246 



Fig. 164. 



iMclobcsiii limilata {torn MH. A, vertical section of nearlv emptied sporangia! conccptacle 

 li, sporangium divided into more than foiu- cells. 350:1. 



The conceptacles are scattered, usually not contiguous. 



The sporangial conceptacles are conical or subhemispherical-conical, (170 — )230 

 — 325/^ in diameter. The outer wall (the roof) is thicker than in M. Lejolisii, it is 



3 — 5 cells thick 

 and has its grea- 

 test thickness 

 near the ostiole. 

 It consists here of 

 very distinct cell- 

 filanients radia- 

 ting inwards and 

 upwards. The 

 longest of these fil- 

 aments are those 

 directed towards 

 the upper border 

 of the ostiole, and 

 which sometimes 

 project as a crown 



beyond the border of the ostiole. The filaments forming the crown are given off 

 not only from the inner face of the canal, as in M. Lejolisii, hut also from the outer 

 surface (fig. 165). In other cases, however, the filaments do not extent beyond the 

 border of the ostiole and a crown is thus not developed. The ostiole has usually 

 a constriction almost in or under the middle, and over this the ostiole is funnel- 

 shaped or barrel-shaped, according to the development of the upper peristomial 

 filaments (figs. 164, 165). 

 This space is filled with 

 a hyaline jelly. The con- 

 verging filaments are 

 easily observed when 

 viewing the conceptacle 

 from above. The bottom 

 under the conceptacle 

 consists of one or two 

 layers of cells. The spor- 

 angia seem to be produ- 

 ced only in the peripheral 

 part of the conceptacle, 

 but there is no columella. 

 The sporangia are four- 

 parted, 46—77 n long, 

 21— 46(-61)/. broad. Un- 



Fig. 165. 



Melobesia limitata ^.vertical section of sporangial conceptacle with well devel- 

 oped crown. 3.50; 1. B, sporangium. 200:1. 



