604 MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 
than elsewhere, more deeply colored and possesses a glossy 
smoothness. 
The cystocarps sometimes appear as_ surface elevations 
though commonly they are developed in the marginal and sur- 
face proliferations. They are most numerous and _ attain 
greatest size in the marginal area while at the center they are 
scattering and poorly developed, numbering from 8 to Io per 
sq. cm. as compared with 15 to 18 near the margin. 
The broad flat branches of the lamina, owing to extreme 
thinness and position, bear few cystocarps though the number of 
proliferations may be great. 
The epidermal cells of the lamina are very similar in every 
respect to those of the stipe except that the arrangement is less 
compact. The-same may be said regarding the pseudo-cortical 
area, but a difference is seen in the pseudo-medullary cells; 
these are all filamentous, densely filled with granular proto- 
plasmic contents (Pl. 42, Figs. 6 and 7) and so joined as to form 
a complete network. 
Through the use of certain staining reagents it was found that 
a protoplasmic connection existed between the several cells of 
the frond, best seen in the pseudo-medullary region of the 
lamina. (Pl. 42, Fig. 8.) On further examination, using alco- 
holic solution of fuchsin as a staining reagent, protoplasmic 
pits were seen to exist between the several cells. These pits 
were composed in every case of two minute callous plates which 
when stained were found to give a reaction similar to that of pro- 
toplasm. It was not possible to determine the function of these 
connections, but no doubt they serve as paths of communication 
between cells. In Schmitz’s discussion of the protoplasmic 
pits he shows that they are traversed by plasma-cords which 
serve for conduction of dynamic influences from cell to cell. 
He believes a transfer of dissolved food material possible be- 
cause of the pores in the pit, but does not regard as probable 
the transfer of protoplasm. 
Proliferations and cystocarp.—PI. 42, Fig. 9, represents an 
early stage in the development of a proliferation. Certain of 
the epidermal cells become slightly modified in shape, cell di- 
vision takes place vertically and apparently transversely. This 
increase in the number of cells causes an elevation to develop 
and as it continues a well-developed proliferation eventually pre- 
vails which may or may not bear a cystocarp. 
