262 Dr. Montague on the genus Xiphophora, 



ably distinct from the receptacle by its flexuosc divisions abruptly 

 truncated toward the summit. But these are not the only dif- 

 ferences by which we cannot fail to distinguish the new genus 

 which I propose, either from Fucus or Himanthalia ; there are 

 others more profound and of a higher importance, since they occur 

 in the fructification. Thus, besides the frond being converted 

 into a receptacle, that is to say, charged with conceptacles in the 

 greater part of its extent, these last present two modifications in 

 the organs which they contain. In the one the normal spores 

 spring regularly from the wall of the conceptacle, and are accom- 

 panied with filaments which are simple, very slender and jointed, 

 without any dilatation of the terminal articulation, in a word, 

 true paraphyses ; in the others we find, instead of these, filaments 

 also articulated but much branched, although limited to the ca- 

 vity of the conceptacle, and in the terminal articulation of which 

 the inclosed olivaceous granular matter becomes organized into 

 an oblong body which increases in size, and finally separating 

 from the filament, falls into the cavity of the cell like the true 

 spores. We find it then inclosed like these last in a perispore 

 which is furnished to it by the tube of the filament, and its size 

 comes to be equal to the third part of that of the normal spore. 



The form and disposition of these organs reminded me of a 

 number of observations which I have already made in analysing 

 the Algse of this tribe. It appeared to me that it would be in- 

 teresting to discover in what respect these two kinds of organs 

 differ, and if they are different, to assign to each the functions 

 intended by nature. I have resolved therefore to submit to a new 

 and scrupulous examination all the species of Fucus, and all the 

 genera more nearly allied. It is not without much diffidence in 

 my own resources that I have ventured to enter upon a question 

 surrounded with so many difficulties and scarcely alluded to by 

 any botanist ; I cannot, accordingly, pretend to have resolved it. 

 I shall be glad if the result of my researches, for which I claim their 

 indulgence, should happen to awaken and fix on this question the 

 attention of physiologists more favourably situated than I am for 

 ascertaining the facts, if it be possible, by observation and direct 

 experiment, and thus obtaining a solution of the great difficulties 

 which it still offers. 



A.11 botanists are aware that plants, even those which we call 

 cellular, have two modes of propagation, the one by seeds or 

 spores, the other by buds, gemmse or propagines. These two 

 kinds of organs, so evident in the Hepaticce, are met with also in 

 the Floridece, a family still more closely approaching that to which 

 Xiphophora belongs. It has been completely established by ex- 

 periments against which no doubts can be raised, that the sphsero- 

 spores (anthosperms, Lamx.), or what we name the second fructi- 



