higher Cnjptogamia and Phanerogamia. 245 



due course to disengage from the former a bud, the commence- 

 ment of a new cycle of individual life. 



In Phanerogamia, immediately after fertilization, which I need 

 not say takes place within the ovarium, a transverse septum is 

 formed across and within the germinal vesicle ; by successive 

 transverse divisions of the superior half of this germ-cell, a con- 

 fervoid filament is formed, which has received the name of the 

 suspensor. The suspensor varies in length in different families, 

 orders and genera, being longer in some and shorter in others, 

 but in all it is distinctly a septate cellular process. The inferior 

 moiety of the germ-cell, by a series of longitudinal, transverse, 

 and radial divisions, developes into a radicular portion and a 

 cotyledonary expansion, and only when this stage is reached do 

 the outer coats of the investing organs become more or less 

 dense by intra- cellular deposit. Detachment takes place at the 

 hilum, and the embryo enclosed in its case becomes free as a 

 *' seed" This is the resting stage in Phanerogamia. In Mosses, 

 the germ being fertilized, its outer envelope or cellular invests 

 ment becomes dense and firm, and no further development takes 

 place within the general investing organ. The spore has attained 

 the resting stage and is set free. The fertilized vesicle, now the 

 spore, is no sooner placed in circumstances favourable for deve- 

 lopment, than dehiscence of the outer envelope takes place, the 

 embryonal cell protrudes and elongates, transverse septa are 

 formed, as in the case of the Phanerogamic germ- vesicle, a 

 branched confervoid filament or septate cellular process is deve- 

 loped, which I submit is the homologue of the suspensor, and 

 from a cell of this filament arises the phyllary axis, which bears 

 in its turn the reproductive organ, and thus completes the cycle. 



I do not pretend to offer this as a thoroughly proven expo- 

 sition of the subject. I lay it rather before you somewhat in 

 the shape of an hypothesis. Yet, if, after carefully weighing the 

 subject, I had not felt it to be supported by observation, I 

 should not have occupied the valuable time of this Meeting. 

 No one can be more sensible of the incompleteness of this my 

 first essay than myself. I am too truly a tyro in science to 

 deem that I can teach. I can only venture to hope that I have 

 touched chords of thought, that in abler and more skilful hands 

 may evolve knowledge. Truth is so valuable, and opinion, unless 

 accordant with truth, so worthless, that while I solicit your kind 

 consideration even to the errors of my essay, I invite your free 

 and candid criticism. 



