NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



91 



LESSON XXXI 



FLOWERLESS PLANTS FERNS, MOSSES, MUSHROOMS 



Ferns, mosses, and mushrooms belong to the lowest order of 



plants. They do not bear flowers nor real seeds. In place of 



seeds, they produce a tiny grain Q 

 called a spore. These spores can be A SPOKE 

 found in little brown cases, which look like 

 dots, on the edges of the fronds. They can 

 sometimes be found running lengthwise down 

 the center of the leaflets. 

 In the Mosses the 

 spores are borne aloft in 

 little capsules on the top 

 of a long, leafy stem. 

 This capsule is covered 



with a hood somewhat like a cornucopia in 



shape. This hood falls off when the spores are 



ripe. Then the capsule bends over and upsets 



the spores, which, as they fall on damp ground, 



begin to take in food. Then they form a kind 



of scum, which looks like tiny white threads. 



By and by a bud appears, and from this bud 



the new moss stem grows. 



Moss CAPSULE SHED- 



In the Mushroom, the spores are found be- DING SPORES 



FRUITING FROND OF A 

 CHRISTMAS FERN 



