Fig. 270.
Thallus of a thalloid liverwort (blasia) showing lobed margin of the frond, intermediate between thalloid and foliose plant.
499. Sporogonium of a foliose liverwort.—The sporogonium of the leafy-stemmed liverworts is well represented by that of several genera. We may take for this study the one illustrated in [fig. 274], but another will serve the purpose just as well. We note here that it consists of a rounded capsule borne aloft on a long stalk, the stalk being much longer proportionately than in marchantia. At maturity the capsule splits down into four quadrants, the wall forming four valves, which spread apart from the unequal drying of the cells, so that the spores are set free, as shown in [fig. 276]. Some of the cells inside of the capsule develop elaters here also as well as spores. These are illustrated in [fig. 278].
Fig. 271.
Foliose liverwort, male plant
showing antheridia in axils of
the leaves (a jungermannia).
Fig. 272.
Antheridium of a foliose
liverwort (jungermannia).
Fig. 273.
Foliose liverwort,
female plant with
rhizoids.