CHAPTER XXVI 



THE BRYOPHYTES 



341. Classes of Bryophytes. 



like plants, are divided into : 



■ The bryophytes, or moss- 



Class 1. Liverworts. 

 " 2. Mosses. 



It is not easy to state in an untechnical way all the 

 distinctions between the two classes. One main difference 

 is that most liverworts either show no distinction between 

 stem and leaves, or if they possess leaves at all do not have 



Fig. 188. Eicciocarpus, an Aquatic Liverwort. 



A, whole plant, gametophyie (natural size) ; B, one lobe showing 

 a tevr rhizolds. (Somewhat magnified.) 



them arranged spirally. Moss leaves are borne in spiral 

 rows. The whole plant body of the liverworts has an upper 

 and an under side, while that of the mosses does not. 



265 



