578 MICROSCOPIC FORMS OF VEGETABLE LIFE THALLOPHYTES 



and often of a bright red colour, have an envelope made up of eight 

 triangular plates or ' shields ' (B, C), often curiously marked, which 

 encloses a central portion of a light reddish colour ; this central 

 portion is principally composed of a mass of filaments rolled up 

 compactly together. From the centre of the inner face of each 

 shield a cylindrical cell termed a manubrium projects inwards nearly 

 to the centre of the sphere. The antherid is supported on a short 



FIG. 435. Generative organs of Chara fragilis: A, antherid or globule developed 

 at the base of archegoiie or nucule ; B, nucule enlarged, and globule laid open by 

 the separation of its valves ; C, one of the valves, with its group of antheridial 

 filaments each composed of a linear series of cells, within every one of which an 

 antherozoid is formed ; in D, E, and F the successive stages of this formation are 

 seen ; and at G is shown the escape of the mature antherozoids, H. 



flask -shaped pedicel, which also projects into the interior. At the 

 apex of each of the eight manubria is a roundish hyaline cell, called 

 a capitulum, and at the apex of each capitulum six smaller cells or 

 'secondary capitula.' From the centre of each of these secondary 

 capitula grow four long whip-shaped filaments (C), constituting the 

 mass already referred to. The number of these filaments in each 

 antherid is about 200, and each of these filaments divides by 



