274 



REPRODUCTION OF RICCIOCARPUS 



cells or glands. The development of these glandular cells on the 

 plates, as well as on the other parts of the thallus, adapt the 

 plants to the drier terrestrial conditions to which they are 

 exposed, as was the case with the mucilaginous walls of the 

 Schizomycetes and Zygnematales. 



(b) Sexual Reproduction of Ricciocarpus. The gametes are 

 produced in more complex gametangia than we have as yet seen. 

 These organs are developed upon the upper surface of the thallus 



B 



FIG. 181. The origin and structure of the male gametangia or antheridia: 

 A, section of the thallus, showing the apical cell, x, and the early stages, 

 a, &, in the development of the antheridia. B, older antheridium with cells 

 dividing vertically. C, later stage in which the wall cells are differentiated. 

 D, mature antheridium of Marchantia, showing the numerous cells that 

 develop the male gametes and the wall cells, w. E, greatly enlarged view 

 of a male gamete after discharge from the antheridium. 



and in some species appear as lines radiating from the center of 

 the plant. The male gametarigium originates from one of the 

 superficial cells of the thallus, which at first continues to divide 

 transversely after the manner of the vertical plates of chlorophyll- 

 bearing cells (Fig. 181, A). The cells of these vertical plates 

 soon begin to divide vertically and thus form an elliptical mass 

 of cells (Fig. 181, Bj C). As this growth goes on the outer or 

 wall cells become larger than the others and generally develop 

 chlorophyll, while the inner cells divide repeatedly and become 



