298 



THE BRYOPHYTES 



and more easily distinguished (Fig. 265, A) because the orange 

 or reddish-brown clusters of antheridia lie exposed at the tip 

 of the stem and are sometimes surrounded by a circle or 

 rosette of modified or colored leaves. Female plants are larger, 

 and the archegonia are hidden by 

 enveloping leaves, which must be 

 picked off to expose these sexual 



organs. The antheridia (Fig. 2 6 6, a) b 



and archegonia (Fig. 268, A) are 



FIG. 266. Section through the tip of the 

 male plant of a moss (Funaria) 



a, antheridium ; /, sterile filament, or para- 

 physis ; I, leaf 



FIG. 267. The antheridium of 

 a common moss (Funaria) 



a, antheridium; b, escaping 

 sperms ; c, a single sperm in 

 its parent cell. After Sachs 



sometimes numerous in the clusters and lie among hair-like 

 structures (paraphyses). 



The mature antheridia and archegonia open only when wet 

 by the swelling and separation of a group of cells at their tips. 

 The sperms (Fig. 267, b) are discharged, then, after rains or heavy 

 dews, so that the moss at that time is practically living an 



