CHARALES 



III 



brilliant orange contents. The uppermost discoid basal cell pro- 

 trudes somewhat into the hollow structure formed as described 

 above. The middle segment of each primary diagonal cell now 

 develops into a rod-shaped structure, the manubrium, which bears 

 at its distal end one or more small cells, the capitula ; every one of 



0^ 



Fig. 76. Charales. A, B, stages in development of antheridium of Chara. 

 1-3, segments and cells to which they give rise. C, section of almost mature 

 antheridium of Nitella flexilis. 6 = flask cell, c = extra basal cell. D, C. tomentosa, 

 single plate with manubrium and spermatogenous threads. E, C tomentosa, apex 

 of manubrium with spermatogenous threads. a = priman,- head cell, 6 = secon- 

 dary- head cell. F-I, C. foetida, stages in formation of antherozoids in sperma- 

 togenous threads. J, mature antherozoid. (A, B, after Goebel; C-E, J, after 

 Grove; F-I, after Fritsch.) 



these produces six secondary capitula from each of which arises a 

 forked spermatogenous thread containing 100-200 cells. These 

 antheridial cells each produce one antherozoid, an elongate body 

 with two flagellae situated just behind the apex. The complete 

 structure has been regarded as one antheridium, whilst another 

 view regards the octants as laterals, the manubrium as an internode, 



