56 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
hollow stems, in their vernation; this in them is plicate or folded, and not circinate, 
the former typical or at least the form most prevalent among flowering plants, 
whilst the latter is that we find most general amongst the true ferns ; in their vena¬ 
tion : this in true ferns is either purely dichotomous, or some easily recognised 
form of it—in the genera under consideration, either as in Ophioglossum parallel- 
veined and reticulated somewhat like smilax, or as in Botrychium irregularly fan- 
shaped ; in their roots, in these fern's more nearly approaching the true root and 
differing much from the radicles of the other genera, being furnished with a clasping 
sheath, an organ not found to my knowledge in any other group ; and lastly, in the 
organs of reproduction, which in them is a special development other than the ordi¬ 
nary frond, for the purpose of bearing the fructification ; in fact, a branch modified 
for this especial function, similarly to the manner in which we find the leaf in flower¬ 
ing plants transformed into sepals, petals, and carpels, while in the other ferns we 
find the fructification borne on a frond, little, if at all, differing from the ordinary 
fronds. That this is analogous to a branch, or separate flower bud, would appear 
on examination of such forms as those of Botrychium, which I laid before you just 
previous to my departure from this country (vide u Natural History Review,” vol. 
ii. Proceedings of Societies, page 15), and by those forms of Ophioglossum in which 
we find two leafy fronds produced instead of one leafy and one spore-bearing frond, 
between which extreme forms and the normal one we find intermediate stages, leading 
us to believe, as I said before, that these organs are true branches—if we may call 
them so—differing essentially from the spore-bearing organs of the other ferns, and 
even from their close ally Osmunda, which in every respect (except the ring 
around the theca, which it wants) follows the annulate ferns, in its circinate verna¬ 
tion, its dichotomous venation, radicular roots, woody stem, and spore-bearing mo¬ 
dified main axis—thus leading us to believe that Ophioglossum and Botrychium 
should be placed next to the flowering plants, then Osmunda, and next the other 
ferns. These views, many of them already anticipated by other observers and 
authors, I throw out for your consideration, in the hope that some among our many 
members may be enabled during the coming year to assist me in the investigation, 
and thus clear up this most important point. There is another point in connection 
with these species worth inquiring into, whether, as Newman surmises, they be really 
parasites or not. 
After some discussion, Mr. Andrews exhibited a beautiful specimen of oak 
spangles, in connexion with the galls brought forward last evening. 
A ballot then opened, and at its conclusion the chairman declared Thomas Wil¬ 
son, Esq., jun., Dublin, duly elected an ordinary member. 
The meeting then adjourned till the month of April. 
EXTRA POPULAR MEETING. 
MARCH 26, 1856. 
His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, President of the Society, in the Chair. 
Mr. Andrews gave a long and interesting paper on the Ferns of Ireland, their dis¬ 
tribution and modes of cultivation, illustrating his remarks with a fine series of Irish 
specimens, many of them very fine and rare, including Trichomanes radicans var ; 
Andrewsii, from Kerry; Asplenium Trichomanes var. fallax, Kerry ; Lastraea 
spinulosa, Kerry, and many others of great interest. 
APRIL 11th, 1856. 
James R. Dombrain, Esq., in the chair. 
The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, 
Dr. Frazer read the following paper “ On the disease in gold fish, in connection 
with the development of Saprolegnia ferox.” 
The plant which is the subject of the present communication is by no means of 
extreme rarity, nor is it of local or limited occurrence. It has been observed with 
considerable accuracy of many scientific naturalists, and we possess several good 
descriptions and drawings of it. Thus, amongst others, Ledermuller, Wersberg, 
