Studies on the Formation of the Protonemata of Tetraphis pellucida

Abstract

The development of protonemata and the formation of the leafy shoot of Tetraphis pellucida were investigated.
The protonemata of this species consist of four elements i. e., the chloronemal and the caulonemal filaments with many branches, the spathulate thallose protonema composed of a single layer of cells, and the rhizoids.
As to the formation of the thallose protonema two patterns were recognized: one was the formation directly from a terminal cell of the chloronemal branch and the other from a cell of the basal part of the young leafy shoot.
In many cases, the second and the tertiary thallose protonemata were successively differentiated from the basal part of the primary one.
As to the formation of the initial cell of the leafy shoot two patterns were recognized: one was the formation from a basal cell of the thallose protonema and the other from a cell of the caulonema without the agency of the thallose protonema.
Three to four leafy shoots were successively produced from one leafy shoot.