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flask. At the bottom of it is a single cell called the Oosphere, 

 which, after contact with an Antherozoid, becomes the sporogoniuvi 

 and finally the capsule. But with some mosses in our hand where 

 must we look for the Antheridia and Pistillidia ? We must fix upon 

 those clusters of leaves, often looking like buds, and examine them 

 well. They vary in position and shape and different names (Peri- 

 gone and Perigynium) have been given to them, according as they 

 contain only one kind or both kinds of " flowers." The term 

 " receptacle " is a convenient one. The leaves round the Anthe- 

 ridia are often brightly coloured. "With the aid of our microscope 

 we shall have a successful search, and shall notice surrounding the 

 organs some jointed threads called /jam^/tT/sgs. Let us now trace 

 the course of the capsule of a True Moss from its beginning and 

 then see what it is like when mature. The oosphere grows 

 thicker and thicker until it ruptures the case of the pistillidium 

 near the bottom, leaving a part behind to form a vaginula 

 (or sheath) for the seta, but carrying up the greater part to 

 form the calyptra (or veil). (Free use was here made of diagrams 

 and specimens). The oosphere has several coats which form 

 the operculum and the peristome. Inside the growing oosphere 

 the columella is formed, together with a large number of spores. 

 Look, now, at the comjdete capsule (as seen in this excellent 

 diagram). First comes the veil which can be easily lifted off, then 

 the lid, which can also be removed, and then, in most mosses, 

 comes the peristome. The peristome being thrown back, the 

 columella and spores come into view. The veil and lid vary greatly 

 in shape and size. They are often wanting in specimens we collect, 

 simply because the spores could not be scattered were they to 

 remain. The veil, on account of its shape, or of the way it is split 

 or torn, is often a very valuable guide to the student, for 

 instance in Encalypta (the extinguisher moss) the veil is large and 

 conical. Let us suppose now that the veil and lid are gone. Now 

 we see the mouth of the capsule either surrounded by a plain rim 

 (Annulus) or by one or two rings (Orthotrichum, Bryum) of teeth. 

 These are the peristome (round the mouth). Some mosses are 

 gymnostomous (or naked mouthed) being' without a peristome. 

 The "teeth" may be four in number as in Georgia, or eight 

 (Fissidens), or sixteen (Pottia, Ceratodon), or thirty-two (Tortula), 

 or sixty-four (Polytrichum), the number being always four or a 

 multiple of four. In Cryptogams, /bur seems to be characteristic 

 just as five is in Exogens and three in Endogens. The teeth can 

 be seen, and often counted without the use of a glass at all, though, 

 of course, it is much better to have the assistance of the magnifier. 

 No one who has never examined the mouth of a moss-capsule can 

 have any true idea of the beauty that is there. The peristome is 



