257 
small-celled filaments radiating towards the centre. In a vertical section these fila- 
ments are only little conspicuous, and there are only feeble rudiments of papillæ 
in the conical orificium (fig. 177). One to four layers 
of vegetative cells are to be found under the concep- 
tacles. 
The antheridial conceptacles are small, sometimes 
entirely immersed, usually, however, more or less pro- 
minent. The inner cavity has a flat bottom, and may 
be about 40, in diameter. The ostiole is not prolonged 
in a spout. 
The spermat- Fig. 176. 
angia form a Melobesia microspora. À, vertical 
coverin on section of thin crust. B, surface view 
Se 8 of crust near the border. C, basal 
the bottom of layer seen from the face, showing 
numerous fusions. 350:1. 
the concep- 
tacle; they are produced from small 
squarish or trapezoid cells, and are 
lengthened, upwards incrassated, some- 
times a little curved cells. Sometimes 
the spermatangia are produced not di- 
rectly from the small squarish cells but 
from cells of the same shape as them- 
selves (fig. 178 C at left). The spermatia 
are clavate, broadest in the upper end, 
Fe m sometimes slightly curved, about 6 „ long, 
Melobesia microspora. A, Perte section of sporangial and 2 u broad at their broadest end, (fig. 
conceptacle with a tetrasporangium. B, sporangial con- 178 C). Under the bottom of the con- 
ceptacle seen from above. C, emptied sporangial con- : 
ceptacle showing the rest of the columella. 350:1. ceptacles up to 5 layers of vegetative cells 
may be found. 
Of female conceptacles I have only 
met with very few, which gave no clear 
idea of their structure. They seem to be 
similar in shape and structure to the 
sporangial ones. Fig. 179 shows a con- 
ceptacle containing carpogonia and tri- 
chogynes; at left is shown a carpogonium 
from another section of the same con- 
ceptacle. 
This species seems to be quite di- 
Fig. 178. stinct from all well known species of the 
Melobesia mierospora. A and B, vertical sections of frond senus. The want of cortical cells is in- 
with antheridial conceptacles. C, spermatangia and sper- 2 
matia. A and C 560:1, B 350:1. deed so remarkable as possibly to suggest 
D. K. D. Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., 7. Række, naturvidensk. og mathem. Afd. VII. 2, 33 
