Abstract

This is one of the series of studies on the germination of spores and the cultivation of gemmae of bryophytes. The purpose of such studies is to investigate the possible phylogenetic relations among Hepaticae by comparing their early stages of development either through the germination of spores or the cultivation of their gemmae. All experiments described in this paper have been conducted in a controlled laboratory from the spring of 1966 to summer of 1967. Previous studies on the germination of spores and cultivation of gemmae include: On Spore Germination of Schifjneria virides Steph.(24), The Ontogeny of the Gemmae of HyoPhila Tortula(22) and The Geographical Distribution and Growth Habits of Haplomitrium(23). This paper reports the results of the investigation on the germination of spores and gemmae development on four Hepaticae, namely Riccardia multifida, Dumorteria hirsuta, Xenochila integrifolia and Marchantia polymorpha.