MOSSES 33 



especially in such plants as the Feather-mosses, 

 where, as the leaves do not grow very close 

 together, they are not liable to be covered over, 

 as in many other cases. These are the so-called 

 " flowers " of the moss, the name having doubtless 

 been suggested by the fact that they contain the 

 reproductive organs. But in external appearance 

 they have nothing whatever in common with a 

 " flower," as that word is popularly understood. 



These moss-flowers will always be found in one 

 or other of two positions on the plant, namely, 

 either at the end of the stem, or of a branch from 

 it, or on the side of the stem. In the former case 

 the flower is said to be "terminal"; Plate III. 

 fig. 4 is an illustration of this, taken from the 

 Pink-fruited Thread-moss (TPebera carnea), a 

 plant which is partial to the moist banks of 

 ditches and streams, and which turns a warm 

 red when old. Here, it will be observed, there 

 is a very decided swelling at the tip of the stem, 

 giving the bud-like appearance to which I have 

 alluded. Sometimes this terminal flower takes 

 the form of a tiny rosette of leaves, a feature 

 which, when once seen, is easily recognised 

 again. 



"We have only to examine the ground on 

 any heath or common in the spring to find this 

 fact plentifully illustrated, for there some form 

 of the sturdy little Hair-moss (Poly trie hum) 

 family, referred to on page 20, is sure to be 



3 



