West : On Mosses. 



19 



the peristome, the calyptra, the vaginula, and siuiihir parts, as well as 

 the position of the fruit j other minor characters serve for specific 

 distinction, as the shape, nervation, serration, and insertion of the 

 leaves. 



I have had to leave unsaid much that I had intended to say, and 

 have probably in some instances re-stated things, but my object will 

 have been accomplished if I have succeeded in interesting any one in 

 this neglected order of plants ; for we are situated in the midst of a 

 rich neighbourhood, as 314 out of 570 British species are found in 

 the West-Riding. I forgot to mention before that 1250 species of 

 mosses were known in 1870, and 700 species of Hepaticre , I have 

 recently enquired of an eminent bryologist as to what is the present 

 number on record, but he was unable to inform me. Here is a large 

 and interesting order of plants coraparatively neglected ; let me hope 

 that my remarks may lead some of you to undertake the study of the 

 humble mosses, for they charm the eye of the artist by their grace 

 and loveliness whenever observed : and though observ.ition with 

 regard to them is the exception rather than the rule, they help by 

 their varied tints the adornment of every landscape from the coast to 

 the line of perpetual snow. 



FLOWERLESS PLxVNTS, AND THEIR HABITATS.* 

 ByR Franklin Parsons, M.D., F.G.S. 



The term " flowerles^s plants," though useful is not strictly accurate, 

 and must be taken to signify not that organs fulfilling the office of 

 ilowers do not exist in the plants so-called, but that these organs., 

 when present, are formed on a different pattern from those of 

 flowering plants proper. The flowers of the higher plants, as I may 

 remind you, consist essentially of two sets of organs, stamens and 

 pistils, sometimes combined in the same flower, sometimes found only 

 in separate flowers, or even on different plants. Together with these 

 there are usually certain whorls of modified leaves, the calyx and 

 ■corolla, often conspicuous in form, colour, and odour, in order to 

 attract insects. The stamens bear at the end a knob, or " anther," 

 •containing a yellow powder, the " pollen," which is the fertilizing 

 agent. The pistil -contains one ©r more ovules, or rudimentary seeds, 

 ■enclosed in a case, the " ovary," (or in the con'iferas naked), the ovary 

 l3eing tipped with a sticky knob, the stigma. When the pollen falls 

 epon the stigma it adheres, and emits fine tubes, which push their 



* Kead before the Goole Scientific Seciety. 



