302 T. H. BUFFHAM ON ANTHERIDIA- 



other cystocarps found here. The solid mass of large cells is 

 covered by a dense thicket of slender filaments which bear 

 spores at their apices. The spores are ellipsoidal, 17 by 13 /x. 

 The pericarp is of considerable thickness and the sporiferons 

 central moss is connected with it by numerous threads. The 

 spores appear to issue by several passages and not by one 

 common ostiole. The tetrasporic balls sometimes reach a diam. 

 of 1'3 mm., and, having no epiderm, they are much lighter in 

 appearance (Fig. 41), and readily show the superficial cells and 

 the tetraspores placed amongst them in profusion. Even small 

 specimens produce them. The body of the ball is made up of 

 irregular cells with very wide hyaline walls. Approaching 

 the surface the cells are much smaller and more crowded. 

 Above these are elongated cells which develop into sporangia 

 with a gelatinous exterior. The tetraspores are 25-45 /jl long 

 by 17-20 [X thick, of roughly obovoid form, rather irregularly 

 cruciate (Fig. 42). 1 believe these have not previously been 

 found. (Deal, July, 1891, collected by Mr. Neeve.) 



Ahnfeldtia plicata J. Ag. (^Gynmogongrus pUcatus Kiitz.) is an 

 alga which has puzzled most students, for although it bears 

 wart-like bodies having a radiating structure nothing more has 

 been ascertained. Receiving from Mr. Neeve (Deal, March 

 1891) some specimens in which the nemathecia had a zone more 

 purplish than usual I again cut sections. In some of these I 

 observed some ellipsoidal bodies escaping, about 15 yu, long, and 

 7 fx thick. Close scrutiny under a J -inch Zeiss wet immersion 

 objective, and a magnification of 1200, showed a granular struc- 

 ture but no indication of division. These bodies are formed at 

 the extremity of a filament of several elongated cells below 

 which are smaller and shorter cells, and the uppermost (at any 

 rate) are contained in a tube wdiich opens at the surface of the 

 nemathecium (Fig. 43). There is always a clear space between 

 the bodies and the extremity of the tube, and the wall here 

 shows a delicate striation or wrinkling (Fig. 44). I have 

 examined small young, and larger old, nemathecia with the 

 same results. The structure throughout is alike. It is evident 

 then that the bodies are continuously being formed by the 

 development of the lower cells. Dr. Bornet, to whom I imparted 

 my conclusions, sent me a copy of a note he had made at Cher- 

 bourg as long ago as 1857 : " Dans V Ahnfeldtia plicata J. Ag. 



