( i8o ) 
greens of that tribe, in the form and difpofr- 
tion of their leaves, and manner of growth 
of their feed-bearing flowers, which are ge- 
nerally formed into a cone. Moft of the 
molTes are perennial and evergreen; theii 4 
growth is remarkably flow; their anthers* 
from their firft appearance to the time of the 
difperfion of their powder, continue from 
four to fix months. In fome of the fpecies 
the leaves are fmall and undivided, and have 
no vifible foot-ftalk, or mid-rib; in others* 
as in hy'pnum proliferum, they refemble the 
fronds of ferns. Their ftamen and feed* 
bearing flowers are fuppofed to be placed 
apart; fometimes on the fame, and fome- 
times on different plants. The calyx, termed 
by Linneus the calyptre, covers the tops of 
what he Called the ftamens. From the pre- 
fence or abfence of this cover, which falls 
before the opening of the fuppofed anthers, 
Linneus., after Dillenius, has diftinguiflied the 
genera. After the veil, or calyptre, is taken 
off, there is found another cover to the an- 
thers, which Linneus calls the operculum, ot 
lid. This is a beautiful microfcopic objecT:; 
and, with the other parts of the fructification 
of mofles, fliould be firfl: ftudied by the affift- 
ance 
