The Luminous Moss 



Schistostega osmundacea, Web. & Mohr. 

 Plant (gametopbyte) . Living but one year, produced from a 

 persistent, thread-like growth (protonema); stems tender and deli- 

 cate, usually simple, ^ of an inch high with root-like filaments 



at the base. Two 



forms are found, 



the barren which 



are naked below 



and have two rows 



of vertically placed 



leaves above, 



the fertile which 



resemble the bar- 

 ren or are naked 



except for a small 



tuft of terminal 



leaves. 



Name . The 



specific name os- 



mundacea suggests 



a resemblance to 



the ferns of the 



same name. 



Leaves. Ob- 

 long-pointed, con- 

 fluent at the base; 

 cells large, rhom- 

 boidal, containing 

 leaf-green. 



Habit of flower- 

 ing. Male and fe- 

 male On Separate S. osmundacea. Barren 

 ..... plant with male branch at 



plants (dlOlCOUS) the left. 



male flower -clus- 

 ters bud-like. 



Veil (calyptra). Minute, narrow, 

 resembling a bishop's hat, covering the lid only. 

 Spore-case. Small, almost spherical, soft. 

 Spore-sac (sporangium). Distinct. 

 Columella. Present, thick. 



S. osmundacea. Fertile plant. 



2O I 



