TRUE MOSSES (BRYALES) 419 
Most parts of the Moss absorb water and salts directly. Even 
the leaves are probably able to absorb. The leaves carry on 
active photosynthesis and supply the carbohydrates. No vascu- 
lar bundles occur, but in many Mosses there are strands of elon- 
gated cells which assist in conducting and distributing the foods. 
The erect habit and the radiate arrangement of the leaves on the 
stem enable the plant to make the best use of light. 
Knowing that the leafy green plant is the gametophyte, one 
knows where to look for the sex organs. They are produced on 
B 
Fic. 374. — The sex organs of Moss. A, highly magnified vertical sec- 
tion through the apical region of the stem of a gametophyte, showing arche- 
gonia (a) with eggs at (e). B, a similar section through a plant bearing 
antheridia (£). Sperms escaping from an antheridium and one sperm much 
enlarged are shown at s. 
the upper end of the stem and are quite well surrounded and hid- 
den by the upper leaves. If one carefully pulls off the terminal 
leaves from plants that are in the reproductive condition, the 
sex organs may be found. They stand erect on the stem tip and 
are so large that they can be seen with a magnifier of very low 
power. The antheridia can sometimes be seen without any 
magnifier. The archegonia are flask-shaped and have very long 
necks, while the antheridia are club-shaped (Fig. 374). In many 
Mosses both sex organs occur on the same plant, but in the one 
shown in the Figure they occur on separate plants. The male 
