Bryophyten. 
599 
Campbell, D. H., On the distribution of the Hepaticae and its 
significance. (New Phytologist. VI. p. 203. 1907.) 
The conclusions reached in this paper are: “that the distribution 
of the existing Liverworts indicates that they are ancient forms 
whose scarcety in a fossil condition is due to their very perishable 
tissues,” and “that while the Mosses are presumably a more recent 
and specialized group than Hepaticae , still their distribution indicates 
that they also must have been differentiated at a very early period.” 
In support of these conclusions the author, while not despairing of 
fossil remains of Bryophyta being obtained from the more ancient 
rocks, deals mainly with the present distribution of the group. On 
the basis of the enumerations given by Schiffner in the „natürlichen 
Pflanzenfamilien'’ he demonstrates the wide distribution of many 
genera. It is argued that owing to the spores soon losing their power 
of germination many Hepaticae are ill-fitted for dispersal long 
distances by wind. In support of this the author’s own observations 
on a recent visit to Krakatau are cited. No Hepaticae have yet 
been recorded in the re-colonisation of the island and in a day’s 
collecting although special search was made, none were found. 
W. H. Lang. 
Campbell, D. H., Studies on some Javanese Anthocerotaceae. I. 
(Ann. Botany. XXI. p. 467. Plates XLIV-XLVI. 1907.) 
The species of the genus Anthoceros contained in Gottsche’s 
third section are here placed in the new genus Megaceros. These 
species are characterised by the absence of Stomata from the sporo- 
gonium and by the possession of spiral elaters. Probably also the 
possession of multiple chromatophores is a common character of all 
members of the genus. A diagnosis of the new genus is given with 
diagnoses of two new species from Java belonging to it, M. Tjibo- 
densis, and M. Salakensis. The former is near to M. (. Anthoceros ) 
Stahlii, Steph. but appears to be specifically distinct. 
The morphology of M. Tjibodensis and M. Salakensis is described 
and figured in detail. Both show multiple chromatophores in their 
cells, as many as twelve being sometimes found in a cell of 
the former species. Multiple chromatophores were also found in 
two tropical American species M. Vincentianus and M. ßavens. Py- 
renoids were absent from the chromatophores of all the forms studied, 
except possibly M. Salakensis. In the form of the thallus and the 
apical growth the two Javanese species studied resemble Anthoceros. 
The archegonia also are most like those of Anthoceros while in the 
solitary, large antheridium Megaceros resembles Dendroceros. The 
Segmentation of the embryo also resembles the taller genus but the 
extent of the sporogenous tissue, which may be three to four cells 
thick and is still more extensive above the summit of the columella, 
is most like Notothylas. The elaters which form an irregulär net 
enclosing spore-mother-cells are multicellular when mature and 
have a broad spiral thickening band as in Dendroceros. The spores 
are relatively small and thin-walled; each contains a single chroma- 
tophore. There is a slight lobing of the mother-cell before division 
takes place. The chromatophore of the mother cell first divides into 
two and then into four the daughter chromatophores remaining 
connected by a Strand of fine fibrils. The sporophyte has a considerable 
amount of green assimilating tissue but no Stomata are present in 
the epidermis; its cells like those of the thallus have multiple 
