53 



filament of cells, the terminal one of which, grows 

 large and fills with mucilage. This absorbs watery 

 vapour and gives it up to the Antheridia which are 

 thus well supplied with water. 



2. The Archegonia. These are the female organs 

 and like the Antheridia are produced at the apex of 

 the stem and are surrounded by protective {Perigonial) 

 leaves. The archegonia are stalked flask-shaped 

 bodies with a thickened ventral portion and a very long 

 neoh. The ovum, ventral canal cell, and nech canal cell 

 are similar to those developed in Liverworts, and 

 fertilization is efi'ected in the same way. 



3. Results of Fertilization. (The development 

 of a Sporophyte Generation.) 



(1) The fertilized ovum secretes a cell wall and 

 divides into two by a wall at right angles to 

 the long axis of the archegoniuoi. 



(2) The lower cell grows rapidly and forms a 

 penetrating organ which grows down and then 

 turns up like a crotchet hook. This absorbs 

 nourishment from the moss plant, but is not 

 organically connected with it. 



(3) The top cell forms a spindle-shaped body which 

 consists of a very long stalk or Seta, and a cap- 

 sule or Theca in which the Spores are devel- 

 oped. The capsule and stalk are together 

 spoken of as the Sporogoniuni, 



The arc hegonium keeps pace for some time stead- 

 ily enlarging to accommodate the sporogonium, but 



