122 



GENERAL BIOLOGT 



Reproductive cells are pro- 

 duced by another kind of 

 differentiation from the grow- 

 ing points. On some of the 

 branches, sperm cells and egg 

 cells are developed in special 

 receptacles (gonangia) , the 

 former in groups, the latter, 

 singly. The container for the 

 sperms is called (as in plants 

 generally) the antheridium* 

 A number of antheridia are 

 immersed together in the top 

 of a disc-shaped receptacle, (the 

 antheridial disc or antheridio- 



FIG. 71. Conocephalus. a, anthe- 



ridial disc, showing antheridia phore, fig. 7 1 a, 0). The COn- 

 in vertical section; b, the same r 



in surface view; c, archegonio- tainer for the egg is called an 



phore, showing archegonia in 



vertical section; d, the same in Q,rche$'O'Vl'iWYVl.\ 



surface view; e, the mature 



archegoniai disc, bearing sporo- Archegonia are developed upon 



phytes (one opened and shed- 

 ding the spores) . a receptacle (archegomo phore) of 



a nature similar to, but of a form very 

 different from that which bears the an- 

 theridia. It is a conic-capped, mushroom- 

 shaped organ (fig. 7 1 c, d} . The arche- 

 gonia are inserted underneath thecap^ 

 Each archegonium (fig. 72 A) , is a hollow 

 flask-shaped organ ; the swollen base Of 

 the flask (which contains the single egg FIG. 72. Conocephalus, 



. - . f A, archegonium in ver- 



Cell) IS inserted Upon the tiSSUeS OI tical section; <?, egg cell; 

 .LI j- j ^1 1 r ,1 n 1 M, the sporophyte; /, 



the disc, and the open neck of the flask foot; g, stalk; h, spo- 



... , 1 rangium; C, contents of 



IS directed downward. sporangium; /, spores; 



k. elaters. 



*This is the equivalent of the better term spermary, which we 

 have used hitherto. It is in almost universal use in botanical text 

 books. 



fA special botanical term for one type of ovary. 



