390 PRACTICAL BOTANY 



2. Its wall, consisting of small, closely aggregated 

 cells, and with an opening or ostiole at the apex. 



3. The central cavity, surrounded by the wall, and 

 filled more or less completely, according to age, with 

 elongated, club-shaped cells, having dark protoplasm, 

 and swollen walls : these are the carpospores. 



The following points are further to be observed in 

 longitudinal sections, viz. 



1. The formation of the carpospores by budding from 

 the base of the cavity of the cystocarp. 



2. The contents of the spores in various stages of 

 escape from their cell-walls, and of passage through 

 the ostiole, so as to pass out freely, as rounded and naked 

 protoplasmic bodies, from the cystocarp. 



The artificial germination of the spores is a 

 matter of difficulty, but a rough idea of the germina- 

 tion of the spores of red seaweeds may be gained 

 by observing the numerous young plants, of various 

 genera and species, which are to be found attached 

 to the outer surface of almost any one of the larger 

 seaweeds. 



