44 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JANUARY 
cross-walls, finally consisting of 3 or 4 cylindrical cells, each of which 
makes secondary divisions, and above these two cells whose walls 
are obliquely placed and which also make secondary divisions. 
The origin of the archegonium proper and the formation of adventi- 
tious segments and canal initials are declared to be the same as 
among the mosses. In Sphagnum rigidum and S. acutifolium 
‘“‘anomalies” in the development are reported, though the regular " 
process described above also occurs. No explanation is offered — 
as to what these ‘‘anomalies” are. It is to be regretted that no 
illustrations accompany the article. 
The most recent account is that given by GaveT (3) in 1897- 
He agrees with LertcEs that the first archegonium is axillary, but 
dismisses the early stages with the brief statement that ‘‘the first 
divisions are normal.’”’ The two figures given to illustrate this 
are by no means clear, so that one is left in doubt as to the mean- 
ing of the word normal. Gaver is unable to find the two cells 
with oblique walls reported by JANczEWSKI and thinks them an 
error of interpretation. The neck of the archegonium is said to 
elongate by the division of the terminal cell, and this terminal 
growth is produced without giving rise to canal cells. 
From these brief reviews it is evident that there is little agree- 
ment among investigators as to developmental processes, and that 
the whole subject is in a haze of uncertainty. 
EARLY STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARCHEGONIUM 
In the autumn, at the time of the production of sex organs, the 
elongation of the main axis is checked, so that the newly formed 
branches whose apical cells are being transformed into archegonia 
appear as a cluster or bud about the main axis at the apex. This 
transformation of the apical cells of the side branches into arche- 
gonia is not simultaneous, but proceeds acropetally, occurring 
earlier and earlier in the development of each branch as one passes 
toward the apex. As yet this transformation process has not been 
observed to reach the apical cell of the main stem, though more 
than 400 slides bearing on this point have been examined. 
In the material studied the maximum number of archegonia 
arising from an apical cell is three. In such a case each of the 
