THE ANTHERIDIA OF CHAMPIA PARVULA. 165 



The antheridial plants of Champia parvula resemble, in 

 their principal characteristics, the cystocarpic and tetrasporic 

 plants. They occur in> brownish-red globose tufts, varying 

 from one half-inch to two inches in height. In general the 

 plants display the profusely branching habit, and hollow 

 nodose structure, with the frequent diaphragms, and longitud- 

 inal hyphsB which characterize the genus. 



The antheridia appear as whitish zones or patches upon any 

 of the peripheral cells of the frond, and become so densely 

 filled with contents that they give to the internodes a swollen 

 appearance which aids in the identification of the male plants. 

 When full grown, the antheridia closely cover and entirely 

 conceal the surface of the frond. The antheridial cells are 

 then so densely filled with the highly refractive protoplasm 

 that they give to the surface of the frond a glistening appear- 

 ance. 



The first stage in the production of antheridia is seen in 

 the swollen appearance of the internodes. The peripheral cells 

 become densely filled with contents and distended to a marked 

 degree. This distention is due to an increase in the amount of 

 cytoplasm, and also to the presence, in rather large quantities, 

 of a granular substance staining brownish-red with iodine, and 

 apparently resembling Floridean Starch. 



The swelling of the peripheral cells is evidently preparatory 

 to the division which now takes place. From the outer cor- 

 ners of these cells there are cut off from one to three cells upon 

 which the branches which subsequently develop are borne, 

 and to which the name of stalk-cells may be given. When 

 seen in surface view (Fig. 1. s.), the stalk-cells appear as 

 small, highly refractive cells lying at the corners of the peri- 

 pheral cells. Viewed in section (Fig. 2. s. ) it is seen that they 

 are cut off obliquely from the peripheral cells, and by increasing 

 in size, at length rise slightly above them. They usually 

 increase in length but not in diameter, so that they frequently 

 assume the shape of a flask, with the neck prolonged above 

 the peripheral cells. (Fig. 2. s.) The protoplasm of these 

 cells is usually more densely granular, and much more 



