1899] SPORE-MOTHER-CELL OF ANTHOCEROS 95 
distribution of chlorophyll throughout the cell? But if we 
assign the cause of the division to the protoplasm in or around 
the chloroplast there arise complications very difficult to explain. 
The four chloroplasts are in the cell long before the nucleus 
divides. Can it be supposed that cytoplasm would be intrusted 
with so important a task as the preparation of a chloroplast for 
each of the four nuclei that are later to preside over the spores 
before there is any indication that such nuclear division is to 
take place? The process reverses what would appear to be the 
natural course of events; 7. ¢., one would suppose that the divi- 
sion of the nucleus would determine the position of the four 
Spores and that the cell contents would arrange themselves later 
with reference to the nuclei. Perhaps this really is the fact, and it 
may be merely chance that each of the four nuclei finds a single 
chloroplast to accompany it in the spore, but such coincidence 
of numbers would be very curious. A somewhat similar prob- 
lem is presented by the oospore of Coleochaete, where, according 
‘o Oltmanns, eight chloroplasts are formed before the nucleus 
divides, and then as cell division progresses the nuclei are dis- 
tributed symmetrically until each becomes associated with one 
chloroplast. 
The structure and behavior of the chloroplast suggests some 
extremely interesting lines of research. Is there such a sub- 
mae as plastidplasm, a particular form of protoplasm with 
morphological characters that may distinguish it from tropho- 
Hoon de centrospheres, and other differentiated struc- 
siti cg = If there is a plastidplasm, what form does it 
Re cea e ee of ontogeny, when chlorophyll and other 
eh a e i sent? Is the plastid a permanent organ of the 
region of ce aps generally supposed As ae plastid is a 
aah atecaieg where the pigment is gathered, and 
y ‘ne seat of metabolic activity, it is possible that 
these : : ' 
even eis might produce its form and structure. It is 
nceivable that the di ioe : i 
tid may not lie 
iD peculj ifferentiation of a plas y 
effects , aig of protoplasm itself, but represent the outward 
ov the metabolic phenomena concerned with its pigment. 
i 
