1 6 HANDBOOK OF MOSSES. 



are sometimes developed in the axils of the ordinary leaves, 

 and have no perigonium, as in Sphagnum. 



Mosses are said to be synoicous when male and female 

 organs occur in the same enveloping leaves (fig. 28, 4), 

 as in Mnium subglobosum; monoicous when these organs 

 occur in different buds on the same plant, as in Hypnum 

 rutabulum; dioicous when the male organs occur on one 

 plant and the female on another plant of the same species, 

 as in Ceratodon purpureus. 



The antheridia (fig. 6 A), are sac- or sausage- shaped 

 bodies, and are usually surrounded by a number of thread- 

 like jointed bodies, called the paraphyses (Gr. para, beside, 

 and phuo, I grow). The function of these bodies is probably 

 that of nutrition. In the Sphagnums these paraphyses are 

 absent, and the antheridia are very differently shaped, con- 

 sisting of a short stalk, surmounted by a globular head, 

 the antherozoids being developed in the globular head; 

 these antheridia may be readily obtained by carefully dis- 

 secting away the leaves of the catkins, which are usually 

 reddish or brown, and often occur near the summit of the 

 stem. If the antheridia of ordinary mosses are examined 

 microsopically with a J or -i-inch objective, they will be 

 seen to contain a number of closely packed cellules, and in 

 each of these cellules a spiral, thread-like body may be seen. 

 This spiral body is the antherozoid, or fertilizing principle 

 of the antheridium ; and, supposing that the antheridium is 

 ripe, a very slight pressure of the cover glass will cause it to 

 burst at the apex, and the inclosed cellules will be seen 

 swarming out with a sort of jerky motion (fig. 6 a). In a 

 few minutes the cellulose coat of the cellules is dissolved, 

 and the spiral bodies, the antherozoids (fig. 6 c), thus liber- 

 ated, commence moving about in the water, much like 

 some infusoria. 



This beautiful sight may be seen readily, and the star-like 

 male flowers of Polytrichum are the most easily examined. 

 These should be got about the end of May or in June. 

 The outer leaves of the flowers should be dissected away, 

 and some of the ripe antheridia should be examined in 

 water with the 4-ioth or J-irich objectives. 



