Seeds and Spores 



If examined under a good magnifying glass, these 

 capsules (sporangia) are, in the majority of cases, seen 

 to be raised on little stalks. Each capsule is filled with 

 a powdery substance, which is set free by the bursting 

 of an elastic ring by which the capsule is surrounded. 

 This powdery substance consists of spores, popularly 

 called fern seeds. They are not, however, true seeds, 



FIG. 2. SPORE CAPSULE, OR SPORANGIUM. MAGNIFIED 



100 DIAMETERS. 



From <( An Introduction to Structural Botany" by D. H. Scott, 

 a, Elastic ring ; b, stalk ; c, ring splitting to set free the spores. 



all of which contain within the seedcoat, or outer 

 covering, a baby plant with parts which can be clearly 

 marked off as the beginnings of the root and stem of 

 the future plant. Now, a spore has no such parts, 

 but is of the same structure throughout, and contains 

 nothing to suggest that it will ultimately give rise to a 

 new fern-plant. The appearance, then, of sori on the 

 ii 



