REPRODUCTION 59 



The inner cells of the antheridium form Antherozoids or male 

 reproductive cells. An antherozoid is a biciliate oblong cell. 

 (b) Archegonia in Marchantia develop on differently 

 formed special upright branches which grow out from the 

 ends of horizontal branches of the thallus. The upper part 



FIG. 27. Marchantia polymorpha. Thalli showing archegonia-bearing 

 branches. The fourth figure shows the under surface of the archegonial 

 branch. 



of the special -branch has a number of radiating finger-like 

 outgrowths from between which, on the under surface, grow 

 groups of archegonia. An archegonium is flask-shaped. It 

 consists essentially of an outer layer of cells enclosing an 

 axial row of cells. The outer layer forms the wall. The egg 

 or female cell is the lowest of the axial row and is in the 



