394 
JV. MUSCI. 
fertilize its contained cell ; it is, however, certain that from this cell the fruitstalk and capsule 
are developed. The upper part of the archegonium, after fertilization, swells very much into 
n campanulate body, which breaks away at its base, and is carried up, as the calyptra, by the 
lengthening fruitstalk ; the base of the archegonium, on the other hand, usually becomes a 
fleshy cylinder supporting the fruitstalk, and is called the vaginula. After the fruitstalk has 
attained some length, its apex begins to swell and to develope into the capsule. When the 
capsule is ripe it thus dehisces ; at the line of dehiscence one row of the cells of its cellular tissue 
enlarges, and pushes off the upper part or operculum ; this row of cells is the future annulus 
of the peristome. The spores are now ready to escape, and their exit is regulated in many 
species by the hygrometric action of the teeth of the peristome. 
In germination, the spore emits cellular filaments, quite like the branches of a Conferva , 
which sometimes form matted, green, velvet-like patches ; on these threads the stems and 
rootlets are formed, the former growing upwards, the latter downwards. Dr. J. B. Hicks 
describes these filaments as giving rise to gonidia (reproductive cells, like those of Lichens). 
This subject is one of great interest and novelty, but most difficult of investigation, about 
which I must refer the reader to his valuable paper published in the Linuean Society’s 
Transactions (vol. xxiii. p. 567). 
By many museologists, including Wilson, Ibis Order has been considered as a family, and 
divided into three — Andreaaceoe, Bryacece, and Sphagnacea. To me, however, these appear to 
form one Order, equivalent to one of the average Orders of Flowering Plants. Of the genera, 
Andrecea is, no doubt, one of the most remarkable in the dehiscence of its capsule; but 
though differing from all other Mosses m this respect, the passage through Phascum to 
these is obvious. It further differs from most Musci in the capsule being seated directly 
on the vaginula, and in the colour of the foliage. The Andreceas have been supposed to 
form a counecting link with the Hepaticce, and in this respect of the dehiscence of the cap- 
sule they are, of all Mosses, those which show the nearest approach to that Order; but the 
differences are far too great to justify their being regarded as intermediate in the proper sense 
of that term. Sphagnum is an even more peculiar genus; it, too, wants the fruitstalk, and 
has the capsule supported on the vaginula directly, and it further has truly fascicled branches, 
no rootlets, peculiar authefidia, and the cellular structure of the leaves is of two kinds, 
usually furnished with pores and spiral fibres ; but besides Sphagnum showing in ihese 
respects no tendency to other Orders, we find an approach to the same cellular structure 
in Leucolryum , and a few other Mosses of very different affinity. A few museologists 
have carried the subdivision of Mosses into Orders much further even than this ; but as the 
terms they nse are not the equivalents of those used in other groups of plants, it is im- 
possible to attach auy precise value to such divisions. Thus, Dr. Sehimper, of Strasburg, 
the most learned and able living museologist, divides the Order into, first, Musci and Sphagna, 
and the Musci successively iuto Sections, Orders, Tribes, Families, and Geuera — a sequence 
of terms not adopted in other branches of botany. 
The Musci were worked up by Mr. Wilson, the most able British museologist, for the 
‘ Flora of New Zealand ;’ and I have for the most part adhered to his generic characters and 
limitations ; having myself studied the species which I had collected, bofh in the Bay of 
Islands and in Lord Auckland’s group, and prepared the analyses of the greater number 
figured in the ‘Flora Antarctica,’ we published under our joint names. Since that period 
many new species have been described by Mr. Mitten, to whom I am indebted for most 
cordial assistance in the following pages, and who has examined and named for the 
Hookerian Herbarium, all the specimens that have been received from recent New Zealand 
collectors. These I have incorporated in the present work, together with a few species 
which were published by C. Mueller in the ‘Flora’ (a German periodical) in 1855, a few 
months before the appearauce of the ‘ New Zealand Flora,’ but which were not known 
to Mr. Wilson or myself at the time of our printing the latter work. I extremely regret 
that my friend Mr. Wilson’s health has prevented him from undertaking a revision of the 
New Zealand Mosses for this Handbook. A very considerable proportion of the Mosses here de- 
scribed are imperfectly known. In such geuera as Hypnum, Bryum, Dicrauum, etc., limits 
scarcely exist between the forms that compose some of the extensive groups ; and a special 
study of a large series of specimens from many parts of the islands is necessary to determine 
their limits, whether naturally or artificially. 
The books that will prove most useful to the student of New Zealand Mosses are : — 
