LYCOPODIUM. 213 



These have beea called antheridia. In the Selaginellas, 

 another kind of spore-case is produced, which contains 

 three or four roundish fleshy spores, many times as large 

 as the granular spores, and marked at the apex by three 

 elevated radiating ridges. These larger bodies are called 

 oophoridia. 



The true explanation of these parts is a matter of doubt. 

 All that seems certainly known is, that the larger spores, 

 or oophoridia, do germinate, or at least vegetate. Accord- 

 ing to Willdenow, however, the smaller ones germinate 

 also. Dr. Lindley formerly suggested that the powder- 

 like grains are true spores, while the larger ones are 

 buds or viviparous organs ; and this view was apparently 

 supported by the descriptions given of the supposed ger- 

 mination of these larger bodies, in which a process quite 

 analogous to the vegetation of a bud was clearly pointed 

 out. Recent observers, however, consider the larger bodies 

 rather as the true spores. 



It has been usual to regard both sets of organs, when 

 present, as axillary to the leaves or bracts ; and so they 

 may be considered for all practical purposes. A different 

 theoretical explanation has, however, been given by Miiller, 

 who considers the oophoridium as the entire metamor- 



