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SECT. II. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 221 



minal ; but they are often also lateral or radical. 

 They are not furnished with any integument that 

 can be decidedly called a calyx, though the leaves 

 immediately surrounding them are generally dif- 

 ferent both in size and structure from the other 

 leaves of the plant ; and in the genus Hypnum are so 

 very obviously different as to have obtained the proper 

 appellation of the Perich&tium or Fence, being an Fence, 

 assemblage of loosely imbricated scales terminating 

 in a fine hair or bristle, rather than real leaves. 



But if they are not to be regarded as constituting Auxiliary 

 a real calyx, or part of the real leaves of the spe- plstl s ' 

 cies, they are at least to be regarded as constitut- 

 ing floral leaves, both from their contiguity to the 

 flower and analogy to the floral leaves and perfect 

 plants. In their original distribution they form 

 generally a sort of bud, from the centre of which 

 the flower issues, presenting, when first discoverable, 

 the appearance of a fine and minute point pro- 

 jecting from the bosom of the leaves. This in- 

 cipient stage of growth is very distinctly visible 

 in the fertile flowers of Funaria hygrometrica 

 (PL VII. Fig. Q.), if gathered about the month 

 of January, which are also accompanied with a 

 number of succulent pistils somewhat similar to 

 those described as accompanying the barren flowers, 

 and equally unaccountable. Hedwig calls them 

 auxiliary pistils, but does not pretend absolutely 

 to determine their function ; * and Dr. Smith 

 * Fund. Hist. Nat. chap. ix. 

 5 



