MOSSES 



405 



FIG. 200. Cells from a moss 

 leaf which is but one cell 

 in thickness. 



green leaves and the delicate stems. 



A moss leaf has very simple struc- 

 ture, far more simple than a liver- 

 wort thallus. The leaves of many 



mosses are but one cell thick ; they 



are so delicate that the light shines 



through them. (See Figure 200.} 



In spite of their delicate leaves, 



mosses are able to live in dry 



places. Clumps of moss hold water 



even better than a sponge. Even 



if mosses do become dried out, 



they are usually able to recuperate 



when they become moist again. 

 The dead brown parts of moss 



clumps absorb water as well as the 

 live parts. Young moss plants have 

 filamentous growths at the base called 

 rhizoids. (The word means root-like.} 

 The rhizoids serve as holdfasts, and 

 probably absorb moisture. (See Fig- 

 ure 201.) 



A . Reproduction. Perhaps you 

 have seen what is sometimes called 

 moss fruit. It grows up from the 

 top of the leafy stems. (See Figure 

 202.} Sometimes all the moss plants 

 in a clump appear to be bearing these 

 structures at the same time. In one 

 common kind of moss these structures 

 are called pigeon wheat. 



FIG 201 - A young moss 



plant showing the rhizoids 



at the base. 



