CRYPTOGAMOUS PLANTS. 237 



The fructifying organs of Mosses are contained in 

 kinds of buds, placed sometimes at the tops of shoots, 

 sometimes laterally, and at other times even at the base 

 of these shoots : those which are really terminal some- 

 times seem lateral on account of the elongation of the 

 shoot after flowering. These buds, either star-like or 

 capitate (for their appearance may cause these different 

 names to be given to them), are formed of leaves imbri- 

 cated without any order, and the number of which does 

 not appear fixed. This envelope has received the name 

 of Perichcetium when it is found at the base of the 

 pedicellate fruits of Mosses, or, in other terms, around 

 the female organs ; and the name of Perigone, when it 

 surrounds the male organs. These two terms, although 

 generally admitted, appear to me to rest upon ideas 

 hardly correct ; in fact, it seems evident that these leaves 

 constitute the same organ, and the frequent cases where 

 they cover at the same time both the male and female 

 organs, are sufficient to demonstrate it ; moreover, when 

 the organs of the two sexes are always separate, which is 

 not the case here, one would not be more authorized to 

 give two names to their integuments than to the calyx 

 or involucrum of the two sexes of dioecious phaneroga- 

 mous plants. If we ought to admit but a single name 

 for identical organs, that of perichcetium ought to be 

 rejected ; that of perigone is less incorrect, but it also 

 presents a great objection. 



This term, already admitted for phanerogamous 

 plants, supposes that the floral bud of Mosses is a sim- 

 ple flower, and this, in fact, is the opinion of Hedwig, 

 and of almost all Muscologists. Others have thought 

 on the contrary, that the floral bud of Mosses is a 

 true capitulum formed of several flowers. I would wil- 

 lingly compare it with the compound flower of Euphor- 

 bia. The leaves which surround the fructifying organs 



