500. In this plant we see that the sporophyte remains attached to the gametophyte, and thus is dependent on it for sustenance. This is true of all the plants of this group. The sporophyte never becomes capable of an independent existence, and yet we see that it is becoming larger and more highly differentiated than in the simple riccia.
Fig. 274.
Fruiting plant of
a foliose liverwort
(jungermannia).
Leafy part is the
gametophyte; stalk
and capsule is
the sporophyte
(sporogonium in
the bryophytes).
Fig. 275.
Opening capsule
showing escape
of spores and
elaters.
Fig. 276.
Capsule parted
down to the
stalk.
Fig. 277.
Four spores
from mother
cell held
in a group.
