G2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



sequently checked, there is always an active production of branchlets 

 in the immediate vicinity of the injury, so as to form a fasciculate 

 cluster of branchlets at the tip. The same thing occurs also in a very 

 striking fashion in Lemanea^ as well as in Balrachospermam. The 

 great facility with which branches may be put forth from any portion 

 of the frond is a very noticeable feature in Tuomeija. 



In manner of branching, which has much to do with general habit, 

 Tuomeya follows Batrachospermum more closely than it does Lemanea. 

 Lemanea, when it does branch frequently (e. g. L. fucina, Bory.), 

 branches in a comparatively regular fashion, and the branches are 

 generally alternate or nearly opposite. Batrachosphermum, however, 

 branches very capriciously, and is followed in this by Tuomeya. 



Unfortunately the germination of the spores has not been seen, 

 nor has the opportunity for examining very young plants been 

 given. The examination, early in September, of a few young plants, 

 brought in on the stones to which they were attached, showed what 

 appeared to be a basal layer of cells, whence arose a small turf of 

 short unbranched filaments of a single row of cells each, at whose tips 

 were somewhat swollen cells with decidedly granular contents. These 

 turfs resembled in color and size the basal tufts about a large Batra- 

 chospermum, appearing to be B. coerulescens, (Bory) Sirdt., which 

 grew on the same stones, but differed in being unbranched, and in pos- 

 sessing the swollen tips to the filaments. Tliese swollen bodies seemed 

 to be very much like the sporules of the Chantransia-form of Batra- 

 chospermum as described by Sirodot. However this may be, it seems 

 very likely that this turf of filaments may be a provision for the pro- 

 duction of new plants when the old ones are torn away from it by 

 floating branches, or by ice, or by sand in the current, all of which 

 are active agents in such work, according to Mr. Holden's frequent 

 experience. 



The sexual organs and fruit were most diligently sought, both by 

 Mr. Holden and myself, through each successive gathering. We did 

 not however discover them until about the middle of October, but they 

 have since occurred in some abundance. Both the antheridia and the 

 procarps are found on the same plant, but are generally borne on 

 separate portions of the frond. Both kinds of organs develop indif- 

 ferently on any part of the plant, being found in the older portions as 

 well as in the younger. 



The branches which bear the antheridia arise at the nodes, either 

 from the basal cells of the ramelli or from cells near these. These 

 branches then either pass out horizontally to the surface of the frond. 



