MUSCI 



141 



and the entire structure is sometimes — from analogy with the corre- 

 sponding structure in Flowering Plants — called the flower. Such a 

 flower may either be hermaphrodite, including both antherids and 

 archegones, or unisexual, and the species may then be monoecious or 

 dioecious. The female and the hermaphrodite flowers are not dissimilar 

 in appearance, while that of the male flowers is altogether different. 



Fig. 106. — Funaria hygromettica; longitudinal section through male inflorescence; a, young an- 

 therid ; b, nearly mature antherid ; c, paraphyses ; d, e, perigonal leaves ( x 300). (After Goebel.) 



In the hermaphrodite flowers the archegones usually occupy the 

 central position, corresponding to the pistil in Flowering Plants, the 

 antherids being arranged in an encircling spiral; while the whole is 

 enveloped in a rosette of small leaves termed iht perichcste or perianth. 

 The entire structure resembles externally arrelongated closed bud. Only a 

 single archegone in each flower is usually fertilised or arrives at maturity. 

 The female resemble the hermaphrodite flowers in every respect except 



