68 



Veit Brecher Wittrock. 



reversedly egg-like shape with an abrupt base (pi. 1, fig. 18 st), or they are formed 

 without any swelling (or with an almost imperceptible one) of the mother cell, and 

 have then the shape of a cone with a somewhat rounded point (pi. 1, fig. 18 stc). 

 The inclosed spores are of three kinds; either they have the common cask-shape, 

 or they are cylindrical, or they have an irregular form. The cask-shaped spores 

 are most frequent in the branches of the l:st degree, but rare in those of the 2:d 

 (pi. 1, fig. 18). In the branches of the 3:rd degree and in the principal filament I 

 have never found spores of this shape. Spores of a cylindrical form are more rare; 

 they occur only in branches of the l:st and 2:d degree, and in the rhizo'id. The 

 spores of an irregular shape (pi. 1, fig. 18 si) belong to the principal filament; 

 they are very rare in the branches of the list degree (pi. 1, fig. 18 si'). Twin 

 spores are sometimes found, terminal as well as inclosed in the branches. Generally 

 the lower of the twin spores is smaller than the upper, and cylindrical, whilst the 

 upper is swollen (pi. 1, fig. 19); but sometimes both are of about the same size, 

 and swollen (pi. 1, fig." 20). — Among all the specimens that I have had opportunity 

 to observe, I have found but one (represented pi. 1, *fig. 18) which has been so 

 complete as to have the oldest part remaining, brought forth immediately by the 

 germinating spore. This specimen does not show a distinct rhizo'id, diametrically 

 opposed to the cauloi'd. The spore has, in germinating, only grown somewhat 

 pointed downwards. But it has, on one of its sides, developed a branch, which has 

 at a later period ramified and taken its most considerable growth in a downward 

 direction (pi. 1, fig- 18 rh), showing thus an evident relationship to a normal 

 rhizo'id part. 



Sterile specimens. Of these I have seen only one, and that one was 

 not quite entire. As to ramification and dimensions it resembled the strongest 

 developed fertile ones. Besides three and three, the branches were also found four 

 and four in a whorl on the principal filament. 



Measurements. Fertile specimens. Caulo'id part. The vegetative cells 

 of the principal filament are midways on an av. 165 fi thick. Most frequently they 

 are narrower in their lower end and grow thicker upwards. The smallest diameter 

 I have found is 135 n, and the greatest 190 /x. The vegetative cells of the branches 

 of the list degree are on an av. Ill f.i thick; the limits of variation are 90 and 

 140 fx. The branches of the 2:d degree vary in thickness between 90 and 100 [x, 

 those of the 3:rd degree between 80 and 90 /x. The length of the vegetative cells 

 is not very considerable in this species, generally 6 — 11 times as great as the 

 thickness. Longer cells are rare, but shorter, on the contrary, more frequent. Parti- 

 cularly the top cells and the cells just below the top spores are not seldom so 

 short as to be only twice or thrice as long as thick. The swollen top spores are 

 on an av. 150 fx thick and 212 /x long. The limits of variation are J|* and fx. 

 The sizes between are for instance *£■ Jf° *™ *j>° ^ Those top spores that are not 

 swollen are considerably more slender, but at the same time somewhat longer; on 

 an av. 88 /x thick and 246 /i long. They vary between f - J* J* j«J /x. The inclosed 

 cask-shaped spores are on on an av. ||| \i. The limits of variation are indicated 

 by the following: x \ *j® \™ ™\ f.i. The inclosed cylindrical spores are on an av. 

 fx. The limits of variation lie between * h - f and \f 5 fx. The irregularly shaped 



