DEVELOPMENT OF PLANTS 305 



the basal portion of which reaches down into the stem of the 

 moss plant and forms a well-developed absorbing organ or foot, 

 while the upper portion elongates by means of an apical cell 

 (Fig. 209, 10). Later, the growth becomes basal as in Antho- 

 ceros. For a time, the archegonium keeps pace with the elonga- 

 tion of the young sporophyte (Fig. 209, n), but finally it is 

 ruptured and lifted up as a cap, called the calyptra, on the apex 

 of the young sporophyte. This is one of the most essential 

 differences between the mosses and hepatics. In the latter group, 

 with the exception of the An thocero tales, the spores were matured 

 in the archegonium. In the Bryales, the spores are usually 

 not formed until the seta has elongated considerably. As the 

 sporophyte elongates, the upper part enlarges and finally forms 

 a complex capsule which remains covered for a varying length 

 of time by the calyptra. The hairy calyptra of Polytrichum 

 (this name means many hairs) is due to the development of a 

 felt of hairs upon the archegonium which forms a protective 

 covering to the young sporophyte against the loss of water. 



The capsule and calyptra assume various forms and positions. 

 In some cases the capsule is quite erect and completely covered 

 by the calyptra (Fig. 210, i), and again it may be more or 

 less inclined or even pendulous and the calyptra laterally placed 

 like a cap (Figs. 205, A; 211, 5). Removing the calyptra you 

 notice that a lid or operculum is situated on top of the capsule 

 while at the bottom is a somewhat enlarged region, the apophysis, 

 provided with stomata that communicate with the interior re- 

 gions of the capsule (Figs. 210, 2; 211, 5). When the opercu- 

 lum is removed a circle of minute teeth-like structures, the peri- 

 stome, appears that more or less completely closes the mouth of 

 the capsule (Fig. 205, D). In some mosses a delicate membrane, 

 the epiphragm, lies just below the peristome, which assists in 

 closing the mouth of the capsule (Fig. 210, 2B> 4^4). We are 

 now interested to know the meaning of these structures and to 

 learn how they have come about. By examining a longitudinal 

 section of the nearly mature eapsule you will see that the spore- 

 producing tissue is relatively small and appears as a hollow 

 cylinder. The progressive sterilization that we have seen going 



