BEYOPHYTA. 



97 



open at the apex, the whole mass of sperm cells being discharged at 

 once. 



Among the antheridia are borne peculiar hairs (Fig. 59, p) tipped by 

 a large globular cell. 



D 



FIG. 61. A, B, young; C, nearly ripe archegonium of Funaria, optical 

 section, x 150. D, upper part of the neck of C, seen from without, showing 



how it is twisted. E, hase of a ripe archegonium. 

 same, x 150. o, egg cell, b, ventral canal cell. 



F, open apex of the 



Owing to their small size the spermatozoids are difficult to see satis- 

 factorily and other mosses (e.g. peat mosses, Figure 64, the hairy cap 

 moss, Figure 65, /), are preferable where obtainable. The spermatozoids 

 of a peat moss are shown in Figure 60, D. Like all of the bryophytes 

 they have but two cilia. 



The archegonia (Fig. 61) should 

 be looked for in the younger plants in 

 the neighborhood of those that bear 

 capsules. Like the antheridia they 

 occur in groups. They closely resem- 

 ble those of the liverworts, but the 

 neck is longer and twisted and the 

 base more massive. Usually but 

 a single one of the group is fertilized. 



To study the first division of the 

 embryo, it is usually necessary to 

 render the archegonium transparent, 

 which may be done by using a little 



caustic potash ; or letting it lie for a few hours in dilute glycerine will 

 sometimes suffice. If potash is used it must be thoroughly washed away, 

 by drawing pure water under the cover glass with a bit of blotting paper, 



FIG. 62. A, young embryo of 

 Funaria, still enclosed within the 

 base of the archegonium, x 300. 

 B, an older embryo freed from the 

 archegonium, x 150. a, the apical 

 cell. 



