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A TEXTBOOK OF THEORETICAL BOTANY 



by from four to six valves. The spores with their accompanying elaters 

 are shed, and, due to the elevation of the sporogonium on the archegoniophore, 

 may possibly be better distributed than is the case in PeUia. The elaters 

 function like the annulus of a Fern sporangium (p. 491) by means of an 



Fig. 388. — Marchantia polymorpha. A, Female plant with archegoniophores in various 

 stages of development. B, Under surface of archegoniophore showing sporogonia 

 enclosed in involucres. C, Upper surface of archegoniophore showing arrangement 

 of lobes between which are the in\o]ucres. D, Young sporogonium enclosed in 

 archegonium between involucral flaps. E, Dehiscence of sporogonium. {From Kny.) 



