20 Prof. F. Schmitz on the 
4. Corallinee. * 
In the Squamariez parallel thallus-fibres with carpogonial 
branches and auxiliary cells also often stand in great num- 
bers close together (Petrocelis, Cruoriopsis). This is the case 
to a far greater degree in the Corallinese, which moreover, in 
other respects, closely approach the Squamariez. 
In these Corallinee the formation of the fruit begins with 
the development of a closed stratum of long parallel thallus- 
fibres. The penultimate cell of these threads becomes en- 
larged, and develops (usually in a characteristic manner) one 
or several unicellular lateral branches, which place themselves 
beside the terminal cell. But in a larger or smaller number 
of these parallel cell-fibres bicellular side branches are also 
developed on this penultimate cell, while the terminal cell 
becomes developed into the carpogonium and puts forth a 
long trichogyne. The penultimate cells of all these parallel 
cell-fibres, however, become auxiliary cells. 
Of the numerous carpogonial branches which are in this 
way placed close together only a small number attain com- 
plete development and fertilizable maturity, the majority being 
aborted (and this is observed in the same manner also among 
the Squamariez, e. g. in Petrocelis Ruprechti, Hauck). But 
on the fertilization of a perfectly developed carpogonium the 
fertilized ovicell enters (at least as I think I may assume, 
from the analogy of the other Floride*) into a conjugation 
with the nearest auxiliary cell; the conjugation-cell thus 
formed then puts forth several processes, which immediately 
conjugate with the auxiliary cells in their immediate neigh- 
bourhood ; and this process of conjugation is then further 
continued laterally to the following auxiliary cells until a 
tolerably extended layer of auxiliary cells is amalgamated into 
a distinct large discitorm conjugation-cell. At the margin of 
this disk several offshoots are then pushed forth ; these be- 
come divided by a transverse dissepiment, and thus give 
origin to so many separate spore-complexes. 
* This point in the development of the fruits of the Corallines (the 
exact investigation of which, as is well known, is rendered remarkably 
difficult by the small size of their cells) I have hitherto been unable to 
establish directly. 
Moreover, not only in the Corallinese, but also in many other Floridese 
with small-celled, closely packed cellular tissue, there are special diffi- 
culties opposed to the exact ascertainment of the fate of the fertilized 
ovicell, which render these investigations eavtremely troublesome and 
tedious, and greatly hinder any certain decision. From this also are to 
be explained the numerous divergent statements which occur in literature, 
and which differ essentially from the present explanation precisely in this 
point. 
