igo 



MOSSES AND FERNS 



CHAP. 



As the antheridium ripens, these gradually assume a bright 

 orange -red colour. The development of the stalk varies in 

 different cases. Sometimes it consists of a row of several 

 cells, sometimes the antheridium is almost sessile. The 



Fig. 91. — Futiaria hygrometrica (Sibth.). A, Antheridium that has just discharged the mass of 

 sperm cells (B), X300; C, spermatozoids, X1300; D, paraphj'sis, X300; E, male "flower" of 

 Atrichuvi iindulatujn, X6 



lowermost segments of the apical cell help to form the upper 

 part of the stalk, and sometimes the two lowest seem to 

 take no part in the formation of the sperm cells. There is no 

 absolute uniformity in the cell divisions of the stalk, which 



