J. BURTON ON THE REPRODUCTION OF MOSSES AND FERNS. 3 



means the " egg-plant," and indicates the sexual character of the 

 organs present. The male and female flowers, as we may almost 

 call them, are usually situated upon different plants. In the male 

 the top of the stem is in most cases considerably broadened out, 

 resembling what is known as a receptacle in an ordinary flower. 

 This is surrounded by a rosette of leaves, and on it are found a 

 number of club-like bodies called " antheridia," attached by short 

 stalks. Amongst them are some peculiar bodies known as 

 " paraphyses," whose use is not quite certain, and also some more 

 or less modified leaves ; but the antheridia are the essential parts 

 of the structure. They have a wall one cell thick, and on maturity 

 are entirely filled with cells, called " sperm-cells," each containing a 

 coiled spermatozoid, these being the immediate fertilising agents. 

 When ripe and in the presence of water, the antheridia open at 

 the apex. I think the paraphyses absorb water, and, swelling, 

 cause pressure to assist this operation. The sperm-cells come out, 

 and in a few moments the thin cell-walls are dissolved. The 

 spermatozoids are thus set free, and progress through the water 

 by the help of two long flagella. The male flowers are not at all 

 difficult to find in a tuft of the very common moss Funaria, and 

 are especially large and easily seen in Polytrkhum, the aid of a 

 magnifier being unnecessary. The female plants are not so easily 

 distinguished. The archegonia are found, usually several together, 

 at the top of the stem, which is but slightly broadened, and they 

 are surrounded by leaves forming a kind of bud. Thev are flask- 

 shaped bodies, with a long tubular neck, and in the lower swollen 

 part is situated the germ-cell or oosphere. Above this, running 

 through the neck, is a line of cells which in the ripe organ 

 become gelatinous in the presence of water, and emerge by 

 forcing open the top of the receptacle. Any spermatozoids that 

 may be near are attracted by this mucilage, it having been 

 proved that the actual attractive substance is cane sugar. The 

 motile spermatozoids swarm down the canal in the neck of the 

 receptacle until one of them arrives at the germ-cell. A union 

 between the male and female element then takes place, this 

 constituting the process of fertilisation. The germ-cell is now 

 practically a seed, and did it belong to an ordinary flowering 

 plant it would mature, ripen, fall off, and germinate in due 

 course. But, in the mosses, germination begins at once, and 

 moreover, it takes place within the archegonium. The embryo 

 plant, for such it really is, elongates and becomes spindle-shaped. 

 The lower part penetrates the tissue of the stem of the parent 



