M. Miiller on the Development of Chara. 259 
are formed within it, whence it acquires as many subdivisions, 
parts or cells (fig. 6). These subdivisions are at first of equal 
length ; but as they continue progressively to be developed, the 
lowermost takes the lead and becomes more elongated. The 
lower ones are then usually the most transparent ; the green con- 
tents of the cells are more developed in the upper ones, although 
they are subsequently formed also in the former, seldom however 
to the same extent. The elongation of the stem now proceeds 
simply in the same manner, until finally new cells, the whorl of 
branches, are likewise formed from its subdivisions. These are 
either developed, as is usually the case, in the earlier stage of the 
development of the stem on one side only, or subsequently in a 
complete whorl. Moreover new cells, i. e. shoots, are formed from 
their joints according to the same laws as from the stem, for there 
can be no question here of any development of leaf. 
As soon as the stem contains a few cells in its interior, a re- 
markably higher development ensues from its lowermost subdivi- 
sions. The whorls do not stop short at the formation of shoots 
as in the upper portions, but are developed into new plants 
(figs. 6, 7,8 and 10). This formation is a perfect repetition of 
the development of the nucleary membrane. As in it, the knotty- 
looking cells at the joints (fig. 7) elongate in a sacciform manner 
(fig. 8), their apices at the same time becoming enlarged (fig. 10) ; 
these again form new cells in their interior ; the lowest appear 
more transparent, whilst in the uppermost the green cellular 
contents are formed. At the base of the axis, close above the 
orifice of the spore, a similar cell-formation has occurred. For 
as soon as the nucleary membrane began to burst through the 
sporular membrane like a bladder and to expand it in a sacciform 
manner, it began to be developed in a sacciform manner on the 
opposite side (figs. 4 and 6). Thus the spore, which is at first 
perpendicular, acquires a horizontal position. Each utricle forms 
a rootlet, and others follow it from simple vesicular expansion of 
the nucleary membrane, so that it acquires, at this end, a com- 
plete head of root-fibrils. 
The question now is—how are all these cells formed? The 
direct answer is—by cytoblasts and by these alone. I have not 
been able to observe this so distinctly in the earliest cells of the 
stem, although there can be no doubt about it, because there is 
not the least appearance of a secondary membrane, which might 
perhaps have become contracted by the well-known process of 
division, and thus formed new cells. But in the formation of 
the branches and of the new plants from them, the whole pro- 
cess may be traced most unequivocally. 
The cytoblastema, or the above-described liquid which is formed 
from the starch, possesses the remarkable peculiarity that it is 
