the Cystocarp in Rhodymeniales. 357 
yet invariably a small mass of granular matter remains over 
in the carpogonium lying near the origin of the trichogyne. 
This conjugation effected, the auxiliary cell forthwith grows 
luxuriantly into gonimoblast-filaments, made up of several 
gonimolobes. As this growth proceeds, the cells immediately 
above and below the auxiliary cell become fused with it. 
The pits widen out until the limits of the separate cells 
become indistinguishable. This fusion does not however 
extend beyond the basal cell below. 
There is clearly great similarity between the process here 
described and that occurring in the Rhodomelaceae. In 
both cases, the mother-cell of the carpogonial branch is the 
proximal cell of a peripheral row, the carpogonial branch 
is 4-celled, the auxiliary cell is cut off from the basal cell 
above, and the basal cell gives rise to other sterile derivatives. 
In short, if the favella of Antithamnion , together with the 
basal cell and its sterile derivatives, were all included in 
a common pericarp derived from the axis, the condition of 
things in most Rhodomelaceae would be reached. 
It would seem therefore that the Rhodomelaceae are a highly 
specialized family, whose ancestry is to be sought among the 
simpler Cerami aceae. 
Griffithsia corallina, C. a g., and Griffitiista 
SETACEA, C. Ag. 
The procarps of Griffithsia corallina have been described 
by Naegeli (’ 47 ), and more fully by Janczewski (’ 76 ). The 
fertile branches consist of three axial cells : the lowest of 
these gives rise to the whorled involucre ; the second also 
gives rise to a circlet of three branches, one 1 -celled, and two 
2-celled ; whilst the third remains without further development. 
The proximal cell of each of the 2-celled branches arising from 
the second axial cell generates laterally a 4-celled carpogonial 
branch, of much the same appearance as in Antithamnion (VL 
XVIII, Fig. 13). Fertilization having taken place, an auxiliary 
cell is cut off the basal cell above, with which the carpogonium 
