LESSONS IN BOTANY. 



it is suitable for them to fix. The capsule being ele- 

 vated on it<< footstalk, is freely exposed to the effects of snn 

 in.l wiuil ; thus the seed is first ripened, and then disseminated 

 . .VIT thr I- as.-ioa of recumbent moss below them, so keeping up 

 and extending an active fresh vegetation, whilst the decaying 



Tin froah soil whereon the new ones may grow. The 

 .ijisulii of the Tortula ia oblong, the lid conical, the leaves ex- 

 panded and of a very long oblong, their margins bent back, 

 .Mil tho nerve protruded beyond the leaf into a white hair-like 

 The seeds lio inside the theca, and are contained in a 

 thin bog, open at the upper 

 end, and surrounding a cen- 

 tral column called the co- 

 Inmella. 



Such is the usual conforma- 

 tion of mosses, the organs of 

 which we have spoken root, 

 stem, leaves, and capsule 

 being present in all, though 

 they vary in form, arrange- 

 ment, and other particulars, 

 according to the different 

 of which they are 

 Qbers. In some the root is 

 longer and more creeping than 

 in others ; the stems differ 

 in length and in other points, 

 some being branched, others 

 simple; some feathered with 

 leaves from base to apex, 



bare at the base. The 



and veining of the 



also varies in different 

 kinds, as do the fruit-stalks, 

 some being curved, as in Fig. 



279, others erect, as in Fig. 



280. Some proceed from the 

 ends of the stem and branches, 

 as in Fig. 279, whilst others 

 come off laterally, as in Fig. 

 280 ; and some kinds are de- 

 void of them altogether, the 

 capsule being sessile, and 

 buried among the foliage. 



The grand distinguishing 

 features which mark the 

 genera are chiefly found in 

 the form and position of the 

 theca, and the structure of 

 the calyptra, or veil. Our 

 space will only allow of our 

 slightly touching on a few of 

 these variations, and those 

 who are disposed to study the 

 subject of mosses to a greater 

 length, are referred to the 

 'MuscologJa Britannica" of 

 Drs. Hooker and Taylor, and 

 other works which bear di- 

 rectly on the topic ; but we 

 may adduce a few instances 

 ){ the distinctions to be found 

 in some of the commonest 

 jenera. 



In the Sphagnum (Fig. 282), those pale whitish mosses which 

 carpet the ground in bogs, the theca is sessile, that which looks 

 like a fruit-stalk being in fact a continuation of the roceptacle, 

 and its form is that of a little cup, the mouth of which ia un- 

 covered. In the Bartramia, the theca is sub-globose, and seated 



282. spiiAoiNtut. 283 1, 2, THECA OF SPHAGNTJC. 281. ENCALTFTA OB 



EXTINGUISHER MOSS 1, THE PLANT; 2, THECA j 3, CAZ.YPIHA. 285. 

 CINCLIDOTUS FOHTANALOIDES. 



so largo, as wholly to cover and conceal tb theca, looking like 

 an extinguisher placed orer a candle. This species grows OB 

 wall-topi, and appears with the screw wall-mow, and the prett> 

 cushion-moss (Qrimmia pulvinata), rety early in the 

 Thia latter is called by children " pincunh ion-mo**/' 

 whan covered with its fruit, it looks not unlike a cushion 

 with small pins. It has an oral theca, the frait-stalk is : 

 short and curved, the lid conical, and the calyptra in the form 

 of a mitre. The capsule of Andrea l provided with Yalre*, 

 and opens with longitudinal clefts, whilst P/uucum, and other* 



have persistent lids. In some 

 of the genera the veil is irre- 

 gularly rent, in others it Ls 

 perfect; in some it has the 

 form of a mitre, whilst others 

 are beautifully plaited at the 

 base. The differences in the 

 leaves, growth, etc., of the va- 

 rious kinds are innumerable; 

 yet, though the parts differ 

 from each other, the general 

 characteristics which distin- 

 guish mosses from plant* of 

 every other tribe are so marked 

 and peculiar, that no one need 

 be at a loss to know a mow 

 from any other individual of 

 the vegetable kingdom. 



Mosses select very various, 

 in some cases singular habi- 

 tats; one species is found 

 only on the highest Scotch 

 mountains; another only in 

 a bog near Cork. One very 

 remarkable one grows on the 

 perpendicular face of the 

 white chalk cliffs in Kent and 

 Sussex ; others are confined 

 to calcareous rocks, whilst 

 some, as Cindidotut fonta- 

 naloides (Fig. 285), will only 

 live beneath the water, or 

 where the spray and dash of 

 the waterfall keeps them con- 

 tinually moistened. There vt 

 one kind almost sure to spring 

 up where anything has been 

 burnt on the ground, espe- 

 cially where charcoal has been 

 made, whence its French 

 name, La Charbonitre. 



Hooker tells us that most 

 species of Splachnum are 

 found only on the dang of 

 animals, particularly of that 

 of oxen or foxes. "One of 

 these, Splachnum angutta- 

 turn," he says, "which M 

 commonly met with on dung, 

 we once saw growing vigor- 

 ously on the foot of an old 

 stocking near the summit of 

 Ingleborongh, Yorkshire : the 

 same was also found by a 



friend of ours covering the half-decayed hat of a traveller who 

 had perished on Mount Saint Bernard ; and the same was, if we 

 mistake not, found by Captain Parry in Melville T V"j|, vege- 

 tating on the bleached skull of a musk ox." 



This is no doubt that species of moss which the old herbalist, 



on a terminal fruit-stalk this has a double fringe, the outer of j Gerard, calls Muscus ex Cnauo Hunmtio, or moss from the human 

 sixteen teeth ; the inner a membrane divided into sixteen seg- ' skull. " This kind of mosa," says he, " is found upon the 

 monts, each of which is cleft into two parts, and the calyptra \ skulls or bare scalps of men and women lying long in charnel- 

 is divided in half. The Polyfrichum, or hair-moss (Fig. 281),' houses, or other places, where the bones of men and women 

 has a double peristome, or fringe, the outer of thirty-two, or are kept together; it groweth very thicke. white like unto the 

 sixty-four incurved teeth, placed at equal distances ; the inner short moss on the trunkes of old oakes ; it is thought to be a 

 a thick membrane connected with the outer teeth. The veil of singular remedy against the falling evil, and the chin cough in 

 this is also divided in half. The Encalypfa, or extinguisher- children, if it be powdered and given in sweet wine for certain 

 laoss (Fig. 284), has a terminal fruit-stalk, and its calyptra is dales together." 



