50 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



number of yellow spores are released. Incident- 

 ally, it may be mentioned that the powder 

 formed by the Lycopodium spores is highly 

 inflammable, and has been used in the making 

 of fireworks and the production of that effect 

 which is commonly kno\\-n as " stage hghtning." 

 The settlement of the spores on the ground is 

 ultimately followed by germination ; the result 

 is the production of an independent body on 

 which the sex cells are developed. The fertilisa- 

 tion is accomplished by the passage of the male 

 bodies, from the special place on the prothallus 

 (as the organism is called) where they are 

 produced, to an adjoining egg cell. On the 

 completion of this proceeding there commences 

 a series of changes which result in the develop- 

 ment of the perfect plant. The whole process 

 takes a very long time, and some \"ears may 

 elapse before the plant appears on the scene. 



Kerner has drawii attention to an interesting 

 fact in connection with one species of club moss 

 — Lycopodium cernuuni. The first happening in 

 this case after the fertilisation of the egg cell 

 is the production of a plant which does not at 

 first resemble the adult form. Now, this mid- 

 way style, which ultimately grows into the true 



