VITTARIA LINEATA 191 
found with or near no. 327. This implies an independent exist- 
ence for the gametophyte, which agrees with that of V. ۵ in 
being proliferous by its septate gemmae and in being lobed, but it 
differs in the shape and size of the thallus, the shape of the lobes, 
and the cellular structure. However, the specimens were dried 
when examined, as were Lindenberg's, whose description and 
figures were drawn from the type of Riccia reticulata, belonging 
to Swartz, which had been collected thirty years at the time the 
drawings were made. The cell contents had shrunk, forming a 
fine mesh of the strings of protoplasm, radiating from the nucleus 
of each cell, which gave the dotted and reticulated appearance 
described by Swartz as visible with a hand lens. The gemmae 
also must have disappeared, for they are neither figured nor 
described. In the specimen from St. Kitts, they are most abundant 
on the truncate ends of the long, narrow lobes. 
That the gametophyte of Vittaria maintains an indefinite and 
independent existence, without forming the sporophyte, seems to 
be an established fact. It is autoicous, the archegonia being 
borne mostly on the thallus, and the antheridia on the gemmae. 
In a climate where violent winds and heavy rains are frequent 
the gemmae would be liable to be detached without fertilization - 
having taken place. Dr. Campbell reports having seen in Jamaica, 
enormous sterile prothallia, forming circular mats at least three 
inches in diameter on the trunks of palms, and resembling a liver: 
wort. Dr. Campbell * has also described and figured a prothallium 
collected in the Sandwich Islands, similar to that of Vittaria, 
which he has referred to a species of Hymenophyllum. He 
states that they lived for two or three years in his laboratory. 
He also states that ‘Goebel has described in Vittaria " en 
prothallium recalling that of Hymenophyllum, both in its large 
size and extensive branching.” From our present knowledge 
we are inclined to believe that Campbell has mistaken the genus, 
and that these prothallia should be referred to Vittaria, probably 
to V. elongata. 
en DCN 
* Campbell, Mosses and Ferns, 362. f. 187, 158. 1895. 
