228 



PLANT LIFE. 



cells. Mixed with the spore-prodiuing cells, however, arc 

 many sterile cells, which become gradually elongated, and 



Fig, 230, Fig, 231. 



Fig. 2 3o.^The spornphj-le of a peat m.{yz'~,{S/'Jia^u7i)n cIl u t I'/o/ i ?( 11?) \\\ih adjacent parts 

 of the gametophyte. The spnrophyte consists of a capsule, ,fv, and a broad foot, si:' . At 

 the stage shown in /> it is still completely enclosed in the tissues of tlie gametoph>i:e, 

 \'iz.. [-, the enlarged ovary which forms tlie calyptra or hood, and r-, the vaginule or 

 sheath surrounding the foot, ar is the neck of the o\'ary. (Compare fig. 331.) The 

 arc over tlie large-ceiled central tissue (columella) is tlie sporangium. /,t, the false 

 stalk, produced by the gametopliyte, which raises the spornphyte. \n A, the calvptra 

 has broken, only a fragment remaining, exposing the capsule. (/. the lid. bv wliose fall 

 the spoi"angium is exposed and tlie spores escape. <//. leaves ot the gametophyte ; <;,v, 

 the false stalk. Compare figs, 67, 73. 73. in which tlie stalk is part of the spLtrophyte. 

 A magnified 13 diam.; /•', 32 diam — After ScJiimper. 



Fig. 231. — Longitudinal section of the young capsule of a true moss ( /^i-v!"")- s. spo- 

 rangium. At this stage the mother cells of the spores. .•;/•">. ha\'e become free (only a 

 few are shown still enclosing the spores); ,c7i', the wall of the sporangium, lined by 

 the remains of another layer of cells now disorganized ; c, the columella, of partly col- 

 lapsed cells : IS, intercellular space ; cTf, wall of the capsule ; ii n^ the annulus, a rmg 

 of cells which pries off the lid, at whose edge they develop ; c/, the tniter, ;//, the inner, 

 peristome, formed by the thickening of parts of the walls of ccrtiin rows of cells ; ut, 

 nutritive tissue, with chloroplasts and intercellular spaces. Magnified 25 diam.— Orig- 

 inal. 



