of the germination were unfortunately not observed. Only about three months 
after the sowing the young germlings were detected as small violet (not rosy) 
orbicular discs recalling those described and figured by CHEMIN. They were merely 
somewhat larger, the smallest ones consisting of about 30 cells, and no germ- 
tube was to be seen. In several cases the discs bore single hyaline hairs. Nor was 
I able to observe any germ tube on recently re-examining a slide containing 
numerous germlings from my culture in 1927, conseryed in glycerin. As the germ- 
lings were nearly three months old, it is, however. quite possible that a germ-tube 
may have been present but decayed later without leaving any trace. It would be 
of interest to see whether the germina- 
tion always takes place in the manner 
described by CHEMIN, or whether the germ 
disc may also arise by direct segmenta- 
tion of the spore cell. In CHEMIN's cul- 
tures the discs multiplied after two months, 
new filaments growing out from some of 
the marginal cells and producing a new 
disc at their extremity. Such a multiplica- 
tion was not observed in my cultures. 
Upright shoots were not given off in 
CHEMINS cultures nor in mine. In my 
older cultures. the discs increased in 
diameter and became thicker, the cells 
æn dividing by horizontal walls, in particular 
Ahnfeltia plicata. Se obtained by sowing mono- in the middlemost part. An old dise 
spores in May 1927. 4—C about three months old, in B measured 90 x in diameter. These discs 
åre, D a two years old germling. 4C 85:1. Dci agreed exactly in colour and structure 
É S i with the more expanded discs found in 
Nature from which the upright fronds of Ahnfeltia spring (comp. figs. 542 to 544). 
The discs met with in Nature often reach a considerable size before the formation 
of the first upright frond takes place. 
The principal conclusion from what has been set forth above is that SCHMITZS 
view that the nemathecia are of a parasitic nature cannot be upheld. The nema- 
thecia are outgrowths from the frond of Ahnfeltia, as maintained also by GREGORY 
and CHEMIN. They are the only organs of reproduction and finally produce mono- 
spores. Sex organs and tetrasporangia do not exist. As to the interpretation of the 
very peculiar mode of reproduction of Ahnfeltia reference may be made to the 
discussion in my previous paper (1931, conclusions, p. 21—25). Here I shall 
merely emphasize that the generative cells appearing in the young nemathecia 
are considered as reduced procarps, and that the cell-filaments growing out from 
them are considered as corresponding to the sporophytic phase of the typical 
