1904 | HOLFERTY: ARCHEGONIUM OF MNIUM 115 
It is well known that as the archegonium approaches maturity 
there is usually more or less torsion of theneck. I am disposed 
to attribute this torsion to the alternating arrangement of the 
peripheral cells as a disposing cause, if not the efficient cause. 
Janczewski (9) noticed both the alternation (p. 408) and the 
torsion (p. 410), but did not relate them. Campbell (13, p. 194) 
calls attention to the fact that the rows are not vertical, but says 
that the neck cells do not stand in vertical rows, but are some- 
what obliquely placed owing to the torsion of the neck during 
its elongation. This explanation would account for the cells not 
being in vertical rows, but leaves out the fact that the cells never 
were in vertical rows, but in oblique rows from the first, owing 
to the way in which they were cut from the terminal cell. A 
study of fig. zg will show that as the cells composing each group 
-lengthen in their growth torsion must be inevitable. 
THE HOMOLOGY OF ARCHEGONIA AND ANTHERIDIA. 
The question of homology of archegonia and antheridia is not 
new. . Homologies in the development of male and female sex 
organs and of the gametes themselves among the lower forms are 
well established, as mentioned by Goebel (18, p. 243). This 
has been a more difficult problem for organs as stable as arche- 
goniaand antheridia. The archegonium is highly differentiated, 
but maintains its form and other characters so constantly that it 
serves as the important structure in establishing the natural rela- 
tionships of several great groups of plants. It is so different in 
form and function from the antheridium that attempts to homol- 
ogize the two organs on general features have not been success- 
ful. Goebel (/.c.) admits that in the mosses very great 
differences in structure of the sex organs exist from the very 
beginning of their development, and thus implies the difficulties 
that lie in the way of homologizing these organs. I shall parert 
to establish the homology of archegonia and antheridia by 
showing the homology (1) of the early stages, (2) of the cells 
of the axial row, and (3) of the axial row series and sperm mother- 
cells. . ‘ 
1. Homology of early stages—Both organs start from papilli- 
form superficial initials, increase in length through the alternate 
