Mosses and Lichens 



soaking in clean hot water and learn what you can with the 

 unaided eye about the colour, texture, manner of branching, and 

 character of pedicel and spore-case. Many of these pretty plants 

 can be easily recognised with the naked eye. If necessary, use 

 a hand lens to determine the shape of the leaves and the character 

 of the spore-case rim. 



To study the specimens more in detail have a lens so mounted 

 that it will be possible to dissect the parts with needles while 

 watching the process through the lens. 



HOW TO DISSECT HEPATICS, MOSSES, AND LICHENS 



To remove leaves from stems, grasp them near their bases 

 with a pair of forceps and strip them downward. 



To obtain cross sections of leaves, grasp a bunch between the 

 thumb and forefinger and slice it across from apex to base with 

 a sharp knife. Among the sections there should be found some 

 which will show the structure. 



To study the spore-case, cut off the upper portion with a pair 

 of scissors and then holding this on a slide with a needle, split it 

 lengthwise and lay the two parts flat on the glass so that a view 

 is given of the inner and outer surfaces. 



Cross sections of stems and rhizoids may be made while 

 holding them between two pieces of pith or candle-wax. 



HOW TO STUDY THE HEPATICS, MOSSES, AND LICHENS 

 WITH A COMPOUND MICROSCOPE 



To study any part still more in detail, place it in a drop of 

 water or dilute glycerine between two pieces of mica or glass 

 and view it through a compound microscope. 



If it seems desirable to preserve the detail, let the glycerine 

 mica-mount remain without- a cover-glass in a place free from 

 dust until the water has entirely evaporated, then slightly warm 

 the slide and place a drop of warm glycerine-jelly on a mica 

 cover and invert this over the mount. 



Glycerine jelly and mica may be procured of any dealer in 

 microscope supplies. Small bits of mica may also be procured 

 at slight cost from wall-paper factories or from factories where 

 mica is used in the manufacture of electrical supplies. 



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