MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS 65 



ceedingly abundant species. It chiefly grows 

 on damp and shady banks, or on very moist 

 heaths, and is notable for its habit of Uving in 

 colonies. These sometimes form big cushions, 

 and in such a condition, where there is plenty 

 of water about, ttie individual stems may be 

 many inches in length. In the illustration of 

 the Common Hair Moss facing p. 64 the photo- 

 graph has been slightly enlarged in order to show 

 the processes at the tops of the shoots. These 

 represent the " flowers " of the moss, and as 

 such are worthy of some detailed description. 



As a general rule, the Common Hair Moss 

 may be found in bloom nearly all through the 

 winter, and a search amongst any clump of 

 the species will yield a plentiful supply of the 

 material for examination. It is in the curious 

 cup-like formations at the tips of the moss- 

 shoots that the male flower is produced ; the 

 female organs are also developed at the summit 

 of the growths, though on distinct shoots. At 

 a certain stage in the development of the 

 " flowers," the spermatozoids, emerge from the 

 male organs (antheridia), travel towards the 

 female organs {archegonia), and enter the egg 

 cell. In a few mosses the two sexes of the 



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