OF THE MOSSES AND THEIR ALLIES. 139 



CHAPTER XIV. 



OF THE MOSSES AND THEIR ALLIES. 



The Mosses occupy a less exclusive position than the pre- 

 ceding classes of the Cryptogamia, inasmuch as in many 

 respects they approximate to the great family of plants, the 

 Phanerogamia. [Not that there is any likeness to a ' flower ' 

 in their organs of fructification ; so far there is still a wide 

 gulf between the highest of the ' Muscal alliance ' and the 

 lowest of the sexual plants : nevertheless, when we come 

 to examine their structure, we find that among Mosses a 

 great step in advance has been made in the scheme of 

 nature. For the first time now we have to deal with a 

 true root, a true stem, and true leaves ; though it must be 

 owned, that in a few instances it is a work of some difficulty 

 to detect these organs. Thus Buxbaumia aphylla has re- 

 ceived its specific name from the apparent absence of leaves, 

 and the species of Sphagnum retain their roots only in the 

 young state. For the first time, too, we meet with traces 

 of that special characteristic of the more highly organised 

 plants — a vascular system. — Ed.] 



With regard to the localities in which the Mosses 

 delight to dwell, we find them to be truly cosmopolitan. 

 The particular species are by no means indifferent to the 

 situation they may occupy; but, taking them as a whole, the 

 members of this order exist wherever shade and moisture 

 are afforded ; the actual species varying according to the 

 nature of the soil, and the material on which they grow. 

 Streams and morasses have their peculiar species. Fonti- 

 nalis, Sphagnum, &c, are strictly aquatic ; and from these 

 we may trace them, step by step, to the sloping sides of a 

 ditch, the weather-beaten roof of a thatched cottage, the 



