TYPES OF CRYPTOGAMS; PTERIDOPHYTES 295 
and note the effect. Also note the effect of drying. How does this 
affect the spores? Use of the bands? 
365. Germination of Spores. — The spores germinate while fresh 
and form prothallia corresponding to those of ferns, but generally 
dicecious. The prothallium which bears the antheridia remains 
comparatively small, and the antheridia are somewhat sunken. The 
others grow much larger and branch profusely. 
The terminal portion becomes erect and ruffled. 
Near this part the archegonia are formed, quite 
similar to those of ferns. The embryo plant 
developing from the germ-cell has its first leaves 
in awhorl. This at length grows into a spore- 
plant like that shown in Fig. 213. 
_  ABout twenty-five species of Equisetum are 
known. Several may be looked for in any 
locality and may well be compared with the one 
described above, in regard to form, mode of 
branching, and mode of fruiting. 
366. Fern-Plants (Pteridophytes). — 
The Pteridophytes (literally fern-plants) 
include in their general category not only 
ferns as commonly recognized, but several 
other small groups which are very inter- 
esting on account of their diversity. All 
cryptogams higher than mosses belong in 
this group. In moss plants the individ- 
uals growing from spores and_ bearing 
antheridia and archegonia, the gameto- 
phytes, are full-grown leafy plants, and 
the spore-bearing plant, or sporophyte, is 44 o14 part of a 
merely a stalk bearing asporangium. In  Lobeof the Mature 
; Female Prothal- 
all the fern-plants the reverse is true. tiumof Zquisetum. 
The individuals growing from spores and  #20ut 50.) 
ae x a, mouth of a ferti- 
bearing antheridia and archegonia are of _ jized archegonium. 
