III. 



THE FISSION PLANTS. 



The Fission Plants (JSchizophytes) naturally fall into 

 two classes: 



CLASS I. THE BLUE-GREEN SLIMES (Cyanophycece). 

 CLASS II. THE BACTERIA {Schizomycetes). 



CLASS I. The Blue-Green Slimes ( Cyanophycece) are 

 chlorophyl-bearing plants. They therefore belong to 

 the Algae, using this term in its broader sense. They 

 differ so much, however, in life history from the rest of 

 the Alg83 that they cannot be brought into classification 

 with them. On the other hand, they show certain resem- 

 blances in their structure and modes of development with 

 the Bacteria. They agree with the Bacteria in forming 

 resting spores, in multiplying by cell division, in not mul- 

 tiplying sexually, and in secreting heavy hyaline gelati- 

 nous envelopes. It therefore seems appropriate that the 

 Blue-Green Slimes and the Bacteria should be considered 

 by themselves. The Blue-Green Slimes also contain in 

 addition to chlorophyl the green coloring matter a 

 blue coloring matter pJiycocyanin. This is another 

 characteristic separating them from the rest of the Algae. 

 The two colors combined give the plants a bluish tinge. 



No sexual reproduction is known to occur in this class. 

 There is consequently no alternation of generations from 

 sporophyte to gametophyte. The plant is the sporophyte. 



Scattered through the protoplasm are granules that 

 are supposed to partake of the nature of nuclei, though 

 no true nuclei are found. The plants of this class occur 



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