16 



PIGEON-WHEAT MOSS. 



insignificant; in appearance, it is easily overlooked. Hence 

 ,thf eav-ly botanists* called this and all the Mosses, Lichens, 

 &c., Cryptogams (= Cryptogamia), that is, plants with hid- 

 den flowers, or more familiarly, the FLOWERLESS PLANTS. 



The Name given to this plant by Linnaeus,* the founder 

 of the science of Botany, is Polytrichum, a name derived 

 from the Greek polys, much, thrix, hair ; on account of its 

 hairy calyptra. 



ANALYSIS OF THE PIGEON-WHEAT MOSS. 



* In his botanical tours in Lapland, Linnaeus found this Moss very abundant, and 

 tells us that in his hours of rest he often made it his couch and pillow. 



