VAUCHERIACEZ. 115 
or two principal roots, which become gradually ramified into many fine 
rootlets; the chlorophyll contents at the beginning dense and’ homo- 
geneous, and clothing the inner cell membrane, extend only to the neck 
of the root ; the membrane is rather rigid. Upon being broken the cell 
contents become extruded, the membrane collapses as a thick pellicle, 
whose contents admit of being completely pressed out. The fluid 
contents in this condition consist of finely granular plasma, tinged by 
chlorophyll granules. Subsequently the green plasma layer becomes 
separated from the membrane, breaks up into single equal-sized portions, 
which become rounded off, coated with a membrane, and gradually 
individualized as daughter-cells. At last the entire globose cell is 
densely filled with rounded daughter-cells ; whilst, previous to this state, 
the plant presented an intensely grass-green colour, it shows in this 
latter state a clear or sea-green colour. Mature and immature plants 
hence readily admit of being distinguished by the tint with the unassisted 
eye. The membrane of the mother individual at last passes to decay ; 
it collapses, and the daughter-cells become the germs of new indivi- 
duals in the soil. The maturity of the individuals occurs towards 
autumn, and accordingly the germ cells lie resting in the earth during 
winter, and germinate in the following spring. The development of the 
germ cells to new individuals takes place without formation of a 
* prothallus’ (‘ohne Vorkeimbildung’). One end elongating as a root, 
at once penetrates the earth ; the other end becomes developed as the 
above-ground portion. The diameter of a ripe germ cell is 0:009-0:012 
mm. The plants prefer to establish themselves on the surfaces of the 
large clefts which are produced when the waters retreat and the ground 
becomes gradually dried by the air.”—Reinsch. Algen Flora, p. 218. 
See also “ Grevillea”’ Vol. iv., p. 105, since which period the Memoir by 
Rostafinski and Woronin has appeared, and that has pretty well estab- 
lished the complex character of reproduction in this little plant. 
Famity II. VAUCHERIACEA. 
Alge monacious (rarely dizcious), cespitose, unicellular or 
bicellular, Thallus with terminal vegetation, utricle-shaped, 
elongated, more or less branched. 
‘Propagation either sexual, by oospores fecundated by sper- 
matozoids, or non-sexual by zoospores. 
Sporangium terminal, formed by the globosely clavate swelling 
of the tip of the thallus, cut off by a septum, contents dark 
green, at length enclosing one large zoospore, densely clad with 
vibratile cilia. 
Oogonium lateral, sessile, or borne on a more or less elongated 
simple, or partite, pedicel; cytioplasm at length converted into 
a large oospore. 
Antheridium lateral, sessile, or cut off by a septum from the 
upper portion of a lateral branch, in which numerous spermato- 
zoids are generated, which at length become free. Spermatozoids 
oblong, furnished with two unequal cilia (except in one 
species). 
