MARCHANTIA POL YMOKPHA. 83 



of free protoplasm, having no cellulose covering. The 

 hyaline vesicle which is sometimes seen attached to 

 them arises from the internal part of the protoplasm 

 of the cell, the outer portion of which produces the 

 cilia, and the nucleus at the center of the cell the body 

 of the antherozoid. 18 



The archegonia separate a mass of protoplasm in 

 their interior, the oosphere, which is essentially a naked 

 cell. After fertilization it divides in a perfectly regular 

 manner to form the sporogonium. The fertilization is 

 prepared for by the conversion of the axial row of cells 

 of the neck into mucilage, the swelling of which forces 

 the stigmatic cells apart, and a passage-way is formed 

 to the naked oosphere. The antherozoids pass through 

 this channel, become buried in the oosphere, and the 

 fertilization is complete. 



The elaters by their strongly hygroscopic character 

 assist materially in forcing out and distributing the 

 spores." 



18 Strasburger, Das botanische Practicum, p. 455. 



19 The student should consult Ilofmeister's Higher Cryptogamia, which 

 contains a very full statement of the development of Marchantia, with 

 historical references up to 1862. 



