. BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 401 
chetium ; the capsule is very young and globose, with a differently- 
shaped veil from that of Phascum. In No. 2 they are seen forming 
the articulated roots, and gradually passing into uncinate nerveless 
leaves. In No. 3 they are seen forming the roots; and they are so 
abundant in the plant in a young state, that I took it for Phascum ser- 
ratum, till I had the opportunity of scrutinizing it with the microscope : 
it bears some resemblance to your figure of Bruchia brevipes, but it has 
only three nerveless leaves and some very small ones. 
Are you aware that the Hepatica-like seed-leaves of Ferns often pro- 
duce more than one plant? They are in fact a stage in the growth of 
these vegetables, not very different from, or rather they are analogous to, 
the conferva state of Mosses. Equisetums, too, —their curious seeds, when 
deposited and left quite undisturbed in a moist and congenial soil, ex- 
pand in all directions like a fine specimen of Anthoceros punctatus ; and 
I proved by experiments that plants of Zguisefum did proceed from one 
of these Anthoceros-looking tufts. 
One of the specimens of my little favourite Phascum resembling ser- 
ratum, you will perceive, is in a more advanced stage. The capsules 
turn to a beautiful red as they proceed towards maturity, the colouring 
matter apparently residing in a tessellated membrane which lines the 
capsule: the veil is open on one side, and beautifully reticulated, as in 
Hookeria. The confervoid appendages no doubt remain on the plant - 
so long as the perichzetial leaves appear above ground, which in this 
country is not more than a few weeks. 
In one station I have watched the growth of the rare Phascum stolos 
niferum for several years: I could find the fructification at all seasons. 
In my opinion, when Mosses are spoken of as annual, the expression 
only applies to their rising above the soil; and such is probably the 
meaning of Mr. Berkeley, when he describes Fungi as annual or bien- 
nial. Few plants are of shorter duration than Agaricus campestris in 
the mushroom form ; yet we know that the roots of it, in the shape of 
mushroom spawn, are continually used to reproduce the plant, and 
that no deterioration thence ensues. So, in like manner, with regard to 
the articulated filaments which constitute the roots of Mosses, there 
can exist no doubt they have the power to produce the species, and for 
any length of time. Indeed, the experiments are conclusive on this 
point, which I conducted in the Cork Botanic Garden. I then raised 
Funaria hygrometrica on earth which had been made red-hot, and was 
VOL. V. Sr 
