266 



NATURE OF MOSSES 



of the archegonium before the spores are mature. This is a 

 radical departure from the other liverworts in the mode of de- 

 velopment of the sporophyte and we will see essentially the same 



Fig. .199. 



Fig. 200. 



Fig. 199. Section of a young sporophyte of Anthoceros emerging from 

 the involucre-like outgrowth of the thallus — sp, dome-shaped spore form- 

 ing layer of cells; ch, chlorenchyme with stomata; b, foot or absorhing 

 region; c, region of growth. At right surface view of stoma. 



Fig. 200. A common moss, Funaria: A, two plants with root-like rhi- 

 zoids at base and radially arranged leaves. Rising above the leaves are 

 the stalks or setae and capsules of two sporophytes. B, magnified view of 

 a plant, showing the early appearance of the sporophyte as a delicate stalk 

 Still covered by the enlarging archegonium or calyptra. C, a plant bearing 

 antheridia in a rosette of leaves at apex of stem. D, enlarged view of the 

 upper portion of the sporophyte, showing the twisting of the stalk that 

 assists in sifting the spores through the fringe of teeth, peristome, that 

 encircle the mouth of the capsule. 



manner of growth occurring in the mosses. As the sporophyte 

 develops, the spores in the upper part of it mature and the sporo- 



