CHAP, in.] 



OF VEGETAL GENERATION. 



317 



for man. So great is essentially the simplicity of biological 

 i phenomena of the first order. 



When the oosphere has absorbed some antherozoaries, generally 



of a volume much inferior to its own, it has become capable of 

 i pursuing the course of its evolution : it is fecundated. We see 



it then envelop itself with a solid membrane, fix itself, and 



germinate. It has, in a word, become an oospore. 



FIG. 45. 



A, extremity of an antheridion filament formed of cells juxtaposed and containing each 



an antherozoid. 

 B and C, antherozoids in the state of liberty. 



D, antherozoid of an aquatic fern. 



E, fragment of an antherozoid of Vaucheria twisted spirally (a 9. From the extremity of this 

 antheridion come forth antherozoids having the form of short rods. By the side of the 

 antheridion is found the oogonion (s), or saclike cavity full of ovular corpuscles. At a 

 point of the oogonion situated in face of the extremity of the antheridion is formed an 

 orifice by which penetrate these antherozoids. Then these antherozoids impregnate the 

 ovula, which evolve or cover themselves with an enveloping envelope ; in short 

 become oospores. 



The modes of reproduction of mushrooms are very varied, as 

 regards the accessory apparatus : but essentially the processes of 

 generation are perfectly comparable with those of which we have 

 just spoken. Sometimes the reproductory bodies, or spores, are 

 formed without fecundation ; sometimes fecundation is necessaiy. 

 These spores are sometimes immobile, sometimes mobile, and 



