PRACTICAL WORK 253 



elaters under the high power. Note that each spore is divided 

 into several cells packed with chloroplasts. 



(4) Examine a prepared longitudinal section through the centre 

 of a spore capsule showing stalk, capsule wall, spores and elaters. 



(5) Make a sketch of a single plant of Funaria (or other 

 moss) with the naked eye or under a hand lens. In Funaria 

 note the short axis (stem) with a tuft of brown rhizoids at its 

 base, and bearing broad delicate green leaves. The leafy axis 

 may bear a slender stalk terminating in a nodding pear-shaped 

 spore capsule. 



(6) Detach a single leaf, mount in a drop of water and examine 

 under the high power. Observe that the leaf consists of a single 

 layer of cells more or less alike, except the midrib, which is com- 

 posed of elongated cells. Note the leaf cells have thin walls : 

 each is lined with a layer of cytoplasm containing chloroplast 

 and enclosing a large central vacuole. 



(7) Examine some of the brown rhizoids in dilute glycerine, 

 and note that they are branching threads of different thicknesses 

 composed of long cylindrical cells with oblique end walls. 



(8) Examine a prepared transverse section of a moss stem 

 showing the outer cortex of thick-walled cells, the inner cortex 

 of thin-walled cells, and the strand of narrow thin-walled water- 

 conducting cells in the centre. 



