318 



THE YOUNG SPOROPHYTE 



food in the prothallium, the root next the ground which it reaches 

 at once, the leaf easily reaches the light since the root has already 

 ruptured the calyptra, and since the leaf is near the margin of 



Fig. 230. Germination of the gametospore: A, section of archegonium 

 after fertilization, showing the four-celled stage of the germinating gameto- 

 spore. The cell r by repeated division forms the first root, c forms the first 

 leaf, s forms the stem and/ the foot; x, apical cell of prothallium. B, later 

 stage. The young sporophyte rupturing the archegonium or calyptra, 

 lettering as in A. 



the prothallium, and finally the stem is in a position of advantage 

 (Fig. 230, B) for growing straight up or horizontally. The young 



Fig. 231. Older sporophyte that has developed two roots, r, and is un- 

 folding the second leaf, /, but still attached to the withering gametophyte 

 or prothallium, p; rh, rhizoids. 



