284 HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



stalks, containing at top clusters of their respective organs, 

 whicli may be examined with a comparatively low micro- 

 scopic power. "What, however, is more properly the fruit, 

 and most conspicuous to the naked eye, is the object figured 

 in Plate XX. It usually consists of the following parts. 



Calyx. — This, though by no means a conspicuous object, 

 is rarely wanting. It forms a protection to the calyptra, 

 which we shall presently notice ; and its variations in struc- 

 ture and appearance will be found copiously detailed in the 

 article Musci of Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, vol. xv. p. 28. 



The Cahptra is a more important organ than the cali/x, 

 and than the covering of the same name among Mosses. 

 In these, we found it disappearing long before the maturity 

 of the capsule ; while in Hepatica it is usually of a more 

 substantial fabric, and survives the dispersion of the spores, 

 and decay of the capsule. It rises from the calyx, is tipped 

 with an apparent style in an early stage, encloses the capsule, 

 and is filled with a transparent fluid, which seems to afford 

 some nourishment to the ripening fruit. In due time this 

 fluid is absorbed, the capsule is extended, when, instead of 

 — as in Mosses — rising as a covering, it decays, or remains 

 to protect the delicate transparent footstalk, or rather elon- 

 gated receptacle of the fruit. 



