188

CYSTOSl'EKME/E.

pyriform is, apice regulariter vel irregulariter deliiscens, etsporas cmittens. Sporte globosaa, hyalinse, massa grumoso-submucilaginosa infarct®, utriculos implentes.

“II. mirabilis .—Filis inequalibus viridibus brevibus, septissemi-pellucidis; sporis e capsulis emissis ad fasciculos con-junct is ; utriculis cylindricis diametro dupli-triplo longioribus,hinc inde ad globulos tumescentibus, qui, secreti ab aliisutriculis, ut animalcula infusoria, se movent et, rumpenteseorum membrana, sporas emittunt.”

For the following translation of Meyen’s remarks uponthe above species I am indebted to Mr. Kippist, to whom Imay take this opportunity of rendering my best thanks forthe kindness and readiness with which that gentleman hasalways undertaken whatever could facilitate the progress ofthis work : •—-

“ This plant is found in a water-tank of one of the warmesthouses of the botanic garden at Bonn . I first observed itin the beginning of January of the present year (1827). Itwas at that time already in fruit, and during a period ofthree and a half months, during which I have observed it, ithas continued quite in the same condition in which I at firstfound it.

“ It is a constant character of this Conferva, that the fruitcapsule appears at that end of the filament by which it is at-tached to the side wall of the water-tank, and from the greatmass of spores scattered by the capsule, all the Conferva:which spring up at the same spot grow together into such aheap that their basis appears of an almost uniform black,from which the Conferva project in a radiating manner. Ihave not yet succeeded in determining whether the threadshave first attached themselves to the wall of the tank, afterthe formation of the capsule, or whether the last joint, bywhich they, as it were, take root on the wall, may havegradually assumed the form of a pear-shaped capsule, withan extended neck. Even if in this latter case the explanationof the structure of the capsule should present further diffi-culties, I might still be able to explain them. I have butvery seldom been able to observe the streaming out from the