26 A. Henfrey on the Higher Cryptogamous Plants. 
When the spore is placed in favorable circumstances for germ- 
ination it begins to swell up, and if the contents be examined 
with the microscope, a few minute cells will soon be found to 
have become developed in the mucilage. This cell-formation 
commences at a determinate spot upon the inner coat of the spore, 
the cells being so firmly applied that they appear blended with 
this inner membrane. ‘The cell-formation goes on till an obtuse 
conical process is developed, which breaks through the outer 
tough coat of the spore, and this process is recognized as the 
germinal body, or keim-kérper, corresponding to the pro-embryo 
of the other Cryptogams. From this, which at this period does 
not by any means fill the cavity of the spore with its lower por- 
tion, an ovate process is produced, at first obliquely directed up- 
the nanan direction representing the radicle. On the ascending 
process a distinction can soon be observed between the terminal 
ag a aut oval body, and a short thread-like stem on which it 
is sipported ; as the bud opens, the leaves appear in pairs 
At the soak of the paper, Dr. Miller offers some remarks 
on the evidence with respect to the import of the spores, the sub- 
stance of which may be transcribed. ‘ Up to the present time it 
remains doubtful what purpose is served by the antheridium-spore. 
me persons maintain one opinion, others another. One author 
declares he has seen it germinate, another that he has never been 
able to ig so. Kaulfuss* relates that Fox sowed Lyc. elago, and 
Lindsa ernuum with success, and that L. clavatum sprung 
up ecie with Willdenow. With himself it did not succeed; 
but the garden-inspector, Otto of Berlin, raised L. pygmaeum 
several years in succession from seed. The last case however is 
mandy explicable, since L.pygmaum. possesses oophoridia.” 
rift however states that he has seen the development of 
te iste from autheridium-spores in L. denticulatwm. Dr. 
Miller expresses some doubt as to whether the observation was 
absolutely exact, since GoOppert never mentions seeing a young 
plant actually adherent to an antheridium-spore, neither does he 
give the structure of the leaf, and the young plant he figures 
closely resembles a Fissidens, frequently springing up in flowere 
pots in green-houses. In his own attempts to raise plants from 
antheridium-spores, Dr. Miller in every case failed. He does not 
deny, however, that they may be capable of germination, espe- 
cially as some Lycopodiaces: appear to be devoid of oophoridia. 
u 1849 appeared M. Hofmeister’s notice on the fructification 
and germination of the higher Cryptogamia,t in which he indica 
ted the existence on the pro-embryo of Selaginella, of a number 
as Wesen Farrenkriiuter. Leipzig, 1827. 
. bere der stale und + Verind. der schlesischen Geselisch. ftir vaterl. Kultur, 
1 und 1845 - $ Bot, Zeitung, Nov. 9, 1849. 
