212 DR. JULIUS SCIIAARSCHMIDT ON AFGHANISTAN ALOjE. 



bus in fasciculos filiformibus, articulis diametro subsequalibus vel 

 paullo brevioribus, subtil iter granulatis, apiculo subobtusis vel 

 obtuso-rotundatis ; vagina universali crassa, undulato-constricta 

 et transversim striata [ut in Symphyosiphoni Thelephoroidi (Mon- 

 tagne), Kabenhorst], achroa. — Differt ab aliis Microcoleis vagina 

 distinctissirne undulato-constricta, transversim striata. Crassi- 

 tudo fascicul. 0"010 millim., vagina? 0016 millim. ; diameter artic. 

 0-003 millim. 



5. Anabjesta (CrLixDROSPERMUM) sp. ? (Plate V. figs. 2-10.) 

 From the filaments of this Auabcsna a Chroococcus arises in a very 

 interesting manner. We find here a curious case of vegetative 

 polymorphism of the Cyanophyceous Algae (Schizophycece). 



What some j r ears before many conjectured as possible is by 

 recent observers asserted as true, not only for the Cyanophyceous *, 

 but for the Chlorophyllophyceousf Alga?, viz., that many, if 

 not all, the unicellular species, and some of the composite species 

 of the Cyanophyceous Alga?, and perhaps of the Chlorophyllo- 

 phyceous, are merely stages in the life-history of higher plants. 

 These stales being fixed, the different forms have been defined 

 and distinguished as different species. It will probably be finally 

 found that some of the so-called species of Glceocapsa, Chroococcus, 

 &c, or, on the other hand, of Cylindrocystis, Proiococcus, &c, have 

 their own peculiar species of the higher Alga 1 , from which they 

 spring, and into which alone they can develop. 



In the order of Cyanophyceous Alga? species of Glceocapsa are 

 degraded by recent discoveries as subordinate forms of higher 

 Cyanophyceous Alga?, as Sirosiphon, Oscillaria, &c. Glceocapsa 

 Itzigsohnii, Bornet, for example, was proved to be a peculiar 

 state or development of Sirosiphon Bornet ii, Zopf J. 



Whilst no proof whatever has as yet been furnished for the vast 

 majority of the plants of this Order (Cyanophycea?), with 

 regard to the genus Anabcena (Cylindrospernium) , wc will briefly 

 characterize the interesting relation between a minute Chroococcus 

 and Gloeothece and a species of Anabcena (Cylindrospermum). The 



* W. Zopf, ' Zur Morphologie der Spaltpflanzen (Spaltpilzo and Spaltalgon),' 

 1882. 



t Cienkowski, " Ueber Palmellen-Zustand bei Stigeocloniuiii," Botanisclu> 

 Zeitung, xxiv. (1879), p. 17. For the further literature and for tlie Proto- 

 coccus stage of Conferva, see Schaarschmidt, " Kernel y Chlorosporeak vegetativ 

 alakvaltozasairol,'' Magyar Novenytani Lapok, vii. (1883). 



\ L. c. p. 58, t. vii. figs. 1-9. 



