9 8 
Humphrey . — The Development of 
Strasburger 1 for Pellia calycina. However, owing to the extreme minute- 
ness of the organ in question, it is not impossible that the blepharoplast of 
Fossombronia grows out into a hook-like process as in Pellia. The cilia, 
in nearly all cases where they could be seen, were closely applied to the cell- 
membrane, and this position they retain throughout development. 
As the body of the spermatozoid elongates, the chromatin of the 
nucleus appears to condense, and ultimately conceals the nucleolus (Fig. 31, 
PI. V), which up to this time has been more or less apparent. This 
condensation is followed by an elongation of the nuclear chromatin, which 
seems to connect with the chromatic substance of the elongated ‘Neben- 
korper.’ The spermatozoid when mature shows about one and a half 
complete turns of a spiral. The two cilia are relatively about as long as 
those in other Jungermanniaceae, and in the coiled mass of the spermatozoid 
are closely applied to the body. 
In Marchantia polymorpha Ikeno describes an abnormal division 
of the spermatid into two rounded cells, each of which later becomes 
a spermatozoid. The division is amitotic, resulting in two ‘ Nebenkorper ’ ; 
and a little later the £ Zentrosom ’ divides, followed by division of the 
nucleus. Nothing of this nature was observed to occur in Fossombrottia. 
Ikeno 2 , along with Hirase 3 , Belajeff 4 , and a few other investigators, holds 
the view that a genetic relation exists between the centrosome and 
blepharoplast, as opposed to the view of Webber 5 , Strasburger 6 , Mottier 7 , 
Shaw 8 , and others, who see no good reason why one should be con- 
sidered homologous with the other. Mottier is of the opinion that the 
radiations of the blepharoplast primordium, described by some authors, 
is the only evidence they can produce in support of such an homology. 
According to Ikeno, the ‘ Zentrosom ’ appears constantly throughout 
the mitosis of the spermatogenous tissue of Marchantia , while Shaw and 
Belajeff describe the blepharoplast as first appearing in the ‘grandmother ’ 
cells. In Fossombronia these, if they previously exist, are not evident 
until after the completion of division of the spermatid mother-cell, at 
which time they are easily made out lying in the cytoplasm not far from 
the nucleus. Bearing this in mind it is difficult to understand why, when 
employing exactly the same methods, these blepharoplasts, if present, 
did not appear during the divisions prior to the formation of the spermatid 
cells. Mottier, judging from evidence at hand, holds the opinion that 
the blepharoplast arises in the cytoplasm de novo , and the writer’s studies 
regarding Fossombf'onia seem to support this view. 
In so far as the preparations show, the £ Nebenkorper’ in Fossombronia 
1 loc. cit. , pp. 128-9. 2 loc. cit., p. 77. 3 Hirase (’98), vol. xii, pt. 2. 
4 Belajeff (’99), Bd. xvii. 5 Webber (’01), p. 77. 
6 loc. cit. 7 Mottier (’04), p. 47 ; loc. cit., p. 49. 
8 Shaw (’98). 
