28 HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



The nature and extent of the present work will not per- 

 mit of our entering into minute descriptions of any of these 

 obscure parts^ of detailing the investigations of muscologists, 

 or of discussing the various opinions regarding the processes 

 by wliich the seeds or buds are matured. Before however 

 proceeding to examine the structure of the capsule or tlieca — 

 popularly and justly regarded as the most important part of 

 the fruit of a Moss — we must say a few words on objects 

 of another description, intimately connected with the propa- 

 gation of species, though their functions are obscure, and 

 have been a source of much discussion among those who 

 have devoted their attention to such intricate investigations. 

 These are the gemma, or buds, of which the star-shaped 

 bodies, which appear in great numbers at certain seasons on 

 the summit of the branches of various species of mosses, are 

 examples. While in most instances they are so minute as 

 to attract little attention, there are some species in which 

 they are so distinct and beautiful as to be objects of interest 

 to the most casual observer. Such are the forms found on 

 various species of Poli/trichum on wall-tops, moors, etc., 

 visible at considerable distances by the brilliancy of their 

 tints. In Bryum, Bartramia, and other genera, simikr 

 bodies are found, presenting a dark -coloured velvety mass 



