INTEODTTCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 207 



since, is now in great measure removed, and, with few ex- 

 ceptions, they are ready to recognise the importance of some- 

 thing more than a superficial examination. There must, 

 indeed, be something subjective, as well as objective, in all 

 successful study of nature. 



III. MELANOSPERMEiE, Harv. 



FucoiDE^, Ag., J. Ag. — ALGiE Aplospore.*:, Decaisne. — PhtcoidiSes, 

 Mont. 



Monoecious or dioecious. Spores olive, arising singly in fours 

 or eights from the endochrome of the fertile cells of proper con- 

 ceptacles, or zoospores resembling spermatozoids, which are 

 constantly produced in some genera. 



189. As regards. size and general importance, were they 

 paramount in inquiries as to comparative dignity, the grand 

 division at which we have now arrived would certainly entitle 

 many of the productions which it comprises, to a pre-eminent 

 place amongst Algte. It would, however, be difficult to show 

 any points of structure, or any complicity or perfectness 

 of transformation, in the component parts, which would entitle 

 them to pre-eminence above many of the Ehodosperms. It 

 is true, iadeed, that Thiuret has ascertained by actual experi- 

 ment, that the spermatozoids are reaUy efficacious in pro- 

 moting the growth of the spores ; but Pringsheim has shown 

 the same in Vaucheria, and so few experiments have at pre- 

 sent been made that we cannot, under our existing state of 

 knowledge, pronounce that these bodies are merely repre- 

 sentative iu the other division. Besides which, no one would 

 contend that the nobler Cryptogams are higher in the order 

 of vegetables than Phaenogams, because impregnation is 

 effected in them by spermatozoids, while in Phaenogams the 

 fovilla alone of the pollen tubes seems efficient. 



190. As in the other two divisions, there are species of a 



