GENERAL REMARKS. 



263 



It cannot be fairly objected to, while the term Capsula is ap- 

 plied to the fructification of Mosses and Hepaticae. In which 

 the part so called formed no part of the Pistillum, I prefer 

 using it to the invention of a new name which would be ne- 

 cessary, if it were advantageous in the present state of our 

 knowledge to have specific names, for specific developments. 



It has at least a much nearer reference to the real nature 

 of the organs, than the term Indusium, or involucrum, the 

 application of which is not countenanced by any analogy yet 

 known, although the first term is only known among Acoty- 

 ledonous plants.* 



The condensed points in the nucleus are tolerably nume- 

 rous, but I have not been able to count them. I am of opi- 

 nion that they are cotemporaneous with the appearance of 

 the yellow sac, which is in favor of a membrane being de- 

 veloped round each of these condensed points of the nu- 

 cleus. I have also seen instances in which the membrane, 

 or future frondose lobe contained two, or even three of the 

 points, although when the lobes are fully marked out, I have 

 not observed more than one central one. 



I have an impression that, in both the frondose lobes 

 and contents of round capsules, there is much analogy, both 

 being cellular, and both radicular on the inner surface. 



The whole mass forming Browns upper loculus, is at one 

 period perfectly homogeneous, and even when the lobes are 

 nine, evidently cellular, the axis, or common portion, is grum- 

 ous and homogeneous. The fibrous appearance is a late one, 

 and is not one of the least remarkable parts of this complex 

 structure. 



The involucrum is not closed, at least ab origine. It is, in 



* It may be expected, that Chara should be noticed ; although its early 

 state is reduced to that of Salvinia : with the exception, that the cover- 

 ing of the nucleus are tubes of the stem ; yet afterwards, it presents little 

 or no analogy ? the nucleus is the reproductive part. In this the repre- 

 sentation of the axis is kept up minutely in both male and female. 



