348 MORPHOLOG Y. 



in plants it takes place just prior to the formation of the gameto- 

 phytes. 



688. Perhaps there is not a fundamental difference between 

 gametophyte and sporophyte. This development of sporophyte, 

 or leafy-stemmed plant of the fern (parag. 685), from the tissue 

 of the gametophyte is taken by some to indicate that there is not 

 such a great difference between the gametophyte and sporophyte 

 of plants as others contend. In accordance with this view it has 

 been suggested that the leafy-stemmed moss plant, as well as the 

 leafy stem of the liverworts, is homologous with the sporophyte or 

 leafy stem of the fern plant; that it arises by budding from the 

 protonema; and that the sexual organs are borne then on the 

 sporophyte. 



