MOSSES. 130 



A. Three-cornered Hypnum (Hypnum triquetruiri) is a 

 common species on woodland banks, growing in branching 

 tufts. The stems are well clothed with leaves, which consist of 

 a single layer of cells ; there is therefore no necessity for the 

 breathing pores (stomates) found on the leaves of flowering 

 plants and giving access to the tissues beneath the cuticle. The 

 leaves of mosses are not provided with stomates ; neither are 

 they stalked, but attached directly to the stem by their base. 

 From the sides of the stem at intervals a number of brown, 

 hair-like threads are given off, and each of these ends in a 

 brown, pear-shaped nodding organ, the spore capsule. These 

 capsules are each closed with a lid (operculum) , beneath which 

 is a double row of teeth, their tips directed towards the centre 

 of the mouth. When the spores are ripe the operculum is cast 

 off, and these teeth erect themselves to allow the minute spores 

 to escape. The teeth (forming the peristome) of mosses are 

 always some multiple of four ; in Hypnum each row contains 

 sixteen. 



B. Beautiful Hair-moss (Polytrichum formosttm) represents 

 another division of mosses in which the fruits are borne on the 

 termination of the stem or principal branches. In an earlier 

 condition than that figured the capsule is covered with a 

 conical densely-hairy cap (calyptrd] ; this is thrown off when 

 the spores are ripe, the operculum follows and the spores are 

 cast. 



Mushrooms, and Toadstools (Fungi}. Plate 128. 



We cannot pretend to do other than call the rambler's 

 attention to the interesting plants that are variously called 

 mushrooms or toadstools, according to whether they are of the 

 two or three species commonly eaten, or of the multitude 

 concerning which the British public knows nothing, and there- 

 fore dismisses them as worthless toadstools. 



K 



