218 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
microsomes in spiral lines about the so formed thread leads to 
the formation of the spiral ridge-like thickenings of the mature 
capillitium. The whole process is identical with that which 
takes place in the formation of a cell wall, according to Stras- 
burger’s earlier accounts of that process. 
Whether or not the microsomes are the units in cell wall 
formation, we have here excellent evidence that the interior 
protoplasmic surface, which lies next to the vacuole, is equiva- 
lent to the exterior surface which forms the peridium of the 
entire sporange. Each surface is able in essentially similar 
fashion to deposit on occasion a resistent membrane over its 
whole extent. The doctrine of the equivalence of plasma-mem- 
brane and vacuolar membrane as developed by Pfeffer and De 
Vries finds strong support in this method of capillitium forma- 
tion. Strasburger describes a period of nuclear division as pre 
ceding spore formation. The division is karyokinetic and the 
equatorial plate, separation of the daughter chromosomes, and 
development of the daughter nuclei are figured. The spindle 
fibers are inclined only slightly toward each other at the poles. 
The nuclei all divide at the same time, so that each section 
shows thousands of karyokinetic figures. Strasburger S4J° 
little as to the method of spore formation. He figures the 
cleavage as producing the one-nucleated spores directly, 
describes the boundaries of the spores as at first consisting . 
granules and then of clear lines, and notes also that the . : 
entiation proceeds for the most part from the periphery eer a 
the center. The young spore is at first polygonal, then ro 
itself up and becomes enclosed by a wall. 
Zopf (27) adheres to the view that the capillitium repre : 
plasma masses (Hyaloplasma, Gerustplasma) which are ie ‘ 
used for spore formation and have become hardened. He 4 
not pretend, however, to have verified this statement for a 5 
self. Later (p. 63) he accepts Strasburger’s account vegatd ) 
formation of the capillitium in Trichia, and is inclined po 
it as true for all the forms with hollow capillitia (Coco 
while still holding that the forms having a capillitium com 
of 
