122 



FECUNDATION OR FERTILIZATION 



female gametophyte A similar attraction brings about a move- 

 ment of the cytoplasm which carries the male gametes to the 

 end of the tube cell. It will be seen that this peculiar plant 

 (Fig. 79, D) consisting of a long tubular growth with three 

 naked cells is more rudimentary than the plant derived from the 

 megaspore. Because this plant produces the male cells or male 



Fig. 79. Germination of the microspore: A, mature microspore. B, first 

 stage in its germination — t, tube cell; a, antheridial cell. C, end of cell divi- 

 sion — /, tube cell; a, antheridial cell forming two male gametes. D, diagram 

 showing the formation of the tube which grows through the style and finally 

 reaches the female gametophyte. The two male gametes, g, are shown passing 

 down the tube; t, tube nucleus. 



gametes we call it the male gametophyte. So we see that the 

 flower forms two kinds of spores and that these germinate and 

 form two kinds of plants, a male and a female. 



53. Fecundation or Fertilization. — As soon as the develop- 

 ment of these two plants is completed a very remarkable change 

 takes place which starts an entirely new growth that is quite 

 independent of the development of the male and female gameto- 

 phyte. The end of the tube cell becomes distended through the 

 accumulation of material and finally ruptures, discharging the 

 male gametes into the female gametophyte. The chemical com- 

 position of the female gamete is such that one of the male cells 

 is attracted to it (Fig. 80) and finally the two gametes unite 

 forming a single cell. This body is a sexually formed spore or 

 gametospore and like the ordinary spore has the power to germi- 



