_BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 357 
The contents of the spore consist of dense protoplasm con- 
taining a nearly central nucleus, and numerous fine granules of 
chlorophyll. Oil is present, usually uniformly distributed, but 
sometimes collecting in large drops. 
Ordinarily the first step in the active growth is an elongation 
of the spore, one end becoming nearly. transparent. This trans- 
parent end elongates still farther and very soon is shut off by a 
septum approximately at right angles to the longer axis of the 
spore. Two cells are thus formed, a small transparent one, the 
first root-hair, and a larger one containing abundant chlorophyll. 
The root-hair contains only a few very small granules of chloro- 
phyll, and these finally seem to disappear entirely. The walls of 
Onoe ea sensibilis; in Asplenium filix feemina, on the contrary, 
the color is scarcely apparent even in the older root-hairs. Ab- 
normal cases occur where no root-hair is formed. The larger of 
the two cells first formed also elongates and very soon undergoes 
art the first 
division, and usually several successive septa, are parallel to the 
Primary septum, thus giving rise to a filament, or single row of 
hile the division of the cells is progressing, the chlorophyll 
stanules which were small and crowded at first, become much 
— and more widely separated. As the prothallium grows, 
Y enlarge and divide, all of those to be found in the comp ete 
prothal] : th and division of 
those th 
