188 



STUDIES IN CKYPTOGAMS 



visible to the naked eye. However, a section of the disk, such as is 

 drawn in Fig. 334, shows that the pores lead into oblong cavities in 

 the receptacle. From the base of each cavity there arises a thick 

 club-shaped body, the antheridium. Within the antheridium are 

 formed many sperm -cells which are capable of swimming about in 



334. Section through antheridiophore of marchantia, showing antheridia. 

 One antheridium more magnified. 



water by means of long lashes or cilia attached to them. When the 

 antheridium is mature, it bursts and allows the ciliated sperm-cells 

 to escape. 



The archegoniophores are also elevated on stalks (Fig. 332). In- 

 stead of a simple disk, the receptacle consists of nine or more finger- 

 like rays. Along the under side of the rays, between delicately fringed 

 curtains, peculiar flask-like bodies, or archegonia, are situated. The 

 archegonia are not visible to the naked eye. They can be studied only 

 with the microscope (X about 400). One of them much magnified is 

 represented in Fig. 335. Its principal parts are the long neck, a, and 

 the rounded venter, &, inclosing a large free cell the egg-cell. 



We have seen that the antheridium at maturity discharges its 

 sperm-cells. These swim about in the water provided by the dew and 



rain. Some of them finally find their way to the arche- 

 gonia and egg-cells, which are thus fertilized, as pollen 



fertilizes the ovules of higher plants. 



After fertilization the egg- cell develops into the 



spore -capsule or sporogonium. The 



mature spore -capsules may be seen 



in Fig. 336. They consist of an 



oval spore -case on a short stalk, the 



base of which is imbedded in the 



tissue of the receptacle from which 



it derives the necessary nourishment 



for the development of the sporo- 

 335. Archegon- gonium> At ma turity the sporo- 

 ram of mar- * J 



chantia. gomum is ruptured at the apex, 



336. Archegoniophore 

 with sporogonia of 

 marchantia. 



