1915] BRYAN—ARCHEGONIUM OF SPHAGNUM SUBSECUNDUM 49 
figs. 33-35. In the older stages the growth is slower, but spindles 
in various cells of the periphery give further undoubted evidence 
of intercalary growth. 
THE MATURE ARCHEGONIUM 
In the account of the development of the archegonium given 
by the various authors already mentioned there has been much 
discussion concerning the mature archegonium. It will be of 
interest, therefore, to record the facts in regard to S. subsecundum. 
The archegonia here may be divided into two classes or types, 
those long and slender and those massive. This difference begins 
to appear early and may be clearly seen by a comparison of figs. 30 
and 32 or 34 and 35. Naturally, therefore, we find variability 
in the mature stages. In its simplest portion, the neck for a short 
distance may have 6 rows of cells, or in the more massive types 
each cell of the 6 rows may have one or more secondary divisions. 
Fig. 58 represents a typical series through the simplest portion of 
such a neck. The neck merges gradually into the venter, which is 
usually 4 cells thick (fig. 59), though simpler venters may also be 
found. 
ABNORMALITIES 
Abnormalities are of rather frequent occurrence in S. sub- 
secundum. Double venters. (fig. 42), unequal division of the 
venter, the ventral canal nucleus larger than the egg (fig. 43), 
ventral canal nucleus the same size as the egg (fig. 44), and mul- 
tiple eggs (fig. 45) are not of rare occurrence. 
THE ABSENCE OF PARAPHYSES 
SCHIMPER (10) in his elaborate monograph reports structures 
among both antheridia and archegonia which he calls paraphyses. 
Other investigators have been unable to find any trace of para- 
Physes. We have taken particular pains to investigate this in 
S. subsecundum, dissecting hundreds of heads, both antheridial 
and archegonial, but not the slightest indications of paraphyses 
could be found. This was further confirmed by an examination 
of about 500 slides with the same result. In a few cases the 
branched hyphae of a fungus, Tilletia Sphagni, were observed 
