and the Globules of Chara vulgaris. 383 



the anthers in flowering plants.* They contain a yellowish granular 

 matter, the particles of which, as far as I have observed, possess no 

 definite form. I am not aware that any experiments have been made 

 in order to ascertain the relative importance of these two kinds of 

 reproductive organs in Pilularia ; but in Lindley's Natural System of 

 Botany it is stated, that Professor Savi of Pisa found that in Salvi- 

 nia, belonging to the natural order Marsileaceae, the seeds so called, 

 and the supposed small globules, must both be present to produce 

 germination in the former. Duverney, on repeating Savi's experi- 

 ments, has, however, observed that the seeds when separated from 

 the small particles, were capable of developement. The presence 

 of fecula and oil in the larger reproductive bodies of Pilularia would 

 seem to indicate an analogy between them and the seeds in flower- 

 ing plants. 



Recently, while examining the globules and nucules of Chara vul- 

 garis, I remarked, that the former of these contain in many instances 

 round transparent particles intermixed with the filaments. These par- 

 ticles give a blue colour with iodine. The presence of fecula seems, 

 however, to be of rare occurrence in the globules, as it is much more 

 frequently absent than present. Dr Greville describes the nucule as 

 being " sessile, oval, solitary, spirally striated, having a membranous 

 covering, and the summit indistinctly cleft into five segments ; the 

 interior isjilled with minute sporules." These so called sporules are 

 particles of fecula, which may easily be demonstrated by bruising a 

 nucule in a drop of water under the microscope ; the round particles 

 which issue will be found to possess all the physical characters of 

 fecula enumerated by Raspail, and finally, the addition of a drop of 

 solution of iodine will decide their nature. Along with the fecula 

 in the nucule, a fixed oil is also present. 



* Lindley suggests that they are abortive sacs analogous to the larger bodies. 



