188 CYSTOSPERME^E. 



pyriformis, apice regulariter vel irregulariter dehiscens, ct 

 sporas emittens. Sporas globose, hyalinae, massa grumoso- 

 submucilaginosa infarctaa, utriculos implentes. 



"H. mirabilis. Fills inequalibus viridibus brevibus, septis 

 semi-pellucidis ; sporis e capsulis emissis ad fascicules con- 

 junctis ; utriculis cylindricis diametro dupli-triplo longioribus, 

 hinc inde ad globules tumescentibus, qui, secreti ab aliis 

 utriculis, ut animalcula infusoria, se movent et, rumpentes 

 eorum membrana, sporas emittunt." 



For the following translation of Meyen's remarks upon 

 the above species I am indebted to Mr. Kippist, to whom I 

 may take this opportunity of rendering my best thanks for 

 the kindness and readiness with which that gentleman has 

 always undertaken whatever could facilitate the progress of 

 this work : 



" This plant is found in a water-tank of one of the warmest 

 houses of the botanic garden at Bonn. I first observed it 

 in the beginning of January of the present year (1827). It 

 was at that time already in fruit, and during a period of 

 three and a half months, during which I have observed it, it 

 has continued quite in the same condition in which I at first 

 found it. 



" It is a constant character of this Conferva, that the fruit 

 capsule appears at that end of the filament by which it is at- 

 tached to the side wall of the water-tank, and from the great 

 mass of spores scattered by the capsule, all the Conferva 

 which spring up at the same spot grow together into such a 

 heap that their basis appears of an almost uniform black, 

 from which the Conferva project in a radiating manner. I 

 have not yet succeeded in determining whether the threads 

 have first attached themselves to the wall of the tank, after 

 the formation of the capsule, or whether the last joint, by 

 which they, as it were, take root on the wall, may have 

 gradually assumed the form of a pear-shaped capsule, with 

 an extended neck. Even if in this latter case the explanation 

 of the structure of the capsule should present further diffi- 

 culties, I might still be able to explain them. I have but 

 very seldom been able to observe the streaming out from the 



