I. MOSS. 



19 



dry spinous leaves, set close to the fibre they grow 

 on. Out of this leafy stem descends a fibrous 

 root, and ascends, in its season, a capped seed. 



We must get this very clearly 

 into our heads. Fig. 2, A, is a little 

 tuft of a common wood moss of 

 Norway* in its fruit season, of its 

 real size ; but at present I want to 

 look at the central fibre and its 

 leaves accurately, and understand that 

 first. 



10. Pulling it to pieces, we find it 

 composed of seven little company- 

 keeping fibres, each of which, by 

 itself, appears as in Fig. 2, B : but 

 as in this, its real size, it is too 

 small, not indeed for our respect, 

 but for our comprehension, we mag- 

 nify it, Fig. 2, c, and thereupon 

 perceive it to be indeed composed 

 of, a, the small fibrous root which 

 sustains the plant ; b, the leaf- 

 surrounded stem which is the actual 

 being, and main creature, moss ; and, 

 c, the aspirant pillar, and cap, of its 

 fructification. yig. 2. 



* ' Dicranum cerviculatum,' sequel to Flora Danica, Tab. MMCCX. 



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