54 



MUSCALES. 



[ACROGENS. 



Alliance IV .—MUSCALES.— -The Muscal Alliance. 



CUXULABH foliacb*, DC. Theor. Elem. 249. (1819).-Pseudocotvledonb;e, Class I. Agardh Aph. 

 103 (1822).-Heteho.nbmba, Fries Syst. Orb. F«?. 33. (1825) in part.— Acotyledonks, Class 2. 

 ^d. linmwiart in JHct. Clou. 5. 159. (I^.-Cryptogamice, 2d Circle, J. F. L Nees v. Esen- 

 bfck and Ebermaier Handb. der Med. Bot. 1. 18. (1830).— Hepatic*: and Muscr, Endhcher Gen. 

 42. and 46. 

 Diagnosis.— Cellular or vascular Acrogens, with the spore-cases either plunged in the 

 substance of the frond, or enclosed in a cap-like hood. 

 Next after the Algal series follows that which derives its name from Mosses, pre- 

 senting at one point a structure nearly as simple as that of Lichens, and at another a 

 complexity of organization unknown elsewhere among Acrogens. The Crystalworts 

 (Ricciacese), by which the series begins, are mere lobes of green or purple parenchyma 

 floating in water or spreading over mud, and multiplied by reproductive particles 

 (spores) generated in hollow flask-like cases. Then follow masses of species gathered 

 toother under the names of Liverworts (Marchantiaceae) and Scalemosses (Jungerman- 

 ..•), whose steins and leaves are, in the majority of instances distinctly separate, 

 and among whose spores arc formed elastic threads with a powerful hygrometric quality 

 and of unknown use. Finally the ranks are closed by Splitmosses (AndrseaceEe), and 

 Urn-Mosses (Bryacese), which have in all cases a distinct axis of growth, symmetrical 

 leaves, and a complicated reproductive apparatus formed by the adhesion of leaves in 

 rings or whorls : in emulation, as it were, of flowers, in the more completely organized 

 classes of Endogena and Exogens. 



In the opinion of a large number of modern observers there are two sexes in all 

 these plants, the one bearing the name of Antheridia (or false anthers), and the other of 



Pistillidia (or false pistils). That 

 such organs exist is certain ; the 

 question is whether or not they 

 are to be looked upon as con- 

 nected with sexual qualities. 

 Those who regard them in that 

 light have naturally taken the 

 imbedded oblong antheridia of 

 Marchantia, and the stalked re- 

 ticulated ones of Jungermannia, 

 for anthers ; but Hooker, in his 

 beautiful Monograph of the latter 

 genus, and also in his British 

 Flora, (p. 459,) is unsatisfied as 

 to their nature. Greville, in the 

 Flora Edinemis, is in a similar 

 state of uncertainty ; and Agardh 

 admits nothing more in them 

 than a resemblance to male 

 organs, adopting the opinion that 

 they are a particular form of 

 gcmmules. Mirbel considers the 

 cups or baskets of Marchantia to 

 be filled with little buds, and the 

 peltate receptacles to be male 

 flowers, while the stalked recep- 

 tacles are masses of pistils. (See his admirable Memoir, tt.vi. et vii.) On the other 

 hand Qrevifle and Arnotfc, in the fourth volume of the Transactions of the Wemerian 



Fig. XXXIV. 



but we cannot help entering our protest against those bodies called Stamina and Pistilla 

 (the young thecre) being regarded in a similar light with the same organs in more per- 

 h' 1 , 1 '■"%, ' Tllmi ~ ,1 >' «»ys Sprengel, « I have formerly been a zealous advocate for 

 Heawigs Theory oj tin Frvchfication o) Mosses, it has nevertheless appeared to me an 

 ^surmountable objection, that the supposed anther can a«ain produce buds and strike 

 roots; which is cer tainly the case wi th regard to the disks of Polytrichum commune, 



ShSpoi^icW^o^™;^.^ paWJ,hyseB 0f Mnium ""Pttatum. 2. Antheridia and 



parnp] 



