Leafy Mosses 



ARCHEGONIA 



An archegonium is produced by a multiplication of cells which 

 form a flask-shaped body. The lower or swollen part of the 



flask contains an 

 egg-cell (ovum) 

 and the upper 

 portion is drawn 

 out to form the 

 vein neck which in 



t he early stages 

 . ri , , ...f 

 is filled with a 



layer of cells. 

 Later the chain of 

 cells becomes 

 a mucilaginous 

 jelly, w h 

 swelling with 

 water, bursts 

 openthelidofthe 

 neck, and lying 

 on the summit 

 arrests the sperm 

 cells which pass 



that way in the water, and directs their course down the neck 

 of the flask to the egg-cell (ovum) with which they are to blend. 



>-. htcx 



....Wall. 



Bryum binum. Vertical section of stem. 



Sections of archegonia. Sphagnum cuspidatum. 



47 



