GENERAL REMARKS. 



357 



In the mean time the tissue of the apex of the axis has be- 

 come softer still, and is even absorbed in part. Into this ca- 

 vity the apex of the seta passes, and pushes before it the lax 

 remaining tissue. This penetration only ceases when it comes 

 into contact with the comparatively indurated inferior por- 

 tion of the axis. In the present instance it penetrates about 

 the depth of a line, no change whatever in situation has taken 

 place in that which was originally the base of the female re- 

 productive organ. It continues throughout the above time to 

 enlarge, and to become more membranous, and more inflated. 

 But at the above mentioned time the apex of the seta meet- 

 ing with resistance, other means are resorted to, to ensure the 

 necessary degree of elongation, and this acts of course upon 

 the weakest place, which is the attachment of the female 

 organ. This is then ruptured, and the female organ is carried 

 more and more up as the seta lengthens, becoming the Calyp- 

 tra, or veil. 



After this the real base of the seta soon loses its original 

 connection with the calyptra, to which however it continues 

 closely applied. 



It is still, especially towards its base of a very lax texture. 

 The first change that I have observed consists in this part 

 becoming green, and this is evidently I think attributable to 

 the fact of its becoming excavated, or so to say, that its inter- 

 nal parts become softened down into a grumous greenish mass. 

 This charge however is not continued into its extreme base, 

 which is conical and transparent. The change is carried on 

 from above downwards, or rather continues increasing in the 

 direction of the growth of the seta, until at length it reaches 

 to a considerable distance. 



When the seta has reached some length, the strume is very 

 apparent, and beyond it the formation of the theca does not 

 extend. 



xVt this period, the greater part of its original base, now the 

 apex, is hollow, and occupied by a cellular body, the com- 

 mencement of the columella. As the theca commences to 



