476 Mr. VALENTINE on the Development of the Theca, 
thus differing most essentially from true seeds, while the new plant which 
arises from them is equally perfect. This appears also to have been nearly 
the opinion that Dillenius entertained respecting the propagation of the 
Musci; and it has been confirmed in later times by the celebrated Richard 
and others.” 
In the same Memoir we have the following quotation from Sprengel: 
“ Though, says this naturalist, ‘I have formerly been a zealous advocate for 
Hedwig’s theory of the fructification of Mosses, it has nevertheless appeared 
to me an insurmountable objection, that the supposed anthers can again pro- 
duce buds and strike roots, which is certainly the case with regard to the 
disks of Polytrichum commune, Bartramia fontana, Bryum palustre, undula- 
tum, cuspidatum, punctatum, and with those of Tortula ruralis. In Bryum 
argenteum we see the buds containing the supposed anthers constantly drop 
off, strike root, and produce new plants: this I have observed myself times 
out of number. Still more in point is the experiment first made by David 
Meese, of sowing the stellulae of Polytrichum commune, containing merely 
elub-shaped bodies, when he found that plants came up, which, in their turn, 
produced fruit. Another excellent naturalist, Dr. Roth, has made similar ob- 
servations with regard to Hypnum squarrosum and Bryum argenteum," “He 
afterwards adds," say the authors of the Memoir, **It is more probable, there- 
fore, that these supposed anthers are mere gemmee, produced by the superabun- 
dance of the juices, and hence surrounded by succulent filaments." The latter 
quotations contain, as far as I have been able to ascertain, the chief evi- 
dence against the theory of Hedwig. Although such arguments establish the 
improbability of the presence of sexes in Mosses, they by no means amount 
to a proof of their absence. As for the observations of Sprengel and Meese, 
they are very defective. Mr. Brown, in a conversation which took place 
about three years ago on this subject, very justly objected to the conclusions 
drawn from these experiments. From the statement of Sprengel, it does not 
appear that the supposed anthers were actually seen to grow: and it seems 
most probable that the growth took place in the axillze of the scales, which 
formed the bud containing the anthers. Every one acquainted with vegetable 
physiology is aware of the great tendency to development existing in the 
axillze of leaves, especially in those which form the scales of a bud. To have 
