10 HOFMEISTER, ON 



So far all the archegonia comport themselves alike. In 

 many, however, the further development now ceases. The 

 daughter-cell which originated in the basal cell disappears. 

 Frequently the walls of the passage leading from the basal 

 cell outwards assume a brown colour. In other arche- 

 gonia, which in all probability have been impregnated by 

 the entrance of the spermatozoa, the daughter- cell, as well 

 as its nucleus, increases manifestly in size ; numerous large 

 granules appear in the fluid in its interior (PL I, fig. 17). 

 The oval cell soon divides by an oblique septum (PL I, 

 fig. 18), upon which another septum, inclined in a contrary 

 direction, is shortly afterwards seen (PL I, fig. 20). In 

 the same manner, the terminal cell divides two or three 

 times by septa inclined in contrary directions (PL I, fig. 19). 

 The body, which at this period consists of a few large 

 cells, can now be easily isolated. After some time a division 

 of the apical cell takes place by means of a septum inclined 

 to the ideal longitudinal axis of the organ at the same angle 

 as the previously formed septa, but diverging from them at 

 an angle of 90°, and cutting the under edges of the apical 

 cell. The next septum which is formed stands opposite to 

 this, is inclined in a contrary direction, and forms also a 

 right angle with the two older septa of the cell. The ter- 

 minal cell of the obtusely conical body, which now plainly 

 constitutes the fruit-rudiment, increases by the production 

 of a series of septa which collectively have the same incli- 

 nation to the longitudinal axis of the young fruit, but which 

 point in four different directions, and not in two only, as 

 heretofore. The divisions succeed one another in such a 

 manner that the development of a septum turned towards 

 the south is followed by that of another turned towards the 

 north ; a septum towards the east is followed by one 

 towards the west, and so on.* The form of the cell of the 

 first degree resembles that of a three-sided prism with one 

 of its long sides tinned downwards. The cells of the second 

 degree have partly the form of a parallelopiped, in so far as 

 they originate from the division of the apical cell by 



* In the ' Vergleichende Untersuchungen,' an erroneous statement has crept 

 in by a slip of the pen. The series of cell-divisions is erroneously stated to run 

 round the circumference of the apical cell in the course of a right-handed spinal. 



