146 The Narcloo Plant 



The microspores (gynospores) emanated more tardily, 

 many required to be liberated from the tough indusium. 



The structure and the first stadia of development of both 

 kinds of spores have been subjects of researches by Hof- 

 meister. Naegeli and others. 



The gynospores are comparatively large. Their gelati- 

 nous covering shows on the vertex many distinct layers, of 

 which the outer ones are thicker than the inner ones. 



I was able to discern the structure of the thick exosporium 

 with distinction. It consists of prismatic, almost hexagonal, 

 tubes, which stand in a vertical position, and these are at 

 the base and apex closed with a membrane. The interior 

 rather thickish membrane, which has a yellowish granular 

 appearance, consists, according to Hofmeister, of two layers. 

 The main content of the gynospores consists of oil, of protein 

 substances, and of large starch grains of singular form. The 

 latter are compound, multilaminar, the pale larainse being 

 granular. 



The exterior covering of the androspore is similar to that 

 of the gynospore, but of more simple structure, and some- 

 what torulose. The endosporium is flexible, consists of 

 cellulose, and protrudes often with the contents. 



In favourable cases the prothallia of the microspores were 

 developed for fecundation in twenty-four hours after the 

 evacuation of the spore contents. They consist of a con- 

 spicuous tumulus of cells, surrounded only on the base by 

 the lobes of the inner membrane of the spore. The four 

 orificial cells of the archegonium are distincily visible at the 

 apex as papils. The central cell, however, lies deeply con- 

 cealed, covered by two strata of cells. 



When the prothallia, with their archegoniums, were so far 

 developed that fecundation could be expected, I noticed, in 

 all specimens examined, a remarkable appearance. On the 

 bottom of the funnel-shaped entrance was noticed a remark- 

 ably vivid motion of molecules, which concentrated t "■ 

 selves around the orifice of the 'archegonium. Althougu 

 they moved in the wider circumference of the funnel-shaped 

 entrance, it was evident that the aim of the motion was 

 immediate before the orifice. This motion had great resem- 

 blance with that of the mouth openings of the vorticellap. 

 The majority of the molecules showed a corresponding ab e 

 and an oblong form. I did not succeed in detecting the 

 immediate cause of this motion. Its vehemency did not 

 seem to admit of its being regarded as simply molecular 



