470 



THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



[D, 



The calyptra or veil envelops the young fruit, and is thin 

 and membranous; it is sometimes torn irregularly, or it remains 

 even at the base, when it is termed mitriform, or it is slit upon one 

 side, when we call it cucullate or dimidiate ; it is usually smooth, 

 but sometimes densely hairy (figs 14, 15, 16). 



The theca or capsule. — This presents an infinite variety of 

 forms, but all of the greatest elegance; it may be globose, ovate, 

 pear-shaped, or cylindric, straight or arched, erect or pendulous, 

 smooth or furrowed. In some it is swollen all around at the base, 



Fig. 15. Cucullate inflated Calyptra of 

 Fuuaria. 



Fig. 16. Cucullate conic 

 Calyptra of Fissidens. 



and this part is usually of a different colour, and is named the 

 apophysis (fig. 17) ; in others it bulges out on one side of the 

 base, and is then said to be strumose (fig. 18). 



Fig. 17. Fruit ofSplachnum 

 ampullaceum with small 

 conic lid, cylindric capsule, 

 and obovate apophysis. 



Fig. 18. Strumose capsule of Dicranum 

 Starkii, with rostrate lid and annulus. 



Closing the mouth of the capsule, we see a little cap — the 

 operculum or Hd, in shape flat, conical, or beaked; this, at matu- 

 rity, is thrown off, either by the swelling of the contents or by 

 the shrinking of a contractile ring of cells interposed between the 

 lid and mouth of the capsule, which is named the annulus; well 

 seen in the common Funaria. Tn the genus Andresea there is no 

 lid, and the capsule opens by splitting into four valves (fig. 19); 

 and in another section there is also no lid, the capsule giving exit 



