XL] STONEWORTS, AND PEPPERWORTS. 169 



FIG. 124. 



FIG. 125. 



The antheridium is smaller and more globular in 

 form, and consists of a cell-wall 

 made up of eight pieces. From 

 the inner surface of each of these 

 pieces a short process called manu- 

 brium is developed (m, fig. 126), 

 which bears on its summit (capi- 

 tuluni) six smaller processes (secondary capitula). 

 These in turn give off each four long slender fila- 

 ments (/, fig. 126), which are divided 

 off into small cells. These cells in 

 a single filament will number from 

 one hundred to two hundred ; and 

 as there are nearly two hundred of 

 these filaments in a single antheri- 

 dium, the number of these cells will 

 range from twenty to forty thousand 

 in each antheridium. The protoplasm in the filament 

 cells becomes ultimately developed into spirally-coiled 

 tapering bodies, provided at the thin end 

 with two delicate cilia. These are the 

 antherozoids ; and when the cells burst 

 they are propelled along by the lashing 

 of the cilia. The antherozoids enter the 

 sporangium at its summit, and, it is believed, 

 pierce the substance of the central cell, and 

 fertilise it. The sporangium after a time 

 drops off, falls into the mud, and germinates. 

 A shoot is given off, which immediately 

 divides, and sends a branch (its first root) 

 down into the mud. The main shoot grows 

 to a certain length, becomes divided into 

 cells by transverse partitions, and ceases to grow. 



FIG. 127. 



