424 



VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY 



in which they are developed are termed antheridia and 

 oogonia respectively. 



In the group of Fungi similar differentiation of gametes 

 occurs, but motile antherozoids are very rare, confined 

 indeed to the genus Monoblepharis. In other cases they 

 are generally undifferentiated masses of protoplasm which 

 do not escape from their antheridia, but are conducted 

 directly from it into the female organ, where the process 

 of fusion takes place. In Pythium the oogonium is a 

 swelling at the end of a hypha, which is cut off from the 

 rest by a transverse wall. Its contents divide up into an 

 oosphere and a certain amount of protoplasm, which sur- 

 rounds the latter. The antheridium is another hyphal 

 branch, which becomes closely pressed to the oogonium. 

 A tube is put out by the antheridium, which perforates the 

 wall of the oogonium, and the male cell, which is formed 

 in the same way as the female one, 

 passes over into the female organ and 

 fuses with the oosphere. 



In some other Fungi a similar 

 arrangement of the organs is brought 

 about, but the male cell does not pass 

 over into the oogonium. 



A curious variation is seen in the 

 red seaweeds, the Ehodophycecs. The 

 female organ, known as a procarpium, 

 does not produce any differentiated 

 oosphere, but the contents of the 

 male cell pass by means of an elon- 

 gated structure called a tricJiogyne 

 (fig. 172) into its interior and appa- 

 rently fuse with the whole of its 

 protoplasm. The male cell in these 

 plants is not naked as in other 

 cases, but has a cell-wall. A somewhat similar condition 

 is met with among the Ascomycetes, though whether 

 fusion of the contents of the cells takes place is disputed. 



FIG. 172. PROCABPIUM OF 

 A BED SEAWEED. 



tr, trichogyne. 



