The Luminous Moss 



Schistostega osmundacea, Web. & Mohr. 

 Plant (gametophyte) . Living but one year, produced from a 

 persistent, thread-like growth (protonemd); stems tender and deli- 

 cate, usually simple, X of an inch high w ^h root-like filaments 



at the base. Two 

 forms are found, 

 the barren which 

 are naked below 

 and have two rows 

 of vertically placed 

 leaves above, 

 the fertile which 

 resemble the bar- 

 ren or are naked 

 except for a small 

 tuft of terminal 

 leaves. 



Name . The 

 specific name os- 

 mundacea suggests 

 a resemblance to 

 the ferns of the 

 same name. 



Leaves. Ob- 

 long-pointed, con- 

 fluent at the base; 

 cells large, rhom- 

 boidal, containing 

 leaf-green. 



Habit of flower- 

 ing. Male and fe- 

 male On Separate S. osmundacea. Barren 



plant with male branch at 

 plants (dlOlCOUS) the left. 



male flower -clus- 

 ters bud-like. 



Veil (calyptrd). Minute, narrow, 

 resembling a bishop's hat, covering the lid only. 

 Spore-case. Small, almost spherical, soft. 

 Spore-sac (sporangium) . Distinct. 

 Columella. Present, thick. 



S. osmundacea. Fertile plant. 



