along the rhachis, usually drooping at the aculeatum var. lahatum Clarke in Trans. tips; pinnae distant, alternate or suboppos­ Linn. Soc. Ser. 2, Bot.l: 509, 1880. Aspi­ ite up to 40 on each side, tapering, 12-15 dium lobatiim (Huds) Sw. Schrad Jour. 1800 (20) cm long, pinnules distant, distinctly (2); 37. 1801 Polystichum aculeatum var. stalked, not decurrent variable in shape, lohatum (Huds). Bedd. Handb. Ferns Brit, short ovatc-acuminate with a broad auricle India 297, 1883 et with Suppl. 207, 1892. 8-20 mm long 3-9 mm broad, narrowly Rhizome thick, woody, stout, young pa­ falcate-acuminate or falcate, serrate, each rts covered with small pointed scales amon­ tooth ending in a spine-like point, proximal gst which are scattered much larger ovate acroscopic pinnule scarcely longer than the dark ones. Fronds tufted, 30-90 cm, rigid rest, its proximal side rounded below, its and leathery, usually persistent, glossy green distal obtusely auricled, the two sides form­ obove, paler beneath, narrows conside­ ing an obtuse angle at the base, veins bran­ rably towards the base, pinnate or bipinn- ched free, glabrous above, clothed with ate; pinnae up to 50 on each side, pinnate small pointed scales below. Sori generally or pinnatifid, usually curved so that the arranged in a row on either side of the mid­ lips point to the apex of the blade: pinnule rib indusium thin, peltate, caducous. (Figs. sessile or subsessile, obliquely decurrent, la, 2 left). serrate, apex acute, proximal acroscopic 2. Polystichum aculeatum (L.) Roth, pinnule oT each pinna longer than the rest, Tent. FI. Germ. 3(1); 79, 1799; Alston in its proximal side straight, its distal acutley Jour. Bot. 78: 160-164, 1940; Valentine in auricled the two sides forming an acute FI. Eur. r. 20, 1964. PolypocHum aculcatum angle at the base; veins alternately Linn. Sp. PI. 1552, \153. Polypodimi loba- branched. Sori usually many, arranged in fw/n Huds. FI. Angi. 459, 1762. Aspidiuin a line on either side of the midrib of the aculeatum Sw. in Schrad Jour. f. d. Bot. pinnule; indusium peltate, brown. (Figs lb, 1800 (2J: 37, 1801 pro parte. Aspidium 2 middle and right).

J. Indian bot. Soc. 51; 140 146.

ON A FROM PANCKGANI, MAHARASHTRA.’

By M .S. B alakrishnan , M cera B o n d r f , (n e e g o l e ) a n d S h o b h a P u r o h h ' Department of Botany, University of Poona, Poona~ l

a b st r a c t

A C/wY«om/.v collected from Panchgani in Maharashtra is described. In most rcspccts it agreed with G. pyriforniis Iyengar, but ditTcred from it in the lobed nature of mature thalli. Consequently, it is described as a new variety, G. pyiiforniix var. lohosus. Tiie of the genus Glocococcu.s is briefly discussed.

1. Acceptcd for publication on April 2, 1972. The authors are grateful to Fr. Conrad Mascarenhas for the latin diagnosis of the new taxon. The second author is grateful to the University Grants Commission for the award of a Junior Research Fellowship during the tenure of which the present investigation was carried out. The alga described in the present paper mucilage. The cells are motile and cons­ was first collected from a permanent tantly show a gentle oscillatory or irregular fresh water pond in Panchgani (on the movement and at short intervals a jerky table land), on the 21st August, 1971. The forward and backward movement also. ovoid or irregular balloon like mucila­ A single pyrenoid is embedded in the ginous colonies were attached to the edges sohd, imperforate and cup-shaped chloro- of the rocks at the margin of the pond. plast (Figs 2, 3). Some colonies were also found sticking to G. minor differs from G. mucosus in the edges of the stems of submerged having smaller cells (10-13fi long), and aquatic and decaying twigs. The colonies which do not exceed 2-3 cm. colonies were upto 2.5 cm long and up to (a hazel n u t ) in size. Since the nature of 1.5 cm broad. the chloroplast was not specially men­ About three weeks later another coll­ tioned by Braun, Lund assumed that it ection was made from the same spot. This must have been similar to that of G. time the alga was less abundant and the mucosus (Braun 1856, Lund, 1957). size of the colonies was smaller. G. braunii has small colonies reaching Slender and more or less irregularly bran­ the size of a pea. The cells are 10-17[>i. ched or lobed colonies seemed to have long and 8-I6|a broad and a totally di­ replaced most of the ovoid balloons. fferent cell organization. The parietal There appeared to be no definite pattern chloroplast is basin shaped reaching al­ of branching or lobing and hence colonics most to the apex of the cell and is per­ exhibited a great variety of shapes. Each forate and irregularly thickened. Py- had a well developed hold fast like renoids are lacking (Lund, 1957). structure at the base (Fig. 1). In G. pyriform is the colonies are py- A large number of small and large riform and 1-3 cm. long and 0-1.5 cm cells of chlamydomonad organisation lie broad. The biflagellate cells have an irregularly scattered in the mucilaginous organization quite similar to G. mucosus matrix. The outer mucilaginous wall is (and G. minor). Iyengar however, does firm and unstratified. Most of the ceils not give cell dimensions. are concentrated at the tip or a little be­ As may be seen from the descriptions low the tip of each lobe or branch in the above, the Panchgani Gloeococcus differs colony. As a result, the tips appeared from the four known in some way bright green while the lower portions were or the other from G. mucosus in the much very pale green or colourless. smaller cell dimensions and size of the The very young colonies, however, do colonies and their much lobed nature. not show this demarcation. The cells are Though the thallus in G. mucosus is irre­ evenly distributed all over and the colony gular, the description that it reaches the is uniformly coloured. size of an apple would appear to indicate a The cells are 8 to 15|a long and 7 to sub-globose, rather than a lobed nature. 12(ji broad. The smaller cells are ovoid From G. hraunii it differs markedly in cell and they become globose as they enlarge: organisation. Thus the largest cells in a colony are more All these characters showed that the or less spherical and about I4[x in dia­ Panchgani alga was a species of the rare meter. Each cell has two distinct and equal and interesting volvocalean genus Glo- flagella, not projecting outside the investing eococcus Braun, first described by A. Braun (1851) as an epiphyte on another alga These cells constantly showed slight in Freiburg in Germany. According to oscillatory and also short forward and Braun the alga formed sub-globular gelati­ backward movements within the mucilage. nous colonies reaching, in one species, the Braun established two species—G. size of an apple. All the cells of the mucosus Braun (the type) and G. minor colonies possessed a pair of flagella which Braun. Subsequent to Braun's original disappeared only at the time of division. report, the alga was not seen again for

colony and lobing. over a century. In 1957 J.W.G. Lund and cell organisation our alga differs mar­ described a third species, C. braunii Lund, kedly from both these species in the much from a pond at Ambleside in England. A lobed nature of the mature thallus, though few years later Iyengar (1961) described the young colonies are simple and ovoid another species from India, viz.; G. pyri- to clavate, very similar to those of G. py- fo rm is Iyengar. riformis. Iyengar does not give cell di­ Since Iyengar’s report, this genus does mensions for G. pyriformis'. but the writers not appear to have been recorded again feel that these could be similar to those

M- Bondre del. FiciS. 2-3. Glocococcuspyriformis s'dx. lohosiis. Fig. 2 pari of a vesicle showing? the outer limit of the mucilaginous envelope and arrangement of cells within the envelope. Fig, 3. Individual cells enlarged to show details of cell organization.

from India or else-where so far. ofPanchgani Gloeococcus. As such they are According to Braun (1851) G. mucosus inclined to consider the Panchgani alga as iias generally large cells (17-20[x long) G. pyriformis. On account of markedly iind the colonies reach the size of an apple. lobed nature of the mature thallus, how­ The chloroplast is imperforate and cup- ever, they feel that it should be considered haped, and the single pyrenoid is in the as a distinct variety viz; G. pyriform is '^asal part of the cup. var lobosus. However, while resembling G. minor G. pyriformis Var. lobosus var. nov.— <;nd G. pyriform is in size of the colony Colonies irregular in shape, sub-micro­ scopic to 2.5 cm long, up to 1.5 cm. in Fritsch(ln West and Fritsch, 1927) kept the diameter, ovoid sub-clavafe when young, two genera distinct. Lund (1952) at first irregularly lobed in the adult condition. agreed with Wille but later kept the two Cells ovoid when young, later becoming genera separate (Lund, 1957). though he globose, irregularly distributed in the considered Braun’s Gloeococcus a “ genus mucilaginous matrix, closer together in the of doubtful validity.” In Iyengar’s opi­ upper portion than in other parts of the nion (I960, p. 397), the two genera have colony, cells measuring 8-l5(i by 7-l2[x, little in common. As pointed out by him biflagellate with a cup shaped chloroplast, Sphaerocystis clearly belongs to the palme- the single pyrenoid embedded in the basal Ilaceae (non-motile and non-llagellate cells) portion of the chloroplast. whereas Gloeococcus has motile flagellate Di/fering from the lype -G'. pyri- cells indicating its close affinity with the formis Iyengar var. pyriformis in the lobed Chlamydomonadaceae. Iyengar has also nature of the adult thallus. expressed surprise that in spite of the Habitat.—On stones and other sub­ marked dissimilarities a large number of merged objects in a fresh water pond, workers (Lemmermann*, 1915; Printz, Panchgani, Satara District, Maharashtra 1927; Skuja, 1948, 1956,) have considered State, India. Sphaerocystis synonymous with G he- 2I-2-I97I; 12-9-71; leg. S Purohit. ococcus. G. pyriformis var lobnsus var. nov. Fritsch (1935) expressed the opinion Coloniae irrcgulares forma, sub-mic- that Gloeococcus probably represents the roscopicae usque ad 2.5 cm. longac, usque palmella stage of a chlamydomonad ad 1.5 diametro, ovatae, subclavaiae form, analogous to Chlamydomonas quando iuvenes, irrcgulariter lobatae kicinii Schmidle (Pascher, 1927). Lund aetate adulta. Cellulae primum ovatae. (1957) has pointed out that Gloecoccus dende globosae, irregulariter distributae shows a "combination of features which intra matricem mucilaginam compactius ...... are not recorded for the pal- distributae in superiori parte quam in melloid stages of Chlamydomonas species inferiori parte coloniae. Cellulae 8-LV nor for the any other paimelloid green alga long., l-\2\x lat. biflagellatae, chloroplasto ...... These are the production of very cupulato, pyrenoide singula inclusa in large growths without loss of niotility of partem basalem chloroplasti. the constituent ceils except during re­ DifTert a typo- G. pyriformis Iyengar production but with a reduction in its var pyriformis natura lobata maturi thalli scope to limited movement within the Habitatio; In lapidibus et rebus colonial mucilage, the cells escaping only submerisis in stagno aquae dulcis, in loco under special circumstances...... It Panchgani, Regionis Satarae, Indiae. seems clear that Braun appreciated these 21-8-1971 12-9-1971; leg.: S. Purohit. facts since he (1856) comments on the similarity of the growths to those of Pal­

D 1SCUS.SION mella and , genera whose limits

Wille (1903) was of the opinion that •It may be pointed out tiere ttiat unlilce Wille the genus Sphaerocystis Chodat should (1903) Lcmmcrmann (in Lemmermann, Brunn- thaier and Pa.scher’ 1915) considered Spfiaero- be considered a synonym of Gloeococcus. cystis Schroeteri Chodat as a distinct species of However Chodat (1904),, West (1916), and Gloeococcus, vi^; G. schroeteri (Cbod) Lemw. at that lime were scarcely distinct from Characiosiphon and a few more genera, species of Chlamydomonas which rorm assigning the rest of the genera, traditio­ Palmellae.” nally included in the Palmellaceae to the Remarking on similarities between Palmellaceae (i. str.) and the Radioco- C. kleinii and Glocococcus, Lund (1957) ccaceae included by him in the Chloro- pointed out that Gloecoccus spp. may coccales. The as thus eventually be shown to be the environ­ circumscribed by Bourrelly shows two dis­ mental stages of chlamydomonas spp. tinct lines—one where each cell of the but that the genus should be reiained till colony has its own individual sheath e.g., such time as “Gloecoccus” stages are Gloeocystis, , etc., and the demonstrated for such specics, other where the individual cells do Iyengar (I960) has also drawn a com­ not have their own envelopes and lie parison between Gloeococciis and Chlam­ free in the vesicle e.g., Glocococcus, Chara­ ydomonas. While discussing the resem­ ciosiphon. blances between the two gonera he says: lyengcr (1936) while establishing the “ Both in Chlamydonionax VLitd Glocococcus genus Characiosiphon included it in the a long activc flagellated motile vegetative Chlorococcales and on account of the period and a very short non-motile non- unique vegetative organisation—“proto- (lagellatcd, asexual reproduciive period cociiocyte”, as a meniber of a new mono- during which cell division takes place, typic family Characiosiphonaceae (.?«' follow each other regularly for several Iyengar, 19.16, 1951, I960; and Phi- generations...... Glocococcus, however lipose, 1967). Glocococcus dilTers from owing to its special features, viz., the very Characiosiphon and other genera included limited range of movement of its flageilaled in the Gloeocystaceae by Bourrelly in that cells inside a gelatinous colony, must be the cells have flagella and arc capable of considered as an independent genus quite limited movement. These are the features distinct from Chlamydomonas. h may be which influenced Iyengar in considering considered as a genus which has evolved Glocococcus and Chlamydomonas kleinii from same ancestor like Chlamydomonas congeneric. It must be noted, however, in a special direction of its own” . that in C. kleinii there arc subsidiary Iyengar goes on to discuss also the sheaths aiound each individual cell or similarities between Glocococcus and groups of cells (a character of Glo­ Chlamydomonas kleinii, and transfers the eocystis line) unlike what is found in latter to Glocococcus as the fifth species, Glocococcus. Thus it might perhaps be viz., G. kleinii (Schmidle) Iyengar, dis­ more justifiable to think of C. kleinii as agreeing with Pascher’s (1927) opinion a link between the palmelloid species of that G. Kleinii should be placed under Chlamydomonas and forms like Gloeo­ the , an order in which as cystis rather than as a species of Gloeo- Iyengar points out, there are no motile coccus. flagellated cells in the vegetative phase. Thus in C. kleinii and Glocococcus we It must be noted however, that Bourrelly probably have the beginnings of two lines (1966) includes Glocococcus in the Tetra­ diverging from ancestral motile Chla­ sporales but in the family Gloeocystaceae, mydomonas like forms continued further a segregate from the Palmellaceae (s. iat) by suppression of flagella and motility in along with Tetrasporidium, Gloeocystis each case. RlifERHNCtS

Bourrelly, p. 1966. Les Alfnies tl’eaii iloiicc. domonas gloeophiU: Skuja; C. dinohryoni G. /niliation a la systeniatuiiic I Les A/giic's Vcr- M. Smith and Phinklosphacria ^elalinosa tes. Paris. G. M. Smith with a note on Sphaerocystis B r au n, A. 1851. Belrachlnnf'fii uhcr die Eis- schroeteri Chodat. Naliiralisl. (London) ; cheimmg (ter Verjun^ung in der Natur. Lci- J63-J66. pzig. ------1957. Four new green Algae. Rev. ■------. 1856. Uber Chylridiiim, einc Gattung Alaolof;. (N. S.) 3 : 26-40. cinzelligcr Schmarolzergewachse auf Algen Pac.sihr, a . 1927. Volvoeales-Phytomonadi- und Jnfusorien. Ahh. K. Akad. Wiss Ucrlin nae Suswasser Deulschlands, Oesterreichs. 1855: 21-83. II.d. Schwciz. 4. C hodat. R. 1904. Quclqucs points dc nomen­ Phii ii’O.sF, M. T. 1967. Chloroeoccales. clature algologiqiie. Bull. Herb. Bois.sier I.C..4.R. Mononraphs on Alttae. New Delhi 2nie Ser. 4: 233-40. 18. F ritsch, F, E. 1935. The sinicliin' iitui reprod­ Prini/, H. 1927. . Tn Die ruiln- uction o f the Alniie. Vol. I. Cambridge. rliclien Pflanzenfaniilien 3. Leipzig. I y e n g a r , M.O.P. 1936. Charaeio.iipluni, a SKU.IA, H. 1948. Taxonomic des Phytoplank­ new member of the Chlorophyecae (Prelimi­ tons einiger seen in Uppland, Schweden. nary note) J. Indian bot. Soc. IS: 313-318. Symb. hot. lJp.»il. 9: 1-399. 1951. In f;/ Pln------. 1956. Taxonomische und blologische cology. G. M. Smith (ed.) 21-67. Studien uber das Phytoplankton swedischer I960. Interesting_ green _ Algae. _ Pro­ Binnengcwasser. A'o iy j Ac/a R. Soc. U/>'cd. ceedings o f the ,'iYinposiiim on Alfiolouv I.C.A. Ser. IV. 16: 1-404. R. New Delhi : 391-406. W ist, G. S. 1916. Algae. C'anihridne Botanical LhMMERMANN, i;., J. BRlJNNtHALER, AND A. Handhook.i., Vol. 1 Cambridge. P aschi R. 1915. Chlornphyceac //. Die Siiss- — -----, AND F. E. F riisch. 1927. A Treatise wasscr Flora Demschkmds, Osterreichs inidder on the British Freshwater Algae. (New and Schweiz. 5. revised edition.) Cambridge. L u n d , J. W. G. 1952. On Dinohryon snecium Wii.LE, N. 1903. Algologische Notizen IX- Lemm. var. Ionf;ispinum Lemm; Chlamy- XIV. Nytt. Mag. Namrvid. 41; 89-185.

J. Indian bot. Soc. 51: 146-154.

ANALYTICAL STUDY OF ABNORMAL SPOROPHYLLS IN BLECHNUM S PICA NT (L.) WJTH>.

B y D . N . S h a r m a , Department of Botany, University of Gorakhpur, U. P.

ABSTRACT

Several abnormalities in the sporophylls of B. spicant are described and illustra­ ted. The anomalies include unusual stance of the sporophyll, reduction in the extent of fertility leading to complete sterilization of placenta (the sporogenous mcristem), abortive sporangia, poorly developed, arrested or absent indusia having normal or abnormal origin, prothalloid outgrowths from the sporogenous meristems and displaced soral strands accompanied by parenchymalization of the fertile areas. It is not certain whether these abnormalities are caused by genetical aberrations or environmental factors.

1. Accepted for publication April 6, 1972. The author feels deeply indebted to Professor C. W. Wardlaw, FRS.. for suggesting the problem and generous guidance. Grateful thanks are also due to Professor V. Puri and Professor K. S. Bhargava tor extending laboratory and library facilities.