504 MARSILEACE.E. 



If this view be sound. Filices, Marsileaceae, and Salviniaceae 

 have no male organs. Musci and Hepaticae, on the con- 

 trary have them, as every one knows. And thus, these 

 latter orders are, except in the organs of vegetation much 

 more developed than the rest. The fact that in these, im- 

 pregnation is effected to produce the organs which again pro- 

 duce the sporula, is quite sufficient to shew that impregnation 

 is not absolutely necessary in all. 



I see nothing like attachment by fours, or any other num- 

 ber. 



From the analogous instance of Chara, if the body be re- 

 productive it will produce only one plant. 



MA RSI LEA, PI. CXIV. 



Fig. a. Represents three parent cells imbeded in the 

 formative mass, which has commenced being divided into cells, 

 these cells form at a more advanced period, the mucilaginous 

 hyaline tunics. 



9. 1. Capsule. 



2. Sporula, mucilaginous tunic dissolved. At this period 

 all the parent cells have become divided, although the com- 

 ponent parts remain approximated in some. 



3. Sporula with mucilaginous tunics. 



4. Sporula burst by pressure ; mature. 

 a\ Represents a theca. 



b\ Male body. 



y. Young state of theca, mucilaginous or rather grumous 

 formative mass, with some parent cells, with indications of 

 ternary division. 



c. Female organs. 



d. Young theca. 



e. Section of involucre through its small diameter. 

 /. Portion of septum. 



g. Long section of involucre. 



h. Nearly mature involucre. 



