INTRODUCTION 



Metzgeriopsis, and the juvenile form continues as the vegetative body of 

 the plant possessing independent propagative organs in the form of gemmae, 

 which are probably more important for the spread of the plant than are 



FlG. 87. Ephemerum serratum. Protonetna with seven 

 (male and female) plants. The large female plant to the 

 left of the figure (it overlaps the male ones standing 

 beside it) has produced a sporogonium which is nearly 

 ripe. In the middle are three leafy plants in a cluster; this 

 is uncommon, they are usually in pairs. 



FlG. 88. Ephemerum serratum. Portion of thread 

 of protonema with two young plants. Three anthe- 

 ridia are visible in the plant to the left, and one 

 archegonium in the plant to the right. The first 

 leaf of the female plant is seen turned to the front 

 and consists of one row of cells. More highly 

 magnified than Fig. 87. 



the spores. Amongst the Musci we find in the genus Ephemerum features 

 of a similar kind (see Figs. 87 and 88). The thread-like protonema which 



<fe 



. 89. Funaria hygrometrica. Germination of the spore. A beginning of the germination, ex exine. B pro- 

 a with two young moss-buds /&, one of which has sent out a 'root' r\ s spore. After Muller-Thurg u. 



FlG 



tonema wit two young 

 Magnified. Lehrb. 



usually appears in the group (Fig. 89) only as a juvenile form persists, and 

 far surpasses in development the leafy shoots, and these are merely bearers 

 of the sexual organs. In both these cases the long duration of the juvenile 



L 2 



