1 92 REPRODUCTION OF THE RED ALGAE 



128, A, B). After the discharge of the male gamete, they arc- 

 carried by the currents of the water to the long tube of the 

 female organ. The wall of the tube at the point of contact is 

 now absorbed and the male gamete passes down the tube and 

 fuses with the female. The gametospore does not germinate 

 and produce a new plant similar to the one that bore the gametes. 

 On the other hand, it produces a number of branches (Fig. 127, 



FIG. 128. Features in the reproduction of Polysiphonia: A, branch of 

 the plant bearing clusters of male gametangia, an. B, one of the clusters 

 enlarged, showing the numerous small gametangia. C, branch on which 

 the spores derived from the gametospore are enveloped by a sac. From 

 one of these bodies, called cystocarps, the spores are escaping. 



B, C), the terminal cells of which develop as spores (Fig. 127, 

 D). These spores on germinating produce the characteristic 

 red algae, which bear tetraspores. The mode of sexual repro- 

 duction outlined above is complicated in the majority of the 

 red algae, owing to the fusion of the germinating gametospore 



