54 



MUSCALES. 



[ACROGENS. 



Alliance IV. — MUSCALES. — The Muscal Alliance. 



Cellulares FOLIACE.E, BC. Tkeor. Elem. 249. (1819). — P&eudocotyledone.e, Class I, Agardh, Aph. 

 103. (1822).— Hetekonewea, Fries Syst. Orb. Veg.33. (1825) in part.— Acotyledo^ks, Class 2. 

 Ad. Brongniart in Bict. Class. 5. 159. (1824). — Cbyptogamic^, 2d Circle, T. F. L. Nees v. Esen- 

 beck and Ebermaier Handb. der Med. Bot. 1. 18. (1830). — Hepatic^ and Musci, Endlicher Gen. 

 42. and 46. 



Diagnosis. — Cellular or vascular Acrogens, ivitk the sjpore-cases either phinged in the 

 substance of the frond, or enclosed in a cap-like hood. 

 Next after the Algal series follows that which derives its name from Mosses, pre 

 sentiug at one point a structure nearly as simple as that of Lichens, and at another a 

 complexity of organization miknown elsewhere among Acrogens. The Crystalworts 

 (Ricciacese), by which the series begins, are mere lobes of gxeen or pm'ple parenchyma 

 floating in water or spreading over mud, and multiplied by reproductive particles 

 (spores) generated in hollow flask-hke cases. Then follow^ masses of species gathered 

 together under the names of Liverworts (Marchantiaceee) and Scalemosses (Jmigerman- 

 niaceee), whose stems and leaves are, in the majority of mstances distinctly separate, 

 and among whose spores are formed elastic threads with a powerful hygi'ometric quahty 

 and of unknown use. Finally the i*anks are closed by Splitmosses (Andrseacese), and 

 Urn-Mosses (Bryace^e), which have in all cases a distmct axis of growth, symmetrical 

 leaves, and a complicated reproductive apparatus formed by the adhesion of leaves in 

 rings or w'horls : in emulation, as it were, of flowers, in the more completely organized 

 classes of Endogens and Exogens. 



In the opinion of a large number of modem observers there are two sexes m all 

 these plants, the one bearing the name of Antheridia (or false anthers), and the other of 



PistiUidia (or false pistils). That 

 ^ such organs exist is certain ; the 



question is whether or not they 

 are to be looked upon as con- 

 nected with sexual qualities. 

 Those who regard them in that 

 light have naturally taken the 

 imbedded oblong antheridia of 

 Marchantia, and the stalked re- 

 ticulated ones of Jimgermannia, 

 for anthers ; but Hooker, in his 

 beautiful Monograph of the latter 

 genus, and also in his British 

 Flora, (p. 459,) is misatisfied as 

 to their nature. Greville, in the 

 Flora Edinensis, is in a simUai- 

 state of micertainty ; and Agardh 

 admits nothmg more in them 

 than a resemblance to male 

 organs, adoptmg the opinion that 

 they are a particular form of 

 gemmules. Mu-bel considers the 

 cups or baskets of Marchantia to 

 be filled with little buds, and the 

 peltate receptacles to be male 

 , . flowers, while the stalked recep- 



tacles are masses of pistils. (See his admirable Memou-, tt.\-i. et y\\.) On the other 

 hand CxreviUe and Arnott, m the fourth volume of the Tramactions of the Wemerian 

 bociety, speak thus positively agamst the sexuahty of the organs m question :— 



" What the organs really are, in the plants under review, which the accurate Hedwig 

 so well figured and described imder the name of stamens, we leave to others to decide ; 

 but we cannot help entermg om- protest against those bodies called Stamina and Pistilla 

 (the young thecae) bemg regarded m a similar light with the same organs m more per- 

 fect plants ' Though,' says Sprengel, * I have formerly been a zealous advocate for 

 tiedwigs Tlieory of the Frucfijiccttion of Ilosses, it has nevertheless appeared to me an 

 insurmountable objection, that the supposed anther can agam produce buds and strike 

 roots ; which is certainly the case with re gard to the disks of Polytrichum commune, 



r,Ji?.'>,S^/p;r? ■• y°""^ spore-cases and paraphyses of Mnium cuspid^toL 

 paraphyses of Polytrichum commune.— ( Link.) 



Fig. XXXIV. 



2. Antheridia and 



