8 FRUCTIFICATION OF THE CRYPTOGAM!^. 



The flower of the moss standing on a long stalk, and having 

 its male and female in the same flower, being a capsule on a 

 peduncle, sheathed at the base, with its seed vessel in the 

 interior, the pistil standing up in the middle; the veil in- 

 Fringes the vesting the fringes, which are truly the male part of the 

 lh*Dlant t0 phint, a »d keeping them close, till the powder of the pollen 

 is ripe, then both veil and lid fall off, the fringe spreads, 

 and as soon as the drop appears on the po'mtal, the inner 

 fringe draws over it. Then by breathing on it (when under 

 a strong magnifier) any person can convince themselves, 

 that these hairs are the males, since they throw out the pol- 

 len from every spray, till the top is covered with its powder. 

 But as the inner fringe stands up in a pinnacle, the powder 

 generally falls under on the stigma, by which means it is 

 not so conspicuous, and is soon dissolved by the liquid of 

 the pistil, and thence carried to impregnate the seeds. The 

 outer fringe has from 4 to 32 teeth, which are either re- 

 flected, straight or twisted, triangular, spear shaped, blunt, 

 or sharp ; while the inner fringe is much finer, either closely 

 adhering to the outward, or joined to it by threads from its 

 inner sides ; but which ever way it is formed, it has powder, 

 which works out from the interior of the fringes. Many have 

 between the hairs little balls on foot stalks, out of which 

 proceeds the powder ; others a sort of division up the hairs, 

 which, when moved, gives out the dust, so that the inner 

 fringe always appears' variously jagged. Nature seems to 

 have formed the lid to keep the fringe together, and prevent 

 the hairs throwing out the powder, ere the seeds are "ready 

 to receive impregnation, or the liquid of the pojntal to dis- 

 solve the pollen. It is these beautiful provisions of nature, 

 that should be so closely watched. Who can behold all the 

 exquisite contrivance displayed in the formation of these 

 fringes, and not be convinced, that they were intended for 

 some important purpose ? Never is such perfect mechanism 

 seen without it is designed to produce some great effect. 

 The sight directly excites my mind to discover the use ; nor 

 do I allow myself to pas-9 on to another subject, till I have 

 studied hard to find out the cause. 

 Description of The seeds are numerous and spherical, and all tied toge- 



tion. UCt " tuer ty a ' me » which > s tne ^ ne °f life. The wood vessels 



Constantly 



