BRYOPHYTES 



301 



lar thallus body, not at all resembling the "moss plant" 

 of ordinary observation, and is not noticed by those una- 

 ware of its existence. 



Presently one or more buds appear on the sides of this 

 alga-like body (Fig. 275, h). A bud develops into an erect 



Fig. 275. Protonema of moss : A, very young protonema, showing epore {S) which 

 has germinated it; B, older protonema, showing branching habit, remains of 

 epore («), rhizoids (r), and buds (6) of leafy branches (gametophoree).— After 

 MuLLER and Thurgau. 



stalk upon which are numerous small leaves (Figs. 276, 290). 

 This leafy stalk is the " moss plant " of ordinary observa- 

 tion, and it will be noticed that it is simply an erect leafy 

 branch from the prostrate alga-like body. 



At the top of this leafy branch sex-organs appear, cor- 

 responding to the antheridia and oogonia of tlie Algie, and 

 within them there are sperms and eggs. A sperm and Q^g 

 fuse and an oospore is formed at the summit of the leafy 

 branch. 



The oospore is not a resting spore, but germinates im- 

 mediately, forming a structure entirely unlike the moss 



