Fertilization of the F loridex. &9 
which are all alike, and each of which gives origin to a single 
spermatium * ; in the Floridex the spermatia always originate 
only from superficial cells, terminal cells, or branch-cells of 
the cell-filaments of the thallust. In the Bangiacex the in- 
dividual thallus-cells, without distinction, become converted 
into female cells, extending a short diverticulum on the outer 
surface of the thallus, which usually hardly even distantly 
resembles the trichogyne of the always terminal carpogonia of 
the Floridee}. In the act of fecundation in the Bangiacez, 
moreover, the whole protoplasm of the spermatium, except a 
very small residue §, passes over into the female cell, which then 
retracts the above conjugation-process, and becomes converted 
into the fertilized ovicell, without separating off the directive 
body which is so characteristic of the Floridee. Lastly, 
in the Bangiacew, this fecundated ovicell either becomes 
directly the spore (Hrythrotrichia, according to Berthold, @. c. 
p. 17), or breaks up by repeated division into a complex of 
more or less numerous cells, all of which give origin to single 
naked spores; a sporigenous tuft of threads with a sterile 
central cell, as in the cystocarp of the Floridez, is here never 
produced. 
In my judgment, all these peculiarities distinguish the 
angiacez very essentially from the Florides||, which, with 
all their other differences of construction, display a complete 
agreement in the points mentioned. Consequently the Ban- 
* In Erythrotrichia, however, according to Berthold (Bangiacez, p. 13) 
the spermatia are formed from marginal cells of the individual joint- 
cells of the thallus. 
+ I would lay less stress upon the further fact that, as Berthold states 
(J. c. pp. 12, 18), in the Bangiacee the spermatia always contain formed 
chromatophores with pyrenoids | see Schmitz,‘ Die Chromatophoren,’ Xe. ], 
while in the Floridez, the spermatia, so far as my present observations 
extend, are always destitute of chromatophores. 
In passing it may be here once more (see Schmitz, ‘ Chromatophoren 
der Algen, p. 39, note 1) indicated that Berthold everywhere confounds 
the pyrenoids of the chromatophores with the celi-nuclei, but has over- 
looked the true cell-nuclei in the cells of the Bangiaceee. I took up the 
investigation of this question again after the appearance of Berthold’s 
‘recent memoir, in which his previous statements are simply repeated ; 
but this time also I find my above-cited statements about the cell-nuclei 
and pyrenoids of the Bangiacez completely confirmed. 
t Compare figs. 2, 4, 12, 15, 25, and 24 in Berthold, /. e. 
§ See also Berthold’s statements, /.¢. pp. 14 ef seqq. 
|| Berthold (Bangiaces, p. 21) thinks, on the contrary, that the charac- 
ters of structure and growth of the thallus, with reference to which the 
Bangiaces stand quite isolated among the Floridew, but correspond with 
the Fe ficiees and Ulotriches (/. c. p. 1), are of no importance with re- 
_ gard to the systematic position of the Bangiacez. 
_ Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 5. Vol. xii. 7 
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