MOSSES 31 



with a specially good illustration of this stage 

 of moss-life. While, as a rule, this first growth 

 from the spore assumes this branching, thread- 

 like form, in some few cases, as for instance in 

 the Bog-mosses (Sphagna), it is represented hy 

 a flat green plate or frond, which, as we shall 

 hereafter see, closely resembles the early stages 

 of many of the liverworts. 



After a time small bud-like bodies make their 

 appearance at certain points on these green threads, 

 as also shown at Plate III. fig. 2 ; these are the 

 beginnings of future moss-plants, for each of 

 them, as it increases in size, will send down tiny 

 rootlets to anchor the plant, and stem and leaves 

 will gradually make their way up into the light 

 and air, and thus eventually the full-grown moss- 

 plant will be developed. Any one may easily see 

 for himself these early days of a moss's career, by 

 scattering some spores from a ripe spore-vessel on 

 a bit of broken flower-pot ; this should be placed 

 upon a piece of flannel, the whole being then 

 covered by a bell-glass. If the flannel is kept 

 constantly moist, in course of time sometimes 

 many weeks after sowing a thin green film will 

 make its appearance on the crock, and soon after 

 a plentiful crop of the green threads will follow. 

 I have tried this experiment with the spores of 

 the beautiful Swan-neck Thyme Thread-moss 

 (Mhium hornum) which should be sown in 

 May and after much waiting have been rewarded 



