356 



MUSCI. 



ovate base ; they appear to consist of a fine cellular continu- 

 ous membrane, which except at the enlarged base is occupied 

 with, and rendered turged by a grumous fluid. The base is 

 nearly hyaline, the apex or broader part, and adjoining the 

 termination of the grumous matter being occupied centrally 

 by what appears to be a vesicle. 



The changes that subsequently take place are limited to 

 one, and to the most central (?) of these bodies, and consists 

 in the disappearance of the grumous matter, and the appear- 

 ance of a sphacelated line running through the centre of the 

 filiform part to the commencement of the enlarged base, when 

 this has taken place, the cellular structure of the filiform part 

 becomes very evident. At the same time the base enlarges, 

 becomes cylindric and of a much firmer texture. 

 It is united to the apex of the axis very slightly. 

 The first origin of the part which subsequently becomes 

 the seta, I have not yet seen : but I have no doubt that the 

 above changes affect the vesicular body, always observable in 

 the upper part of the dilated base. 



Shortly after the above period, the dilated base will be found 

 to be chiefly occupied by a cylindric, subulate body, attached 

 to its apex and projecting into and filling the greater part of 

 its cavity, now of some size. 



This is entirely cellular, and it has a conical apex of re- 

 markable structure, diminishing in the number of component 

 cells until we come to the apex, which is always composed of 

 one cell. I have no doubt that this is the original vesicle, se- 

 parated from its original situation by the developement of in- 

 termediate cellular tissue. 



No particular subsequent changes present themselves in 

 the tubular or filiform part, this is usually persistent. 



Considerable elongation, I should observe, of the dilated base 

 takes place, but the growth of the new production, which is 

 the future seta, outstrips it. and at some little time beyond 

 the above period, its conical apex will be found to extend be 

 yond the line of its attachment. 



