BRYOPHYTA 375 
the lower surfaces of special branches which grow on female 
plants (Fig. 406), while the antheridia (Fig. 407) are sunk in 
the upper part of somewhat similar branches on male plants 

Fig. 410. Sporophyte of Marchantia before 
elongation of the stalk 
Below is the large sporangium ; above this is the 
stalk, and above the stalk, the foot embedded in 
the archegonium. The upper limit of the foot is 
of Marchantia. (x 175) shown as a dark line. (x 85) 

(Fig. 406). The antheridia and archegonia (Hig. 409) are very 
similar to those of the Ricciales. The fertilized egg germinates 
within the archegonium (Fig. 408) and develops into a sporo- 
phyte (Figs. 410, 411). This consists of a rounded sporangium, 
an elongated stalk, and an absorbing structure, the foot, which 
