64 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



of the present chapter it is not possible to do 

 more than give an outline of the usual method 

 of reproduction, and we must remember that in 

 the different kinds this procedure may be con- 

 siderably varied. Again, out of the large range 

 of kinds it \nll only be possible to take a very 

 few typical species. Fortunately, the general 

 character and habits of these mosses will give 

 us a good idea of the manner of growth of the 

 group as a whole. 



For want of a better term one is led to call 

 the initial processes in the scheme of reproduction 

 in the mosses " flowers." Though to an extent 

 the word is misleading, the term is a good one, 

 in that it at once conve3-s to the mind of the 

 beginner the fact that he is studying the parts 

 of the plant intimately associated with increase 

 of the kind. ]\Iuch of the hfe-story of the 

 mosses is hidden from our unaided vision, but 

 fortunately it is possible to see without the aid of 

 a microscope how the " flowers " of a very com- 

 mon moss are produced. A small pocket lens 

 will be found to be very helpful, however, in 

 the study of mosses. 



The Common Hair Moss [Polytrichum com- 

 mune) is at once a very beautiful and an ex- 



