6 HowE: MONOSPORANGIAL DISCS IN LIAGORA 
the largest of the four species named, they may occasionally reach 
a diameter of nearly 4004. The monosporangia are ellipsoid, 
ovoid, or obovoid, and are usually 13-26u long and 13-184 
broad, measuring protoplasts only. To what these monosporangia 
give rise on germination has not been determined but there seems 
to be some ground for believing that they produce monosporangial 
discs like those from which they sprang. Species of Liagora offer 
a favorable matrix for the germination of various filamentous 
algae, including species of Acrochaetium, Ceramium, and other 
Rhodophyceae, and inferences that young sporelings associated 
with a Liagora represent stages in development of the Liagora 
itself demand rigorous confirmation, such as might be supplied by 
cultures or by the presence of a complete series of developmental 
stages. In this connection, however, it may be remarked that 
the almost constant association of Acrochaetium-like forms with 
various species of Liagora is a suspicious circumstance that deserves 
further investigation. 
In offering the above explanation of the origin of the peculiar 
monosporangium-bearing discs of certain species of Liagora, the 
writer realizes that he may be charged with having mistaken 
accidental contact for organic continuity. It would be easier; 
more conventional, and (a priori) more probable to regard the 
discs as independent or obligate epi-endophytes. Early in his 
acquaintance with them, the writer was at one time on the point 
of describing them as representing a new genus of uncertam 
family, but was deterred by observing that the character of the 
discs, particularly of their cells and cell walls varied according to 
the species on which they occurred, and that the discs were 
progressively older from base to apex of the Liagora thallus, the 
early stages being found only at the extreme apices. The chro- 
matophores, too, seemed similar, except that those of the discs 
were more red than those of the vegetative cells of the Liagor@ 
often as red as those of the carpospores. After much searching, 
indications that the discs could be traced back to certain cells of 
the Liagora thallus were observed, as shown in the accompany! 
figures. These observed evidences of direct continuity wer 
not so numerous as the writer might wish and he knows of 70 
analogy among other Rhodophyceae for the state of things here 
