78 



REPRODUCTION 



It will be noticed in both kinds of plants that when the 

 spores germinate they produce a plant that forms gametes 

 and not spores; and when the gametes unite they start a 

 plant that develops spores and not gametes. We have in 

 both a regular alternation of two different kinds of 

 individuals in one life cycle. 



There are also some interesting differences: 



Moss 



1. The gametophyte is a 

 leafy plant; the most 

 conspicuous part of the 

 cycle; the part called the 

 "moss-plant." 



Fern 



1, The gametophyte is a 

 poorly developed part; 

 the poorest part of the 

 cycle; the part called the 

 prothallium. 



2. T h e sporophyte is 

 wholly parasitic on the 

 gametophyte, and develops 

 only slightly, being com- 

 posed of foot, seta, and 

 capsule. It is called a 

 sporogonium. 



2. The sporophyte soon 

 becomes independent of 

 the gametophyte, fixes 

 itself to the soil, develops 

 leaves and roots and is 

 the real "fern plant." 



