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flask. At the bottom of it is a single cell called the Oosphere, 
which, after contact with an Antherozoid, becomes the sporogonium 
and finally the capsule. But with some mosses in our hand where 
must we look for the Antheridia and Pistillidia? We must fix upon 
those clusters of leaves, often looking like buds, and examine them 
well. They vary in position and shape and different names (Peri- 
gone and Perigynium) have been given to them, according as they 
contain only one kind or both kinds of ‘ flowers.” The term 
‘‘ receptacle” is a convenient one. The leaves round the Anthe- 
ridia are often brightly coloured. With the aid of our microscope 
we shall have a successful search, and shall notice surrounding the 
organs some jointed threads called paraphyses. Let us now trace 
the course of the capsule of a True Moss from its beginning and 
then see what it is like when mature. The oosphere grows 
thicker and thicker until it ruptures the case of the pistillidium 
near the bottom, leaving a part behind to form a vaginula 
(or sheath) for the seta, but carrymg up the greater part to 
form the calyptra (or veil). (Free use was here made of diagrams 
and specimens). The oosphere has several coats which form 
the operculum and the peristome. Inside the growing oosphere 
the columella is formed, together with a large number of spores. 
Look, now, at the complete capsule (as seen in this excellent 
diagram). First comes the veil which can be easily lifted off, then 
the lid, which can also be removed, and then, in most mosses, 
comes the peristome. The peristome being thrown back, the 
columella and spores come into view. The veil and lid vary greatly 
in shape and size. They are often wanting in specimens we collect, 
simply because the spores could not be scattered were they to 
remain. The veil, on account of its shape, or of the way it is split 
or torn, is often a very valuable guide to the student, for 
instance in Encalypta (the extinguisher moss) the veil is large and 
conical. Let us suppose now that the veil and lid are gone. Now 
we see the mouth of the capsule either surrounded by a plain rim 
(Annulus) or by one or two rings (Orthotrichum, Bryum) of teeth. 
These are the peristome (round the mouth). Some mosses are 
gymnostomous (or naked mouthed) being without a peristome. 
The ‘‘teeth” may be four in number as in Georgia, or eight 
(Fissidens), or sixteen (Pottia, Ceratodon), or thirty-two (Tortula), 
or sixty-four (Polytrichum), the number being always four or a 
multiple of four. In Cryptogams, four seems to be characteristic 
just as five is in Exogens and three in Endogens. The teeth can 
be seen, and often counted without the use of a glass at all, though, 
of course, it is much better to have the assistance of the magnifier. 
No one who has never examined the mouth of a moss-capsule can 
have any true idea of the beauty that is there. The peristome is 
