BATRACHOSPERME. 287 
upon the upper ends of peculiar ovate cells, also filled with a colourless 
protoplasm. Most frequently there is a single antheridium to the basal 
cell, sometimes two; the latter number appears never to be exceeded. 
When matured the antheridia open, and allow their contents to escape in 
the form of roundish or flattened bodies, which never, as far as known, 
acquire cilia, and have, therefore, no power of spontaneous motion. 
These bodies, which are believed to be spermatozoids, are unprovided 
with anything like an external membrane, and are composed of proto- 
plasm identical with that in the antheridium. While these changes are 
occurring, certain cells in other localities are being transformed into 
female organs, to which the name of Trichogonia is applied. These are 
borne upon cells similar to those supporting the antheridia. At first they 
are not markedly different from the other cells, but soon undergo a very 
rapid growth. This is not, however, regular, and is not partaken of by, 
a band of tissue about one-third way from the basal end, so that at last 
a long somewhat flask-shaped cell is produced, with a very marked con. 
traction at the point indicated, separating it into two portions. The 
wall of this cell is thin, but very distinct, and the cavity is filled witha 
homogeneous or very sparsely granular protoplasm, which is continuous 
through the narrow neck-like portion. After a time there appear one or 
more large irregular vacuoles, with actively moving corpuscles in 
them, and at the same time the neck appears to be stopped with a slimy 
substance. Careful examination with reagents shows that this is a cel- 
lulose, and that it does not completely block the passage way through 
the isthmus. At this time there appear lying upon the free end of the 
trichogonia globular or flattened bodies, without external membrane, 
corresponding in all respects with those already described as being pro- 
duced in the antheridia, The end of the trichogonium generally enlarges 
at this periodjinto a sort of roundish knob, and by and bye the end wall 
between this and one of these globules becomes absorbed, so that there 
is a free communication between the two. Whilst this is ‘going on the 
globule acquires a thin delicate cdat, and there‘ appears in it a vacuole 
similar to those pre-existing in the trichogonium. 
“The first result of this impregnation of the trichogonium is the de- 
posit of new cellulose, and the complete blocking up of the passage way 
through the isthmus or narrowed portion. Already before the fecunda- 
tion the upper cells of the branches supporting the trichogonia have pro- 
duced numerous branchlets, which, growing upwards, more or less com- 
pletely cover that organ. After impregnation the cells near to the 
trichogonium become much larger and broader, their vacuoles disappear, 
and are replaced by a dense granular dark greenish-brown protoplasm. 
These cells now show a great activity in the production of numerous 
branches in the usual way; but it is the upper two alone which, with the 
trichogonium that they support, ‘are concerned in the formation of the 
fruit glomerules. These put out all over their surface an immense num- 
ber of protrusions, which soon, in the ordinary way, become the parents 
of as many twigs or branchlets, which, growing and branching precisely 
as do the vegetative branches, soon become excessively crowded. The 
base of the trichogonium participates also in the production of branches, 
and at last a dense ball is formed of pseudo-parenchymatous tissue by 
the forced adhesion of the crowded twigs. The central cells of the 
glomerule thus formed are very large and bladder-like: he outer part 
of the ball is composed of innumerable radiating rows of small cells, the 
end cell of each branch being roundish so as to present a convex external 
face. ; 
“ At maturity these cells open and allow their contents to escape as 
round masses, which appear to have no membrane, but begin at once to 
grow and secrete cellulose. Their after history has not been made out 
