C h a n tr a n s ia c om p a c ta . Ralfs. Ann. Nat. [list. 1851, p. 304.
P lan t minute, hemispherical, inky-green, firm ; filaments
much branched, joints twice as long as broad, branches ereoto-
patent.
S iz e . Not stated.
On aquatic plants.
“ I t forms very minnte hemispherical tnfts or fronds of a dark colour,
and very much resembles a Eivularia in appearance ; the fronds are so
firm as to require considerable pressure in order to separate the filaments
for microscopic examination. Filaments comparatively stout,
rigid, much branched at the base, horizontal and interlacing. Branches
crowded, ereoto-patent ; joints about twice as long as broad, but the
lower ones frequently shorter. Capsules orbicular, numerous, lateral,
arising from all parts of the plant, and usually on short stalks. Differs
from C. chalybea in its compact, firm habit ; more crowded branches,
shorter joints and more scattered capsules.”—Ralfs.
Probably this is C. pygmæa, but we have seen no specimen.
Family III.—BATRACHOSPERMBÆ.
Dioecious algæ. Thallus filamentous, articulate, branched,
violet, or violet-pnrple or bluish-green, covered with mucous ;
primary filament and branches composed of a single central
series of cells, and nnmerous external parallel continuous or interrupted
secondary series; either furnished with globosely or
subglobosely densely conglobate tufts, of equally distant verticillate
fascicles of branches, or everywhere densely covered with
simple or forked branches. Vegetation terminal.
Genus. 119. B A T R A C H O S F E R iaV ia . Roth. (1800.)
Thallus moniliform, composed of a simple series of medullary
cells, and a cortical accessory parallel series, clothed with subglobosely
clustered fascicles of branches, which latter are sometimes
more or less dispersed.
Professor Horatio Wood has abstracted so well what is known of the
reproductive process in the Batrachosperms that we cannot do better
than quote his observations in full; “ Frequently in well-advanced
Batrachosperms there will be seen scattered among the glomerules large
round, firm, dense balls, composed of a great number of small closely
attached cells. These are the reproductive bodies. According to Graf
zn Solms Laubach (“ Botanisohe Zeitung,” 18C7, p. 161), they are the
result of sexual reproduction, and are developed from ‘ antheridia ’ and
‘ trichogonia’ (female organs) in the following manner; —
“ The antheridia are small roundish cells full of a colourless protoplasm,
which is remarkable for the very numerous bright granules which
it contains. .They occur either scattered, or in groups, and are placed
upon the upper ends of peculiar ovate cells, also filled with a colourless
protoplasm. Most frequently there is a single antheridium to the basal
cell, sometimes two ; the latter number appears never to be exceeded.
When matured the antheridia open, and allow their contents to escape iu
the form of roundish or flattened bodies, which never, as far as known,
acquire oilia, and have, therefore, no power of spontaneous motion.
These bodies, which are believed to be spermatozoids, are unprovided
with anything like an external membrane, and are composed of protoplasm
identical with that in the antheridium. While these changes are
occurring, certain cells in other localities are being transformed into
female organs, to which the name of Trichogonia is applied. These are
borne upon cells similar to those supporting the antheridia. At first they
are not markedly different from the other cells, but soon undergo a very
rapid growth. This is not, however, regular, and is not partaken of by
a band of tissue about one-third way from the basal end, so that at last
a long somewhat flask-shaped cell is produced, with a very marked oontraotion
at the point indicated, separating it into two portions. ^ The
wall of this cell is thin, but very distinct, and the cavity is filled with a
homogeneous or very sparsely granular protoplasm, which is continuous
through the narrow neck-like portion. After a time there appear one or
more large irregular vacuoles, with actively moving corpuscles in
them, and at the same time the neck appears to be stopped with a slimy
substance. Careful examination with reagents shows that this is a cellulose,
and that it does not completely block the passage way through
the isthmus. At this time there appear lying upon the free end of the
trichogonia globular or flattened bodies, without external membrane,
corresponding in all respects with those already described as being produced
in the antheridia. The end of the triohogonium generally enlarges
at this periodpnto a sort of roundish knob, and by and bye the end wall
between this and one of these globules becomes absorbed, so that there
is a free oommunioatiou between the two. Whilst this is going on the
globule acquires a thin delicate coat, and th e re ; appears in it a vacuole
similar to those pre-existing in the trichogonium.
“ The first result of this impregnation of the trichogonium is the de.
posit of new cellulose, and the complete blocking up of the passage way
through the isthmus or narrowed portion. Already before the feonnda-
tion the upper cells of the branches supporting the trichogonia have produced
numerous branchlets, which, growing upwards, more or less completely
cover that organ. After impregnation the cells near to the
triohogonium beoome much larger and broader, their vacuoles disappear,
and are replaced by a dense granular dark greenish-brown protoplasm.
These cells now show a great activity in the production of numerous
branches in the nsnal way ; bnt it is the upper two alone which, with the
triohogonium that they support, are concerned in the formation of the
fruit glomerules. These put out all over their surface an immense number
of protrusions, which soon, in the ordinary way, beoome the parents
of as many twigs or branchlets, which, growing and branching precisely
as do the vegetative branches, soon become excessively crowded. The
base of the trichogonium participates also in the production of branches,
and at last a dense ball is formed of pseudo-parenchymatous tissue by
the forced adhesion of the crowded twigs. The central cells of the
glomerule thus formed are very large and bladder-like. The outer part
of the ball is composed of innumerable radiating rows of small cells, the
end cell of each branch being roundish so as to present a convex external
face.
“ At maturity these cells open and allow their contents to escape as
round masses, which appear to have no membrane, but begin at once to
grow and secrete cellulose. Their after history has not been made out