534 



MARSILEACEiE. 



means of grume ; occassional ly traces of radiating lines have 

 been visible. The triliueal mark has mostly appeared to cor- 

 respond with the attaching mass of grume. 



The sac continuing to increase soon occupies the greater 

 part of the cavity of the secondary capsule ; it assumes a yel- 

 lowish colour ; generally it appears to be freely pendulous, . 

 but sometimes traces of radiating lines remain to a latish pe- 

 riod. 



About the same period I have pretty constantly observed a 

 mammiliform process in the cavity of the sac, corresponding 

 to the trifacial line (PI. CXXVIII. Fig. II., 17.) ; it has a 

 mucilaginous appearance and gradually passes off into a thin 

 layer apparently applied over the whole surface of the cavity 

 of the sac. About this period also, the outer surface of this 

 sac will be found studded with granules, by the increasing 

 deposit of which it becomes at length enclosed in an incrus- 

 tation. This increases hi thickness, presents subsequently 

 three lobes at the apex, in the centre of which is an attaching ? 

 process of the sac (PI CXXIII Fig lll.,c?, b.) Its next and 

 last change is to assume a cellular appearance and harder con- 

 sistency. The cavity of the sac also generally presents appear- 

 ances of cellularity, the cells seeming to be very irregular in 

 size, and I believe having some connection, at least at first, 

 with the mammilla above-mentioned (PI. CXXVI1. Fig. II. ,3. 

 The contents of the sac, however though seemingly so cellu- 

 lar, are scarcely appreciable ; grume only of excessive tenuity 

 escaping under pressure. Soon after this, the yellow sac 

 which has increased in yellowness and thickness, presents a 

 viscid granular matter, not in my opinion organised. 



The mature secondary capsule, which is attached to a free 

 central receptacle by means of a short, stout, compound stalk 

 (PI. CXXIII. Fig. III.,c.)* presents a cellular papillose surface 

 of a brown colour, becoming hyaline in water ; the component 



* The assumption that the more numerous pedicelled capsules are de- 

 rived from the development of every cell of the surface of the nucleus, 

 while the fewer oblong ones are derived from the development of several 

 cells of the same surface, will explain the difference of their stalks. 



