SPOROPHYTE 441 
Sporophyte. — The sporophytes are delicate plants with leafy 
much branched stems (Fig. 393). The strobili occur on the ends 
of the branches, and the sporophylls somewhat resemble the foli- 
age leaves, but are usually smaller and more compact (Fig. 394). 
One notable feature is that there are two kinds of spores pro- 
duced. In Bryophytes, True Ferns, Horsetails, and Lycopo- 
Fic. 394. — The vegetative and spore-bearing structures of the sporo- 
phyte of Selaginella. A, a shoot of Selaginella, showing the stem, vegetative 
leaves, and the strobili (st) at the ends of the branches (X 2). B, a micro- 
sporophyll, showing the microsporangium (m) which has opened to allow the 
microspores to escape (X about 10). At the right of the microsporophyll 
are shown two microspores (s) (x 50). C, megasporophyll with megasporan- 
gium (me) open, thus exposing the four megaspores and permitting the micro- 
spores to come in contact with the megaspores. Below the megasporophyll 
are shown two megaspores (n) (X about 20). D, lengthwise section through 
a portion of a shoot, showing the position of the two kinds of sporangia in 
relation to the leaves, and also the relative sizes of the two kinds of spores 
(x 15). Partly from Dodel-Port and partly from nature. 
