386 Mr. Hooker's Observations on Andraii.- 



et operOulato praedita. Per fructum calyptratum, capsulaiii teg- 

 mentocucuUatoseu mitritbrmi coroUae specieni sistente, et a tha- 

 lamo, cui priraiis adlia.Mebat, divulso vel per medium abniptum * 

 instructum intelligimns, et per fructum operculatum, capsulam 

 operculo plerumque libero, et maturitate decideiite, rariils rema- 

 nente, tectam." Thus, he continues, avc remove from the order 

 Musci, 1. the Lycopodia, 2. Porella, 3. Marchantia, Jiingerman- 

 ma, and Antkoceros, "quae quidem fructu non vero opercu- 

 lato sod dentibus aut valvulis pluribus dehiscente gaudent." 

 The capsule is in reality furnished with an operculum, that is to 

 say, is terminated by a conical-shaped covering, which, although 

 closely united to the capsule, still has its line of separation so 

 far defined that I should not think any one would hesitate in 

 calling it an operculum. In A. nipestris and RotJiii this part is 

 even of a different colour. It is true it does not fall off, as in 

 most other Mosses, for the emission of the seeds, nor does the 

 singular conformation of the capsule require it ; for, when the 

 capsule is fully ripe, four longitudinal openings permit the dis- 

 charge of the seeds. This operation can only be performed id 

 dry weather, when the spaces between the valves open, the valves 

 themselves swelling out, and the capsule, from an ovato-oblong 

 figure, becoming more orbicular, as represented at Tab. XXXI. 

 fl<y. 4. f. In moist weather the openings become contracted, 

 and the capsule recovers its original form, even though the seeds 

 may have been discharged. The calyptra is never elevated with 

 the capsule in the shape of a true calyptra, as in the Musci in ge- 

 neral, nor does it open vertically as in Jtingermannia, but is some- 



* In a note to this passage, Bridal instances as a single exception the genus Sphag- 

 num, in which the lower and torn pan of the calyptra remains surrounding the base q4 

 the capsule. Andrcea of course makes another exception. 



what 



