38 



at the point of constriction (figs, 60,61). This process 

 of division continues until there are ahou.t P,00-500 second- 

 airy protuberances on the apical portion of the terminal 

 cell. 



The protuberances appeaj:* not to develop cellulose cell 

 walls of their ovm, hut lie in the swollen wall of the 

 mother cell (fig. 62). 



Each of these secondaj?y protuberances gives rise to a 

 branched antheridial filament. The single nuclei's in each 

 divides by mitosis, and a partition is formed separating 

 the two nuclei, and cutting the protuberance into an upper 

 and a lower cell (fig. 63). The lower or basal cell buds 

 off other cells above, each uninucleate, to the number of 

 five or six (fig. 64). These, along with the upper of the 

 t\/o cells first formed, in tu.rn bud off groups of uninu- 

 cleate cells, which become the sperma,tia directly (fig.GG . 

 Thus the antheridial filivnent is a twice compound structure 

 like a small bush, the teraiinal twigs of which become the 

 spermatia. 



The basal cell of the antheridial filament is some- 

 what cubical in shape, and ms.y contain ultima-tely several 

 nuclei. The cells of the first and second order of branch- 

 ing ai'e uninucleate and are reuiarkable for their sliape. 



