CLASS CRYPTOGAMIA. 213 



The Shave-Rush (Equisctum), common in moist 

 meadows, is also the type of a distinct order (Equi- 

 setaceje). Their stems are leafless, striated cylin- 

 ders, either undivided or verticillately branched, the 

 joints surrounded with toothed sheathes. The vernal 

 or flowering stems, for the most part quickly perish, 

 but are succeeded by others which are barren and du- 

 rable. — The fructification occurs in terminal spikes 

 made up of peltate many-cornered scales, on the un- 

 der side of which are from 5 to 7 sac-like involucra, 

 opening lengthwise on the inner side. The sporct 

 included in the involucrum are numerous, green and 

 globular, with 4 filaments at the base of each, which 

 are dilated at the extremity. 



The Mosses (Musci). 



These are a very peculiar tribe of diminutive plants, 

 of an olivaceous or dark green color, presenting com- 

 monly large clusters of low forked branches arising 

 from creeping roots, and clothed with minute or mi- 

 croscopic leaves, often closely imbricated or crowded 

 in regular rows. From these arise, generally, capillary 

 peduncles terminated by oblong or cylindric capsules, 

 not preceded by flowers, having the summit at first, 

 protected by a deciduous veil or calyptre in the form 

 of an extinguisher or long cone. After the fall of the 

 calyptre, the summit of the capsule becomes visible ; 

 it is sometimes closed by a lid, but the margin or pe- 

 ristome is almost universally edged with a beautiful 

 symmetrical fringe of hairs or processes, differing in 

 number and form, according to the genus, and ar- 

 ranged either in a single or double series. These 

 hairs are by 4's, or multiples of that simple number, 

 as 4 in the Andrew and Tetraphis, in others 8, 1 6, 32, 

 or 64. One of our most common kinds is the Hair- 



