CHAP. III. 
MOSSES. 
225 
remarks, that the smaller are males and the larger females ; 
which has been supposed to be proved by the experiments of 
Savi of Pisa. This observer introduced into different vessels, 
1 . the granules ; 2. the grains ; and, 3. the two intermixed. 
In the two first nothing germinated ; in the third the grains 
floated to the surface and developed themselves perfectly. 
These observations have, however, been repeated by Duver- 
noy without the same result. And it must be remarked that, 
if the functions of these grains and granules be what has been 
attributed to them, the male power of action and the female 
powers of reception cannot exist till both are discharged from 
the membranes or involucra, in which they are contained and 
placed in contact in water. Is it impossible that the granules 
or supposed male organs should be only grains in an imper- 
fectly developed condition? 
5. Mosses and AndrceacecB. 
In the structure of these plants neither vessels nor woody 
tissue are employed ; and from henceforward those organs 
disappear from the structure of all the tribes to be 
noticed. Their stem consists of elongated cellular tissue, 
from which arise leaves composed, in like manner, entirely of 
cellular tissue without woody tissue ; the nerves, as they are 
called, or, more properly speaking, ribs, which are found in 
many species, being formed by the approximation of cellules 
more elongated than those that constitute the principal part 
of the leaf The leaves are usually a simple lamina ; but in 
Polytrichum and a few others they are furnished with little 
plates called lamellce, running parallel with the leaf, and ori- 
ginating from the upper surface. At the summit of some of 
the branches of many species are seated certain organs, which 
are called male flowers, but the true nature of which is not 
understood. They are possibly organs of reproduction of a 
particular kind, as both Mees and Haller are recorded to have 
seen them produce young plants. 
Agardh says they have only the form of male organs ; and 
that they really appear to be gemmules. By Hedwig they 
were called spermatocystidia. 
But, whatever may be the nature of these organs, there is 
Q 
