96 MORPHOLOGY AND LIFE HISTORY 



(/) Describe variations in the size of the antheridia, 

 and explain. Locate them according to size. 



(m) Do you find papillae (paraphyses) at the base 

 of the antheridia ? If so, of how many cells are 

 they composed? Describe their shape and 

 appearance. 



(n) Describe the appearance of the contents of an 

 antheridium. In the mature antheridium the 

 contents are mature antherozoids or sperms. 

 Younger antheridia contain sperm-mother- 

 cells. Describe their appearance accurately. 



(0) Illustrate by suitable drawings all the features 

 observed under F, i, (i)-(n). 



The archegonial branch 



Naked-eye Characters: 



(p) The stalks having the umbrella-shaped tops 

 bear the female reproductive organs or arche- 

 gonia, and are called archegoniophores. The 

 expanded portion at the top of the stalk is the 

 archegonial receptacle. 



(q) Do the archegonial and antheridial branches 

 occur on the same plants? Measure the height 

 of the stalks of several mature archegoniophores, 

 and compare their average height with the aver- 

 age height of the stalk of the mature antheridio- 

 phore. Is the stalk of the archegoniophore 

 grooved? 



(r) Describe the markings of the upper surface of 

 the receptacle, and compare it with the dorsal 

 surface of the thallus. Are air-pores present? 

 Record the number of rays on your specimen. 

 Compare several specimens on this point. 



