154 



MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



ANTHOCEROTACEAE. The Horned Liverworts. 



It will be difficult for the 

 beginner to recognize the Horned 

 Liverworts without capsules, but 

 with a compound microscope they are 

 easily known by the single large 

 chlorophyll grain in each cell. 



This character is very plainly 

 seen with the high power hand-lens, 

 the whole tissue of the thallus ap- 

 pearing filled with large green balls, 

 quite unlike the diflfused green of 

 other plants. In fruit, the peculiar 

 capsule, which is responsible for the 

 common name, is unmistakable. It 

 splits into two halves like a mustard 

 pod and the columella remaining in 

 the center increases the similarity. 



ANTHOCEROS. 



We have two species that are 

 fairly common on moist soil and are 

 often found growing together. 



A. LAEvis L., the Yellow 

 Spored Anthoceros, is known by its 

 brownish or yellowish capsules and yellow spores. 



A. puNCTATus h; the Black Spored Anthoceros, has both 

 capsules and spores black. The spores of both species mature 

 in autumn (Sept.-Oct.). 



Figure 76. Ricciocarpiis 

 nutans (After Bischoff.) A 

 & B. Plants natural size. C. 

 The same enlarged. 



Figure 77. a, Sterile 

 and b, fertile thallus of An- 

 thoceros punctatus X 2 & I. 



NOTOTHYLAS. 



N. ORBICULARIS (Schwein.) SulHv., 

 which might be called the Short- 

 horned Liverwort, is like Anthoceros 

 except for the very short capsules 

 which are exserted only a little way 

 and split only half way down. The 

 thallus is J4 to 54 of an inch in 

 diameter; capsules yV to \ inch 



