124 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTAKY 



small, pore-like opening (Fig. 114). On the walls of these 

 cavities oogonia and antheridia are produced. The oogo- 

 nium is peculiar in that it usually produces eight eggs, 

 which are discharged and float free in the water (Fig. 115, 

 A and E). About these eggs the sperms swim in great 

 numbers, often striking against them and setting them 

 rotating (Fig. 115, F and H). Finally, a single sperm fuses 

 with an egg and an oospore is formed, which later produces 

 a new Fucus plant. 



This group of brown Algae, therefore, differs from the 

 other one in producing no swimming spores, and in its 

 dissimilar gametes (eggs and sperms). 



4. RED ALG^E (Rhodophycece). 



74. General characters. The red Algse are mostly 

 marine forms, and receive their name from the fact that 



FIG. 116. One of the red Algse. 



a red coloring matter completely masks the chlorophyll. 

 As a consequence, the plants are various shades of red, 



