192 ;;Uj 



342. We shall now consider the mode of reproduction 

 in the Mosses. Let us commence with the spore. This, 

 upon meeting with proper conditions, bursts its outer 

 coat (the exospore), and the inner 

 coat (the endospore) is then pro- 

 truded as i\ slender tube. This 

 continues to grow by repeated divi- 

 sion, until at length, in most cases, 

 a tangled thread-like mass of vege- 

 tation is produced, to which the 

 name protonema has been given. 

 After the lapse of several days 

 Fig. 240. minute buds are developed at differ- 



ent points upon the protonema, and these are found to 

 consist of whorls d scaly leaves. This is the beginning 

 of the development of the ordinary Moss-plant. Upon 

 the plants thus arising from the buds are developed 

 .antheridia and archegonia, 

 the former in the axils of 

 the leaves forming the 

 rosettes shown in Fig. 240, 

 and the latter at the apex 

 Df other stems, as shown in 

 Fig. 239. The antheridia 

 ire seen under the microscope Fi - 24L 



bo be club-shaped bodies, containing a mass of cells in 

 which the antherozoids are formed. The archegonia ;uv 

 flask-shaped bodies, with a lower expanded portion and a 

 long neck above. Eig. 242 shows the apox of a fei 



Fig. 240. Apex of sterile stem, showing ro.sctto of porigonial leaves, in the 

 ixils of which are the antheridia ; greatly enlar^'d. 



Fig. 241. [Enlarged view of capsule, showing peristome and detach 

 julum. (Wood and Steele.) 



