AZOLLA AND SALVINIA. 



541 



not inconsiderable a distance. Of this apparent insufficiency 

 Azolla has a considerable a distance. Of this apparent in- 

 sufficiency Azolla has a considerable share ; yet the access of 

 the grains to the inside of the ovulutn appears certain. 



Difficulties however are at present offered by both genera. 

 In Salvinia there are three kinds of bodies, which might be 

 assumed to be the male organs : one found on the stulk of 

 the ovula, the second on the capsules, the third on the roots. 



Of these the second kind (PI. CXIX. Fig. I. ,3.) appear- 

 ed precisely like the moniliform filaments of Azolla, but was 

 only observed once, and on a somewhat advanced capsule. 

 The second kind was observed constantly and in plenty. They 

 vary somewhat, some the male organs of Hedwig. (Theoy. 

 Gen. et fruct. Plant. Crypt. PI. 105. t. 8. f. 2, 3.) hav- 

 ing rather long joints containing granules ; others near- 

 est the ovulum (PI. CXIX. f. VI.) having shorter joints, 

 each containing a nucleus immersed in a brownish fluid. 

 Those on the roots, are also constant and in plenty : they 

 resemble those on the stalk of the ovulum, figured by Hed- 

 wig. The granular contents are first developed in the ter- 

 minal cell, and thence downwards each joint becoming at 

 length quite crammed with granules, some of which are often 

 of a large size. They then lose more or less of their previous- 

 ly very active motion. These radicular filaments have the 

 same reference to those containing granules found on the 

 stalk of the ovulum, that the radicles themselves have to 

 the brown hairs of the same part and the capsule. 



But it is from the assumed action of those containing a 

 nucleus and brown matter, that the appearance of the matter 

 found adhering to the previously clean foramen, (and which 

 looks like the fecundating matter of Musci and Hepaticae) 

 will be perhaps best explained. 



I should not however, omit remarking that in such sub- 

 merged parts of a plant, as these of Salvinia, deceptions might 

 arise from the adhesion of foreign matter to a greater degree 

 than would be likely to occur in many Musci and Hepaticae. 



