134 ARCHEGONIATES. 
is formed, a small eccentric body appears in each blepharoplast (Fig. 
53, D), then several, so that it appears as if the blepharoplast had 
broken up into a group of small bodies (Fig. 54, E). Out of these 
bodies is developed the band, which elongates, and together with the 
nucleus moves toward the plasma membrane of the cell (Fig. 54, F, G). 
In cross section the band is broadly U-shaped, but when seen from 
above it appears as a double line (Fig. 54, H). The band continues 
to elongate until finally a spiral is formed, which makes five or more 
turns about the hemispherical half of the cell (Fig. 54, I). The 
nucleus also elongates, becoming sausage-shaped, and lies in close 
contact with the larger turns of the blepharoplast. The mature sper- 
matozoid in Marszléa is composed, therefore, of a blepharoplast, 
Fic. 53.—Blepharoplast primordium during division of grandmother-cell of spermatozoid in 
Marsilia vestita,—(After Shaw.) 
A, the two primordia of the blepharoplasts lie in cytoplasm some distance from nucleus, 
B, they are now on opposite sides of the nucleus but a little to one side of median line, 
C, the nucleus is in spindle stage of division; the young blepharoplasts lie near the respective poles of 
spindle. 
D, telophase of division; blepharoplast rudiment at pole of each nucleus contains a dense granule, 
consisting of a funnel-shaped spiral of about ten or more turns, and a 
sausage-shaped nucleus without a definite visible structure, which is 
connected with the three larger posterior turns of the blepharoplast 
(Fig. 52, B). The posterior end of the blepharoplast, which is usually 
bent in the shape of a hook, extends beyond the nucleus. The rela- 
tively large vesicle is embraced by the larger posterior turns of the 
blepharoplast. In Marszlia vestita the author observed that the 
vesicle remains adhering to the spermatozoid for a longer time than in 
Onoclea struthiopteris. The vesicle consists of a delicate cytoplasmic 
reticulum, in which are held large starch and protein granules. The 
numerous cilia (the spermatozoids were fixed and stained upon the 
slide) spring from the middle and posterior coils, the two or three 
anterior coils being free from them, In some cases observed the cilia 
extended almost to the posterior end of the blepharoplast. As soon 
as the vesicle drops off, the spermatozoid becomes much elongated, 
losing its pronounced funnel-shape. 
