92 ROMANCE OF LOW LIFE AMONGST PLANTS. 



together, and are not inflated. Each of these cells 

 produces, in time, within its interior, a rounded or 

 elongated body, which at maturity breaks through the 

 cell wall, and escapes into the surrounding water (Fig. 

 I5,rt'), endued with all the attributes of active life. In 

 this condition it is called an androspore, literally a male 

 spore, furnished with delicate cilia, or movable hairs, 

 at one end, by means of which it moves freely in the 

 water, seeking some place at which to come to rest (b). 



Fig. 15. — Growth of androspore. 



When the desired resting-place is found the free 

 androspore attaches itself by the fringed end, and 

 thenceforward becomes a fixed object. When this 

 is accomplished a further growth takes place, as it 

 acquires a flask-like shape, attenuated downwards 

 into a more or less elongated stem {c), and the extreme 

 apex narrowed into a mouth, or opening, closed by 

 a deciduous lid. The androspore becomes converted 

 into a little male plant, or dwarf male, attached by 

 its base to some portion of the original thread (d), and 

 containing within itself certain fertilizing elements, 

 the spermatozoids, which escape, when mature, at 

 the apex, by the falling away of the lid, in order to 

 fertilize the oospore, contained in the above-named 



