320 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [ocToser 
were chosen for illustration. In most cases, an antheridial 
branch in contact with this curved structure (which was evidently 
the archicarp) could be plainly seen. This was a slender branch 
arising usually, though not always, from another filament and 
applying itself to the archicarp. In some instances the anthe- 
ridia traveled comparatively long distances to reach thearchicarps, 
and some were found coiled once or twice upon themselves in 
their courses. In most cases the two gametes were so inter- 
woven that they could not be exactly traced, but in two instances 
unmistakable fusion of antheridium with archicarp was discoy- 
ered (figs. 35 and 36). In both cases the antheridial branch is 
applied just at the tip of the female organ and the walls of both 
at the point of contact are dissolved. Many nuclei are usually 
present in both gametes, but they have not been seen fusing. 
The antheridium does not lose its protoplasmic content. It 
is usually less deeply stained than the archicarp, but this is also 
true before the two organs meet, and means probably only that 
the latter is richer in protoplasm than the former. The anthe- 
ridium, moreover, is not always present. Numerous instances 
occurred, as shown in fg. 33, where the archicarp seemed to 
be developing without fertilization. There is, of course, 9 
positive proof that these non-fertilized cells would ever produce 
asci, but the evidence given by the older stages of these pom 
very conclusively toward the existence of parthenogenes® 
Other peculiarities such as those shown in figs. 37 and z8 were 
very interesting. In fig. 38 the antheridium, while certainly 
present, has turned entirely away from the female brane he 
the latter has continued to coil very much beyond the limit @ 
which fusion usually takes place. Fig. 33 also has beco 
tate in accordance with the normal plan of development aftet 
fertilization. Fig. 37 shows a tendency in another direction. 
Here the archicarp, having failed of fertilization, has been ee 
duced into a vegetative filament in amanner suggestive of what! 
writer (19) finds occurs at times in Vaucheria. These vegetative 
; jentl) 
outgrowths were comparatively rare, but still were of sufficie 
1 
frequent occurrence to demand attention. They might 1 
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