placed close to the capsules, which have been termed anther,
ñora the analogy which they present to the anthers of Phanerogamic
plants in situation, and, as some even consider, in
. function.
The nature of the large oval or spherical bodies, one of
which is contained in each capsule invested with its proper
membrane or membranes, does not seem to be satisfactorily
determined. Vaucher states in his “ HIstoIre,” that he has
traced their growth and developement into perfect p lan ts; but
the observation does not appear to have been placed beyond
question by the additional testimony of other witnesses.
With respect to what Vaucher terms the horn, from its
curved appearance, although he would seem to have entertained
b ut little doubt that it really performed the office which he
assigned to it, viz., that of an anther, nevertheless, he was
unable to bring forward any direct proof tha t it did so ; and
this he appears himself to have acknowledged and regretted,
as will be seen from the following passage:—“ Nevertheless,
I am not sufficiently certain of the functions to which the
horn which accompanies the seeds is applied. I t is in tru th
constantly placed in the neighbourhood of the grains, and it
is seen, especially in Vaucheria (Ectosperma Vauch.) ovoidea
to shed its powder; tha t is incontestable; still I have
always desired some direct evidence which should convince
me of the use of this horn.”
That the horn has an office to fulfil in relation to the spores
or sporangia, none can doubt who consider its almost constant
presence, the situation which it occupies with reference
to them, the shedding of its granular contents, and the
subsequent changes which it undergoes indicative of its
having performed the duty allotted to it. W^hat the exact
nature of this duty is, cannot as yet be determined, although
every additional observation which has been made tends to
strengthen and confirm the view of its function adopted by
Vaucher, viz. th a t it is the organ by Avhich fertilization is
effected. The tru th of this statement will be evident from
the following remarks: —
In page 17. of Vaucher’s “ Histoire des Conferves d’Eau
douce,” the following observations occur. Alluding to the
horns, Vaucher observes — “ A t first they*are straight and
opaque, and consequently contain the green fecundating
matter; gradually they incline towards the grain, and surround
it, so that they rest upon it to shed their powder. When
the seed is separated, they are empty, and assume a spiral
form; and what confirms me still more in the opinion, tha t
the horns fulfil the functions of stamina is, that all the Ec-
tosperms which are provided with them have no other enlargement,
and that, on the contrary, those which have other
enlargements are altogether destitute of the horns.”
I f the horns approach the seeds in some cases, the converse
is true in o th e rs; and the propriety of this will be
evident when we consider the position of the horns with
reference to the grains or germs in some species. In Vaucheria
geminata, the germs which are furnished with peduncles
approach the horns, in contact with which they
remain for some hours, and then gradually they raise themselves
from it, and the peduncles which support them curve
backwards away from the horns. This gradual approach of
the grains to the horns, and their subsequent retraction from
them, strengthen the conclusion that this organ is necessary
to the grains. F o r Vaucher’s assertion to be correct, tha t the
horns approach the grains in the case where there is hut one
anther, situated midway between two spores, it would first
have to tu rn towards and reach the one spore, and then act
in like manner towards the oth e r; the improbability of which
is self-evident; but, on the other hand, how simply are the
germs brought within the influence of the horn by their approach
to it on each side.
The “ other enlargements ” in which the horns are absent,
referred to by Vaucher, I presume to be terminal enlargements
of the threads, as in Vaucheria clavata, and which are
altogether of a different nature from the capsular bodies described.
Oval inflations of the filaments do also occur occasionally
: the presence of these, however, is by no means
constant, and they do not seem to be in any way connected
with reproduction.