CHAPTER XIX 



BRYOPHYTES 

 MUSCI 



Material for a study of the mosses is much more abundant, and 

 a series of stages in the development of the various organs is easily 

 secured; but it is much more difficult to obtain good preparations, 

 because so many of the structures are hard to cut. Chromo-acetic 

 acid is to be recommended as the most satisfactory fixing agent, but 

 where structures are refractory and very likely to make trouble in 

 cutting it will often be found more satisfactory to use formalin 

 alcohol or picro-acetic acid in the 70 per cent alcohol, since material 

 fixed in these reagents does not become as hard or as brittle as that 

 fixed in any of the chromic-acid series. 



Protonema. Protonema of some moss can always be found at 

 any season. Look for greenish patches resembling Vaucheria. 

 Such mats show the developing protonema and young leafy plants. 

 Very young mats of moss will also show good protonema, but are 

 not likely to show young buds. The brownish bulbils, which are 

 quite common in mosses, can be seen with a good pocket lens. The 

 little Webera, almost always found on the pots in the fernery or on 

 the benches in greenhouses, quite frequently shows this mode of 

 reproduction. Protonema is easily grown from spores. 



Permanent mounts are very easily made. Simply wash away 

 the dirt with water and put the material into 10 per cent glycerin, 

 and let the glycerin concentrate. Mount in glycerin or glycerin 

 jelly for permanent mounts. Seal thoroughly. Such mounts, with 

 no fixing or staining, may retain the green color for many years. 



Antheridia. It is easy to find material for a study of antheridia, 

 because, in so many cases, the antheridial plants can be detected at 

 once without even a pocket lens. Funaria, with its bunch of anther- 

 idia as large as a pinhead, is extremely common everywhere. Spring 

 is the best time to collect it, but it is found fruiting in the autumn 



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