Adenocystis, Alarm and Saccorhiza. 63 



In Hydroclathrus (plate Xiv.) the cryptostomata occur also among the 

 sporangia, which, in its case, are, of course, plurilocular. 



In speaking of the conceptacular hairs of the Fucacea, Prof. Bower 

 (loc. cit., p. 47, foot-note), in quoting Reinke on the ' sprossfaden ' of the 

 Dictyotacece, which are the precursors of the reproductive cells (conf. SplacJi- 

 nidiiun), makes what I venture to think a prophetic remark of great 

 weight, ' How far these may be compared with the initial cell or hair of the 

 Fucacea it remains for closer observation to decide.' I anticipate with a 

 measure of confidence, so far justified by facts, that this remark will 

 eventually be borne out in many ways not then foreseen, otherwise than 

 dimly, by its author. 



It has been pointed out (conf. Falkenberg in Schenk's Handbuch der 

 Botaniky vol. ii., p. 227), that in Scytosiphon single epidermal cells within a 

 sorus remain sterile and grow out in the form of club-shaped unicellular 

 paraphyses ; and in Asperococcus and other allied forms, similar cells 

 grow out in the form of long, branching filaments, of which the upper cells 

 are very long, while the basal ones remain short, and probably act as the 

 growing point of the hair. These hairs resemble those in the conceptacles 

 and cryptostomata of the Fucacea, SplacJmidium, SaccorJdza arid Adenocystis, 

 and those in the sorus of Cutleriacece and Dictyotacece. Interest is certainly 

 quickened when we add to these cases that of Hydrodatlirus, with its 

 cryptostomata situated among the sporangia. 



A comparison of the Fucaceous conceptacle and cryptostoma, the 

 Splachnidian conceptacle with its persistent initial cell and the formation 

 of its hairs yielding place to sporangia, the development of the Adenocystis 

 cryptostoma in the heart of its sorus, the other Laminarian cryptostomata 

 (SaccorJiiza and Alaria] apart from the sorus, the cryptostoma of 

 Hydroclathrus among its plurilocular sporangia, and finally the cases of 

 the hairs in Asperococcus and the Cutleriacc(Z and Dictyotacecs a com- 

 parison of these cases, and of the evidence plainly furnished by them, 

 points very significantly to a possible origin of cryptostomata. I anticipate, 

 from further research into the development of these bodies, evidence that 

 may enable us to dispense with ' the ancestors of the Fncacecs' of which, 

 however, I would speak with respect. I am aware that the hairs of the 

 cryptostomata are regarded by many as adapted to absorptive and other 

 nutritive functions. This may or may not be ; there is no proof of the 

 matter, and probably more reasons to be cited against than in favour of 

 such an opinion but their function has nothing directly to do with the 

 points in question, which are purely morphological. Moreover, in seeking 

 for a solution of the difficulties surrounding the origin of these bodies, I 

 do not intend to make the mistake of looking at cryptostomata only. 



GEORGE MURRAY. 



