hymenophyllaceae ; at many 
nodes, however, the rudiment of the axillary branch may remain undeveloped.’ 
The axillary shoot first discovered by Stenzel, and later recorded in 
other species of Zygopteris , is discussed by Scott in his Studies, where he 
mentions (p. 312) that ‘the axillary strand passed out into a cylindrical 
appendage placed exactly in the axil between stem and leaf ’. The presence 
of a comparable structure has been suggested by Gwynne-Vaughan 2 in 
Helminthostachys zeylanica , and by Bruchmann 3 in Botrychium lunaria . 
As the phenomenon seemed worthy of further investigation, especially 
with reference to the origin and ultimate fate of the strand, I determined to 
make a detailed examination of the new material. For this purpose micro¬ 
tome sections have been made through the apex of one plant, and through 
the bases of petioles. From some of the series longitudinal diagrams have 
been constructed. 
Habit of Trichomanes javanicum, Bl. 
Trichomanes javanicum possesses an upright stem, about 2-6 mm. in 
diameter, which bears strong bipinnate fronds and many interlacing roots. 
1 Boodle: Anatomy of the Hymenophyllaceae. Annals of Botany, vol. xiv, 1900. Whether 
this strand develops or not is left an open question by Boodle, loc. cit., p. 470. 
2 Gwynne-Vaughan : Annals of Botany, vol. xvi, p. 170. 
8 Bruchmann: Flora, 1906, p. 226. 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXV. No. C. October, 1911.] 
3 Y 
