44 



HOFMEISTER, ON 



The ramification of the stem takes place in the same 

 manner as in Metzgeria furcata. In Aneura, however, the 

 growth of one of the young shoots in a forward direction 

 exceeds that of the other, which latter, at a very early 

 period, appears in consequence to be pushed on one side. 

 This more vigorous development takes place alternately 

 and regularly on each occasion of the division of the end 

 of the stem, occurring at one division in the shoot pro- 

 duced on the right side of the apical cell, and at the next 

 division in the shoot produced on the left side. In conse- 

 quence of this, Aneura exhibits a median principal axis, 

 and lateral axes with normally limited growth. In the side 

 shoots of Aneura multifida, whose longitudinal growth is 

 arrested, the parts adjoining the terminal bud on the right 

 and on the left often outgrow the former, so that the fore 

 edge of the branch appears deeply indented, resembling at 

 first sight the Marchantiese (PI. VI, fig. 1). 



The ramification of Aneura and Metzgeria is therefore 

 truly furcate, like that of the stem of Selaginella ; that of 

 Pellia is not truly so, but resembles the ramification of 

 Viscum, the cause of which lies in the fact that the develop- 

 ment of each terminal shoot in Pellia is limited. 



The archegonia of Aneura originate at the apex of very 

 short side-shoots of the second or third order. In their 

 origin and nature they resemble those of Metzgeria. Under- 

 neath their point of attachment there is produced, contempo- 

 raneously with the commencement of their formation, a 

 circle of small leaves, from four to six cells in height, con- 

 sisting at the base of from three to four cells, and at the 

 apex of a single cell. 



When the large cell in the interior of the flask-shaped 

 portion of the archegonium of Aneura multifida * first 

 begins to be transformed into the rudiments of the fruit, a 

 series of very active divisions, which last for a long time, 

 commences in the cells of the archegonium, excepting those 

 of its neck. The lower part of the archegonium thus be- 

 comes a clavate, fleshy mass, which attains the size of a 

 millet-seed, even when the rudimentary fruit consists of 



* I have not had the opportunity of examining the formation of the fruit in 

 A. puiguis. 



