8 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
cell, the former being very much smaller than the other. This 
small cell is the all-important cell, as all the growths succeeding 
germination originate from it; its ‘shape i is that of a plano-convex 
lens, the flat side being against the basal cell. 
On germination the nodal cell enlarges sufficiently to burst the 
crown, when it is seen to be divided into two cells by a septum in 
the direction of the long axis of the oospore; both these cells 
emerge through the crown as obtuse cylindrical tubes. 
These two cells are indistinguishable from each other at first, 
but one of them very soon exhibits all the characters of the 
peculiar jointed and branched root: while the other forms the 
first, or principal, pro-embryo of the future Chara plant. 
This second cell takes a much more active development than 
the other ; at first there is a single-celled tube-like growth at the 
apex of the principal pro-embryonic cell; then it is divided at its 
upper end by a septum forming an independent cell; this cell by 
further subdivision is changed into a pro-embryonic apex consist- 
ing of from two to six series of cells; further growth in length and 
breadth of these cells next takes place, when they form the large 
leaf which rises with the whorl and normal stem-bud of the pro- 
embryo; this normal stem-bud thus becomes the first stem of the 
Chara. 
The source from which all this growth has been supported is 
the large basal-cell of the oospore; the nodal-cell is the active 
organ, the basal-cell is its storehouse. While the growths of the 
nodal-cell have been progressing the basal-cell has kept within its 
hard shell, its reserve material gradually giving place to a watery 
fluid. By the time that the young plant has put forth its first 
leaf-shoots it has consumed all the food stored up in the basal-cell 
and all that is left is a shell filled with water. 
IX.—THE PRO-EMBRYO. 
The question now remaining to be determined is, what is the 
morphological value of the growths springing from. the small 
nodal-cell. 
Up to the publication of Pringsheim’s paper in 1863 it had been 
concluded that the true sexual plant sprang directly from the 
nodal-cell, but Pringsheim’s interpretation of the facts here set 
forth suggested that the first developments of the nodal-cell consti- 
tute a comparatively inconspicuous growth, to which he gave the 
name of ‘“pro-embryo.” He further concluded that it was homo- 
logous with the “‘ protonema” developed from the spore of a Moss, 
and as leafless structures intervene between the spore and the 
leafy plant both in Characez and in Muscinez, he concluded that 
the two orders belong to the same alliance. 
Mr. A. W. Bennett and others, accepting this relationship, 
