FLORIDE^E. 273 



support the carpogonium send out lateral branches, which / 

 grow up and closely invest it, and by their growth finally 

 cover it entirely (excepting the trichogyne) with a ceJlular 

 "pericarp" (B, r, Fig. 183). The whole mass, including 

 the fertilized carpogonium and its investing "pericarp," 

 constitutes the simplest form of sporocarp. 



364. The germination of the sporocarp takes place (the 

 next spring) by the swelling of the protoplasmic contents, 

 and the consequent rupture of the " pericarp ;" the inner 

 portion becomes changed into a many-celled mass (C, Fig. 

 183), which gives rise to bi-ciliate zoospores closely resembling 

 those developed from the vegetative cells. From each zoo- 

 spore a new plant eventually arises. 



(a) These little plants occur in fresh-water pools as little green 

 masses adhering to leaves, sticks, etc. According to Wolle, we have 

 five species. 



(&) The sexual process and the development of the sexual organs oc- 

 cur in May, June, and July. 



(c) Nothing can be attempted in this place to determine the grouping 

 of Coleochcete with other Carpophyta. Its evident relationship to the 

 Perisporiacese in the Ascomycetes suggests that possibly the latter 

 class may have to be broken up, and the first two orders united with 

 . Coleochcete to form a new class. Certainly the relationship between 

 Coleochcete, Perisporiaceae, and Tuberacese is much closer than between 

 the two last named and the other orders of Ascomycetes. There 

 can be but little doubt that the Ascomycetes are held together by char- 

 acters which are now of but secondary value, drawn as they are from 

 the asexual fruiting, while characters which are of far greater value, 

 derived from the sexual organs, are disregarded. 



II. CLASS FLORIDE^E. 



365. In the Florideas the reproduction is generally 

 asexual as well as sexual. The former is by means of cells 

 which originate from a division of a mother-cell into four 

 parts ; on account of their number they have received the 

 name of tetraspores (A, B, t, t, Fig. 184). These appear 

 to replace the swarm-spores of other algae, and may also be 

 compared to the conidia of certain fungi ; they are destitute 

 of cilia, and are, as a consequence, not locomotive. They 

 develop from the terminal cells of lateral branches, or from 

 the cells of ordinary thick tissues, sometimes deeply imbedded. 



