204 Woodworth . — The Apical Cell of Fucus. 
Rostafinski 1 also studied Fucus vesiculosus , and his results 
are the following. The vegetative point consists of a row of 
cells, ‘ Bildungszellen,’ each of which has- the form of a four- 
sided pyramid truncated at both ends. The sides of the 
pyramidal cells are slightly convex, and all of them are 
essentially of the same size, and are of equal value. The row 
of ‘ Bildungszellen 5 lies at the bottom of the terminal de- 
pression or pit, and is in the long axis of the same. The 
number of the cells varies according to age. By division in 
three directions these cells give rise to segments, which by 
secondary division are transformed into the different tissues of 
the plant. The segments are cut off alternately from the 
sides and base of the pyramidal cells. 
Rostafinski holds that bifurcation of the tip takes place 
when the central cells of the row of ‘Bildungszellen’ divide 
into segments, and ceasing to be ‘Bildungszellen’ by division 
and proliferation, force aside the two ends of the now divided 
row, each end becoming a secondary row, and hence a separate 
growing-point. 
From the above it is seen that the results of Reinke and 
Rostafinski are decidedly at variance. The two views agree 
in that the growing-point of Fucus consists not of a single 
cell, but of a group of cells. This is not in accordance with 
what is known of some other members of the group as shown 
by Kny and Valliante. 
Our New England coast offers a favourable field for the 
study of the genus Fucus , from the variety of the species, 
and their great abundance. Most of my work was done upon 
Fucus furcatus , A g., for the reason that my material of that 
species was better than any I obtained of other- species. The 
results obtained from F. furcatus were confirmed by sections 
of F. vesiculosus , L., and F. filiformis, Gmelin. 
The method used in the preparation of the material was 
the following. The fresh material was preserved in alcohol of 
about 70 per cent., and, after staining in various aniline dyes, 
1 J. Rostafinski, Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Tange. Leipzig, 1876. 
