122 



GENERAL BIOLOGT 



Reproductive cells are pro- 

 duced by another kind of 

 differentiation from the grow- 

 ing points. On some of the 

 branches, sperm cells and egg 

 cells are developed in special 

 receptacles (gonangia), the 

 former in groups, the latter, 

 singly. The container for the 

 sperms is called (as in plants 

 generally) the antheridimn.^^ 

 A number of antheridia are 

 immersed together in the top 

 of a disc-shaped receptacle, (the 

 ^ ^, „ , , , antheridial disc or antheridio- 



riG. 71. Conocepnalus. a, anthe- 

 ridial disc, showing antheridia phore, fig:. 7 1 a, b) . The COn- 

 m vertical section; b, the same x- ' o # 



c, archegonio- taincr for the egg is called an 



in surface view; 

 phore, showing archegonia in 

 vertical section; d, the same in Ql'cJie P'OHiumA 

 surface view; e, the mature ° 



archegonial disc, bearing sporo- 

 phytes (one opened and shed- 

 ding the spores) . 



Archegonia are developed upon 

 a receptacle {archegonio phore) of 



a nature similar to, but of a form very 

 different from that which bears the an- 

 theridia. It is a conic-capped, mushroom- 

 shaped organ (fig. 71 c,d). The arche- 

 gonia are inserted underneath the cap^ 

 Each archegonium (fig. 72 .4) , is a hollow 

 flask-shaped organ; the swollen base 0£ 

 the flask (w^hich contains the single egg Fig. 72. Conocephaius, 



A, archegonium in ver- 

 Cell) is inserted upon the tissues of tical section; e-, egg cell; 



r 1 n 1 ^^' ^^^ sporophvte; /, 

 the disc, and the open neck of the flask foot; g, stalk; /j, spo- 

 rangium; C, contents of 

 is directed downward. sporangium; j, spores; 



k elaters. 



*This is the equivalent of the better term spermary, which we 

 have used hitherto. It is in almost universal use in botanical text 

 books. 



fA special botanical term for one type of ovary. 



