On the formation of the caulonema of Hedwigia ciliata

Abstract

  Development of the protonemata of Hedwigia ciliata was studied. The protonemata of this species consist of three elements, i. e. the massive protonema, the caulonemal filament and the rhizoidal filament. Only one unbranched caulonema was formed from a cell of the massive protonema. It consists of 13-15 cells in length, and each cell contains a few spindle-shaped chloroplasts. The formation of the initial cell of the leafy shoot may be classified into two types: one is formed from a cell of massive protonema, the other from a cell of the caulonemal filament. Frequently the initial cell of the leafy shoot was formed from a terminal cell of the caulonemal filament.