44 8 



[Proc. B.N.F.C, 



SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MOSSES AND HEPATICS. 



At a meeting of the Botanical Section, on 18th March, Rev. 

 Canon H. W. Lett, M.A., M.R.I. A., gave a most interesting 

 address, of which the following is an abstract. 



Mosses and Hepatics belong to the Cryptogams, and are 

 nearly related to each other, the chief points of differences are 



these : — 



MOSSES. HEPATICS. 



STEM. 

 Cylindrical, firm, covered with In the Thalloid group there is 



leaves, mostly erect. none, the whole plant being a flat 



creeping scale. In the Foliose group 

 the stem is weak, fragile, and creeping, 

 except when growing in thick tufts. 



LEAVES. 

 Mostlynarrowand sharp-pointed, Mostly pinnate, flattened, often 



closely set all round the stem, except with a third row smaller in size at 

 in a few species, texture thin and back of stem, delicate and brittle, 

 firm, often with a nerve up the mid- very varied in shape and size — round, 

 die, never forked or lobed, margin oval, squarish, linear, forked, var- 

 frequently minutely serratulate. iously lobed, alga-like, or folded into 



a bag-shape. 



FRUCTIFICATION. 



Spores contained in an urn- Spores contained in a globular 



shaped vessel, which at first is covered capsule (except in Anthoceros, where 

 with a cap, when ripe opening by a it is linear), on a weak stalk, in some 

 number of fine teeth (except in case species on underside of an umbrella- 

 of Andrecea) to allow the spores to shaped stalked receptacle, in others 

 escape. immersed in substance of the frond. 



Capsule, when ripe, opens into four 

 valves. Among the spores are fine 

 spiral threads. 



SCENT AND USE. 

 Dicranum scoparium has a smell Several have strong scents, like 



like freshly turned up soil. Bergamot, Heather, Pencil-Cedar, or 



decayed Cress. 

 Employed for stuffing beds, and Of no commercial utility, 



packing and growing plants. 



