48 SIPHONED. 



placed close to the capsules, which have been termed anther, 

 fiom the analogy which they present to the anthers of Pha- 

 nerogamic plants in situation, and, as some even consider, in 

 function. 



The nature of the large oval or spherical bodies, one of 

 which is contained in each capsule invested with its proper 

 membrane or membranes, does not seem to be satisfactorily 

 determined. Yaucher states in his " Histoire," that he has 

 traced their growth and developement into perfect plants ; but 

 the observation does not appear to have been placed beyond 

 question by the additional testimony of other witnesses. 



With respect to what Vaucher terms the horn, from its 

 cui'ved appearance, although he would seem to have entertained 

 but little doubt that it really performed the office which he 

 assigned to it, viz., that of an anther, nevertheless, he was 

 unable to bring forward any direct proof that it did so ; and 

 this he appears himself to have acknowledged and regretted, 

 as will be seen from the following passage : — " Nevertheless, 

 I am not sufficiently certain of the functions to which the 

 horn which accompanies the seeds is apj^lied. It is in truth 

 constantly placed in the neighbourhood of the grains, and it 

 is seen, especially in Vaucheria {Ectosperma Vauch.) ovoidca 

 to shed its powder ; that is incontestable ; still I have 

 always desired some direct evidence which should convince 

 me of the use of this horn." 



That the horn has an office to fulfil in relation to the spores 

 or sporangia, none can doubt who consider its almost con- 

 stant presence, the situation which it occupies with reference 

 to them, the shedding of its granular contents, and the 

 subsequent changes which it undergoes indicative of its 

 having performed the duty allotted to it. What the exact 

 nature of this duty is, cannot as yet be determined, although 

 every additional observation which has been made tends to 

 strengthen and confirm the view of its function adopted by 

 Vaucher, viz. that it is the organ by which fertilization is 

 effected. The truth of this statement will be evident from 

 the following remarks : — 



In page 17. of Vaucher's " Histoire des Conferves d'Eau 



