188 



FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



stem is covered with a growth of brown, felt-like hairs (fig. 172), 

 which penetrate the soil and act like root-hairs, absorbing water 



and food substances. 



The Leaves at the upper end of 

 the stem are of small size and simple 

 form. They are often arranged in 

 spirals. As they are very numerous 

 and as Moss plants grow together in 

 colonies, the rain water that falls on 

 V^^ v\VW I tl^®^^^ is not only absorbed by the 



Mff// >nir // leaves in large quantities, but it is 



also retained in the spaces between 

 single plants and between their leaves 

 and stems. 



Leaves and stems, when examined 

 under a microscope, are found to be 

 composed only of cells. They contain 

 no vessels at all. Hence they are 

 termed Cellular Plants. All the 

 plants which we have hitherto noticed 

 consist of cells and vessels, and are, 

 therefore, called Vascular Plants. 



If a group of Mosses, say of Hair- 

 moss {Polytrichum commune)^ is ex- 

 amined, we shall find 



(«) some specimens with merely 

 a bud, composed of young leaves; 



{b) other specimens bearing, at 

 their upper end, cup-like rosettes of 

 leaves, which assume a bright-red- 

 dish colour and protect the minute 

 reproductive organs (fig. 172, to the 

 left) ; 



(c) other specimens again bearing at their tips long-stalked 

 spore-capsules, which we shall now study a little closer (fig. 172, 

 to the right). 



3. The Spore-Capsule — Uoth Ferns and Mosses are reproduced 



Fig. 172.— Ilair-^SIoss 

 {Volylrirhinii ruin invnc). 



