MARCHANTIA POLYMORPHA 93 



10. Enumerate several facts that insure a wide distribu- 

 tion of Marchantia. 



THE SPOROPHYTE 



A . Origin of the Sporophyte: 



i. What is the process of the fusion of the egg and 

 sperm called? What is the body that results 

 from this fusion called? This body, by successive 

 cell-division, develops into the sporogonium or 

 sporophyte. 



B. Naked-eye Characters: 



1. In a mature specimen observe the small bell- 

 shaped organs (sporangia) pendant on a stalk 

 between the perichsetia. The sporangia and stalk 

 together form the sporogonium, or sporophyte stage 

 of Marchantia. In fresh mature specimens an 

 orange-colored mass containing spores is easily seen 

 at the end of the sporophyte. Are the sporogonia 

 borne on a line with the rays or between the rays? 



2. Make drawings, four times natural size, showing the 

 archegoniophore as seen from (a) the top; (6) the 

 side; (c) the underside. 



3. After making the drawings, as directed in B, 2, 

 carefully dissect out one mature sporogonium and 

 place it in a watch-glass to examine. Make a 

 drawing 50 mm. long, showing all features observed, 

 labeling the foot, stalk, and sporangium. Write a 

 brief but clear description of the sporogonium. 



C. Microscopic Characters: 



i. If prepared slides are available of sections passing 

 through the archegonia (F (w) above), find various 

 stages in the development of the sporophyte within 

 the archegonium. In nearly mature specimens 



