) 
526 LIFE-HISTORIES 
by decay of the older part. Male gametangia (F’) are borne on the 
side of special branches which may be recognized as having their 
leaves more crowded and often reddish (A and EF). The numerous 
male gametes (K) are more elongated and more spiral than those 
of Marchantia, but are otherwise similar. Archegonia are produced 
at the tip of short branches surrounded by comparatively large 
leaves (Fig. 349, A). After the female gamete has been fertilized, 
the axis of the branch elongates into a stalk bearing at its tip the 
enlarging sporophyte enveloped in the calyptra (B, C). The sporo- 
phyte is differentiated into a short, thick foot (sg’) and a capsule in 
which there is a central mass of large air-filled cells surmounted by 
Fig. 350.—Cord-moss (Funaria hygrometrica, Cord-moss Family, Funaria- 
cee). A, germinating spore (442) showing a sap-filled cavity or vacuole 
(v) a pseudo-root (w, w), and the old outer spore-wall (s). B, further 
development of the thread (protonema) which comes from the spore, 
showing the main thread (h) and side branches from one of which (6) 
is growing a bud (K) destined to form a pseudo-stem and pseudo- 
leaves, and already sending out a pseudo-root (w), 72. (Sachs.) 
a hollow dome-like mass of spores, and the whole inclosed in a firm 
wall of small, hardened cells. A horizontal ring of these becomes 
finally so brittle as to render the top of the capsule separable like a 
lid (C,d). As the capsule enlarges, the calyptra (c) is ruptured, and . 
as the spore-case dries its form changes perceptibly from spherical 
— to subcylindrical but without elongation. The result is that the 
inner air-filled cells below the spore-mass are so much compressed, 
that a degree of tension is soon reached sufficient to blow off the 
lid with a perceptible report and scatter the spores to a distance of 
several inches. Elaters are thus unnecessary. 
In Funaria (Figs. 350-356) the spores when germinating (Fig. 350) 
produce a much-branched thread which makes a bright green, felt- 
like layer on moist earth. From this thread at many places arise 
directly vertical pseudo-shoots each consisting of an axis bearing 
