FEUCTIFICATION. 27 



here none of the " unnumbered dyes" of the gaudy tulip, 

 the odour and brilliant hues of Flora's queen, the rose, 

 and little approaching the ruby and gold tints of our 

 summer and autumn fruits; but who that has searched in 

 winter or early spring the wall-top, woodland, or rocky 

 height, after our tiny favourites, will say that these more 

 conspicuous vegetable beauties eclipse the graceful and 

 poHshed urn of Tolytrlclmm and Brpim, the grooved and 

 apple-shaped capsule of Bartramia, and the scarlet-fringed 

 seed-vessel of Grimmia and Bicranum ? 



In speaking of the stems and foliage of Mosses, we 

 mentioned that there were some important particulars in 

 which these differed from corresponding parts in flowering 

 plants, and the same remark may be made regarding their 

 fruit and seeds. In the former the stamens and pistils — 

 or male and female organs — with the accessory parts, are 

 more or less easily distinguished ; and subsequently to the 

 period of flowering, the seed-vessel, with its divisions and 

 coats, can be readily separated and examined. It is difle- 

 rent when we come to examine these or analogous parts 

 among Mosses, as they are in most cases minute, and in a 

 young state especially not very obvious, even to the prac- 

 tised eye, from being concealed in buds or similar receptacles. 



