152 



BOTANY. 



250. The fruiting moss plant. — In fig. 128 is a moss plant 

 " in fruit," as we say. Above the leafy stem a slender stalk 

 bears the capsule, and in this capsule are borne the spores. 



251. Sporogonium of the moss. — The sporogonium (spore- 



case) of a moss is illustrated 

 in fig. 128. The sporo- 

 gonium is the portion repre- 

 sented above the leafy part, 

 and consists of a stalk and 

 capsule. This was devel- 

 oped from the fertilized egg. 



Fig. 129. 

 Female plant (gametophyte) of a moss 

 (mnium), showing rhizoids below, and the 

 tuft of leaves above which protect the 

 archegonia. 



Fig. 130. 

 Male plant (gametophyte) of a moss 

 (mnium) showing rhizoids below and the 

 antheridia at the. centre above surrounded 

 by the rosette of leaves. 



The capsule is nearly cylindrical, bent downward, and supported 

 on a long slender stalk. 



