317 



Tribe II. MUSCOIDE^, or MOSS LIKE PLANTS. 



Cellulares foliaceje, Dec. Theor. Elem. 249. (1819).— Pseudocotyledoneje, Class 1. 

 Agardh Aph. 103. (1822).— Heterenomea, Fries Syst. Orb. Veg. 33. (1825) in part.— 

 Acotyledones, Class 2. Ad. Brongniart in Diet. Class 5. 159. (1824). — Cryptogam ice, 

 2d Circle, T. F. L. Necs v. Esenbeck and Ebermaicr Handb. der Med. Bot. 1. 18. (1830.) 



Diagnosis. Flowerless plants, with a distinct stem having no vascular 

 system, but frequently furnished with leaves ; their sporules having a proper 

 integument, and contained in distinct axillary, terminal, or superficial thecal. 



These are altogether intermediate between the first and third families, and 

 are distinguishable essentially by their having a distinct axis of growth with- 

 out any vascular system ; they are connected with Marsileaceae by Junger- 

 mannia, and with Lichens by Riccia and Marchantia ; to Algre the transition 

 is by Characeffi, which have the evascular axis of Muscoidea?, with the habit 

 and propagating matter of Algae. Von Esenbeck and Ebermaier refer Chara- 

 ce33 to the next tribe, but their structure is scarcely reconcilable with the cha- 

 racter those authors give it, viz. " root, stem, and leaves, not separately formed ; 

 all analogy with plants of a higher organization is lost, and the green matter, 

 which is so characteristic of the vegetable kingdom, scarcely makes its appear- 

 ance," &c. 



LIST OF THE ORDERS. 

 267. Musci. | 268. Hepatic©. | 269. Characea?. 



C CLXVII. MUSCI. The Moss Tribe. 



Mcsci, Juss. Gen. 10. (1789); Hedwig Dcscr. et Adumb. (1787-1797); Bridel Muscolug. 

 recentiorum (1797-1803) ; Hedw. Species Muscor. Frondos. (1801); Palisot Prodrome de* 

 5 el 6 Fam. dc VMthiogam. (1805); Bridel Suppl. (1806-1819); Weber Tabid. Muse, 



Hornsrhuch, and Sturm, Bryolog. Germ. (1823) ; Grev. FI. Edin. xiii. (1824); Ad. Brongn. 

 in Diet. Class. 11. 248. (1827); Hooker Brit. Fl. 1. 459. (1830.) 



Diagnosis. Flowerless plants, with the sporules contained in theca*, closed 

 by an operculum. 



Anomalies. In Andrea;a the theca separates into 4 valves. 



Essential Character. — Erect or creeping-, terrestrial or aquatic, cellular plants, having- a 

 distinct axis of growth, destitute of a vascular system, and covered with minute, imbricated, 

 entire, or serrated leaves. Reproductive organs of two kinds, viz. 1. Axillary bodies, cylindri- 

 cal or fusiform stalked scars, containing- a multitude of spherical or oval particles, which arc 

 emitted upon the application of water; 2. Theca-, hollow urn-like cases seated upon a setaor 

 stalk, covered by a membranous calyptra, closed by a lid or operculum, within which are one 



or m rowsof cellular rigid processes, called collectively the pcrislomium, and separately 



teeth, which are always some multiple of four, and combined in various degrees; I he centre .'.1 

 the theca: is occupied by an axis or columella, and the space between it and the sides of the 

 theca is filled with sporules. Sporules in germination protruding eonfervoid filaments, which 

 afterwards ramify, and form an axis of growth at the point of the ramifications 



