MUSBBOOMS AND TBEIB KIND 347 



Eaton's "Ferns of North America," in two quarto velumes, with 

 colored plates. If it is desired to cultivate ferns, Robinson's 

 "Ferns in Their Homes and Ours" should be consulted. 



4286. The lycopodiums or club-mosses are common in dark woods, 

 and some of them are much used as "green" for Christmas decora- 

 tions. Two common types are shown in Figs. 362 and 363. The spo- 

 rangia are in the axils of leaves, or of scales in a spike. Many 

 kinds of exotic elub-mosses and related plants are cultivated in con- 

 servatories. A true moss is shown in Fig. 364. Here the spore-case 

 (or capsule) is solitary and stalked. Before maturity, the capsule is 

 covered with a thin or hairy cap or calyptra (c). The capsule opens 

 by means of a lid or operculum (o), disclosing a row of teeth or 

 peristome. The minute apores are borne inside this capsule. 



Suggestions. — The teacher may interest the . pupils by asking 

 them, upon a certain day, to collect one specimen of each of the 

 kinds of ferns of a. given neighborhood. The fronds of some kinds 

 hold their form and color all winter, even under the snow. In 

 fact, ferns are among the treasures of winter woods. In the spring, 

 young people are always interested in the uncoiling heads of ferns 

 (Fig. 61). The shaggy stipes and hard, strong rootstooks are worth 

 attention. 



LXVII. MUSHROOMS AND THEIR KIND 



429. The cultivated mushroom, which is also 

 common in fields in late summer and fall, is 

 shown in Fig. 365. It is a soft, fleshy body 

 destitute of woody fiber, and white or brownish in 

 color. It has no parts which can be likened to 

 leaves. It has, however, a distinct stem or stipe, 

 and a spreading cap or pileus. Midway of the 

 stipe, a, is a ring-like growth, or annulus. 



430. If younger plants are examined (Fig. 366), 



