GERMINATION OF SPORES OF CONOCEPHALUM CONICUM 463 
development of chlorophyll and of starch, followed by a second series of 
cell divisions until each sporeling has developed into a nearly spherical 
mass of from thirty to forty cells. 
5. A short time before the cell divisions are complete the stalks of the 
carpocephala begin to lengthen, and during four or five days after the 
sporelings have matured, these stalks elongate rapidly until they attain a 
height of five or six centimeters. 
6. Simultaneous with the rapid elongation of the stalks is a lengthening 
of the setae of the sporophytes by means of which the capsule is thrust 
through the calyptra and the enveloping sheath. The capsule wall is then 
ruptured and the sporelings and elaters are dispersed. 
7. The sporelings are on the whole rather short-lived, though some are 
capable of developing thalli after being dried for as long as thirty-six days. 
8. The sporelings collected in the late fall develop subsequent to their 
being sown even though there are no stalk elongation, no spore dispersal, 
and no cell divisions previous to the sowing after those which occurred 
under natural conditions. 
9. The stalks of the carpocephala, which normally begin elongation 
after a series of spring divisions in the cells of the sporelings, elongate 
before such divisions occur if the plants are brought indoors. 
10. The number of cells in a naturally developed sporeling before dis- 
persal is from thirty to forty, while the number of cells in the sporeling 
which has been subjected to artificial conditions is from five to twelve 
according as these conditions more or less closely approach the natural ones. 
11. The number of primary rhizoids produced by a normal sporeling 
ranges from three to five, while the number from the sporeling placed under 
artificial conditions is never more than two, most often only one, and in 
some cases no primary rhizoid is produced. The number of secondary 
rhizoids from the thalli developed from sporelings subjected to artificial 
conditions is also relatively few as compared with the number developed 
from the thalli of naturally developed sporelings. 
I wish to express my sincere thanks to Professor C. E. Allen who directed 
the writing of this paper, for his many helpful suggestions and criticisms, 
and to Dr. W. N. Steil who suggested the work, for his encouragement and 
assistance during its progress. 
Saint Clara College, 
SiNsiNAWA, Wisconsin 
LITERATURE CITED 
1. Bolleter, E. Fegatella conica (L.) Corda, Eine morphologisch-physiologische Mono- 
graphic. Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 18: 325-408. Pis. 12, 13. 1905. 
2. Cavers, F. On the structure and biology of Fegatella conica. Annals of Botany 18: 
87-120. Pis. 6, 7. 1903. 
3. Farmer, J. B. Spore formation and nuclear division in the Hepaticae. Annals of 
Botany 9: 469-523. Pis, 16-18. 1895. 
