The phycoerythrin in their chloroplasts reflects red light, giving them a red appearance, and absorbs the blue light that is able to penetrate to deeper areas in the water column. During fertilization...The phycoerythrin in their chloroplasts reflects red light, giving them a red appearance, and absorbs the blue light that is able to penetrate to deeper areas in the water column. During fertilization, a spermatium fuses with the trichogyne and the nucleus of the spermatium travels down the tube to the egg. The outer layer of the cystocarp, the pericarp (peri- meaning around) is derived from the female gametophyte and is haploid.