496 



CRYPTOGAMOUS OR FLOWERLESS PLANTS. 



CLASS IV. ANOPHYTES. 



Vegetables composed of parenchyma alone, with acrogenous 

 growth, usually with distinct foliage, sometimes the stem and foli- 

 age confluent into a frond (105, Fig. 87, 88). 



937. Ord, Musci (Mosses). Low, tufted plants, always with a 

 stem and distinct (sessile) leaves, producing spore-cases which 

 mostly open by a terminal lid, and contain simple spores alone. 

 Reproductive organs of two kinds : 1. The sterile flower, consist- 

 ing of numerous (4-20) minute cylindrical sacs (antheridia) 

 which discharge from their apex a mucous fluid filled with oval 

 particles, and then perish. 2. The fertile flower, composed of 

 numerous (4-20) flask-like bodies (pistillidia) , each having a 

 membranous covering (calyptra), terminated by a long cylindri- 



cal funnel-mouthed tube (style). The ripened pistillidium (sel- 



FIG. 1155. Mnium cuspidatum. 1156. The calyptra detached from the theca. 1157. Mag- 

 nified theca, from which the lid or operculum, 1158, has been removed, showing the peristome. 

 1159. A portion of the annulns, magnified. 1160. A portion of the outer and inner peristome, 

 highly magnified. 1161. The so-called flowers in a young state, consisting of the young thecse 

 $ , and the antheridia ^ , with some cellular jointed threads intermixed ; the involucral 

 leaves cut away. 1162. One of the antheridia more magnified (with the accompanying cellular 

 threads), opening at the apex, and discharging the fovilla. 1163. Simple peristome of Splach- 

 num; the teeth united in pairs. 1164. Double peristome of Hypnum ; the exterior spreading. 

 1165. Physcomitrium (Gymnostomum) pyriforme. 1166. Its calyptra, detached from 1167, the 

 theca. 1168. The lid removed from the orifice, which is destitute of a peristome. 



