THE TRUE MOSSES 



527 



Fig. 351. — Cord-moss. Tip of a male gametophyte cut vertically to show 

 the male gametangia (antheridia) of various ages from young (a) to 

 almost fuU-grown (h); also paraphyse (c), protective pseudo-leaves (d) 

 and foliage pseudo-leaves (e), '"a. (Sachs.) 



Fig. 352. — Cord-moss. A, antheridium discharging its spermatozoids (a), 

 3f-'i. B, b, spermatozoid not yet escaped from its cell-wall; c, the same 

 swimming freely, ^-'l'^. (Sachs.) 



delicate pseudo-roots from the lower part, pseudo-leaves arranged 

 spirally along the sides, and at the tip either male or female game- 

 tangia (Figs. 351-353). The gametophyte in Funaria is thus of 

 somewhat simpler constitution than in Sphagnum. The cellular 

 structure also shows less differentiation. On the other hand, the 

 sporophyte is more comple.K. As shown in Figs. 354, 355 the foot 

 becomes a long stalk, and the capsule develops several different 

 tissues. The calyptra ruptures transversely at the base and is car- 

 ried up on the capsule as a hood which falls off after the capsule is 

 mature. A cjdindrical spore-laj^er surrounds an inner mass of cells 

 and certain inner cells of the lid break so as to leave behind on the 

 capsule after dehiscence a fringe of teeth, called the peristomes 

 Its function is to protect the spores and keep them from being blown 

 out by a light breeze which would carry them only a short distance. 



1 Per'i-stome < Gr. peri, around; sLoma, mouth. 



