of the Org-crw* q/'Pilularia globulifera. 487 



long as the sporule (Tab. XXXIV. fig-, 18.). The sheaths are not distinct, but 

 communicate with each other ; and the only point of connexion between the 

 sheath (there being in fact but one) and the germ is around its base close to 

 the sporule, so that nearly the whole of the germ is inclosed in this sheath 

 (Tab. XXXIV. fig. 19, &.). Besides this sheath, which embraces the upper 

 part of the root, there is an exceedingly delicate expansion which so closely 

 embraces the extremity of the root like a cap, that it is only by a careful ex- 

 amination that it can be discovered (Tab. XXXIV. fig. 18, a.). I am not 

 aware that this has ever had any connexion with the sheath through which 

 the root bursts, but, on the contrary, I believe it to be a distinct formation. 

 After the leaf has grown to be many times the length of the sporule, or about 

 two lines long, another leaf grows from the germ close to the first, to which it 

 is in all respects similar ; and then a bud begins to be developed from some 

 indefinite part of the germ, but like the leaves and root, from within the 

 sheath, which is now frequently much lacerated (Tab. XXXIV, fig. 19.). This 

 bud is covered by a peculiar kind of jointed hairs, whose attachments are lateral 

 at a short distance from their bases, and which contain a few colourless granules 

 (Tab. XXXIV. fig. 19.). This bud sometimes appears after the first leaf, in 

 which case there is no second primordial leaf formed ; and is the rudimentary 

 stem, the first growth from it being a leaf, which exhibits, although in a small 

 degree, the first evidence of gyration, and shortly after a root, which is fur- 

 nished with its own sheath. As I have not seen more advanced specimens, I 

 am unable to describe the succeeding steps ; but as, up to this point, my obser- 

 vations were made upon several hundred examples, I may safely affirm that 

 the instances were sufficiently numerous for my purpose. 



All the leaves after the primordial ones, or those which grow directly from the 

 germ, are developed in a similar manner to those of Ferns, and even the running 

 stem partakes in a slight degree of the same gyrate evolution (Tab. XXXV. 

 fig. 20.). The roots are all formed in sheaths, through the apices of which 

 they ultimately burst, the sheath continuing to embrace the base of the root, 

 whilst a distinct and far more delicate sheath closely embraces its point 

 (Tab. XXXV. fig. 20, &.). Transverse sections of the stem, root and leaves 

 show them all to be hollow, with the cavity divided longitudinally into sepa- 

 rate channels. In the stem these longitudinal partitions are about fifteen or 



