Mosses to be Found in May. 259 



hexagonal cells, or cellules, and even the nerve itself is loosely 

 cellular, and it ceases at or near the apex. 



In Funaria hygrometrica, or the common cord-moss, the peri- 

 cheetial leaves are connivent, ovate-lanceolate in form, concave, 

 entire, nerved to the apex, and clustered together so as to form 

 a sort of bud ; the lower leaves are smaller, scattered, and more 

 or less spreading, while those of the perigonium, or barren- 

 flower, are denticulated both at the apex and at the base ; they 

 are of a sub-spathulate form, and have the basal margin re- 

 curved. The capsule is pyriform-incurved, strongly furrowed 

 when dry, and having a very oblique mouth, which is surrounded 

 by a beautifully corrugated border, not observable in any other 

 species, and varying from deep yellow to orange or reddish as 

 it ripens. The lid is plano-convex, with a red tumid or slightly 

 frilled border, distinctly grooved for the lodgment of the large 

 dehiscent annulus which unrolls spirally immediately after the 

 lid falls away ; thus, almost simultaneously, are removed two 

 barriers to the exit of the spores, which are small, and of a 

 reddish-brown colour. The seta, or fruit-stalk, is arcuate and 

 flexuose, the upper part twisting to the right when dry, the 

 lower in an opposite direction. In length it varies very con- 

 siderably, from half an inch on the tops of exposed walls, to two 

 and even three inches in more warm and sheltered situations. 

 We have grown it under a glass, and found the seta attain to 

 rather more than three inches in length. The outer peristome 

 is reddish, the inner yellow. 



There are three varieties of this moss. The variety patula 

 has a more slender stem, branched, with spreading and some- 

 what undulated terminal leaves, which become twisted when 

 dry. Variety calvescens, with the same kind of stem and 

 leaves, but with a straight elongated fruit- stalk, and a more 

 slender sub-erect capsule. We have seen some specimens 

 brought from Switzerland which had grown to a very large size. 



If, as we have already said, Funaria hygrometrica, so easily 

 procurable, and so easily recognizable, be carefully examined 

 for some months prior to the ripening of its capsules, it will 

 give no very imperfect idea of the economy of this department 

 of the vegetable world. 



Previous to the appearance of the young seta at the tops of 

 the infant shoots or stems will be seen small stellate flowers of 

 a reddish hue. These are the barren flowers, answering to the 

 stamens of what are called phsenogamous, or flowering plants, 

 and on dissection in water they will be seen to consist of a little 

 cluster of vesicles of an oblong bladder-like form, mingled with 

 jointed pellucid filaments, the first named antherldia, the second 

 parajphyses, and these are surrounded by several rows of spread- 

 ing leaves constituting the perigonium. The antheridia arc 



vol. v. — NO. IV. t 



