Boodle . — The Monoecism of Funaria hygrometrica, Sibth. 297 
tissue. The tissues in the female branch become mature later than those 
of the male branch at a corresponding level. Further evidence on the 
same point is given by the fact that male plants bearing young branches 
(with no sexual organs) were found, but no female plants showing the same 
character. 
To return to the records of the examination of plants ; as stated above, 
seventy-seven specimens out of 102 were proved to be monoecious. We will 
now inquire into the figures obtained as affecting the proportional number 
of plants in which the female axis is a branch of the male. This was found 
to be the case in sixty-five cases. Of the remaining thirty-seven most, at any 
rate, are not to be regarded as necessarily exceptions to this mode of growth. 
Firstly, in seven specimens the male and female axes were proved to be 
attached to one another, but no record was made as to which was the parent 
stem. This was because, when the first few plants were examined, it was 
thought that the monoecism or dioecism was the only point in dispute. 
Next there were five plants in which the two axes were attached to one 
another quite basally, so that it could not be seen which was the primary 
stem and which the branch. It may be mentioned here that the level of 
insertion probably has some relation to the crowding of the moss-plants 
and the conditions as to dampness. In three cases a male and female axis 
were closely associated, but attachment was not proved. It is quite likely 
that the two axes may have been accidentally torn apart in preparing the 
specimen. Six examples were found of a female branch attached to 
a stem, on which no sexual organs could be found. In these cases, however, 
the parent stem showed signs of having been injured at the apex, hence it 
is quite possible that a male flower may have been present previous to the 
injury. Four other specimens showed a male stem bearing a lateral 
branch, on which there were no sexual organs. Judging by the external 
appearance, these are probably to be interpreted as examples of a female 
branch borne on a male stem, but too young to show archegonia. Twelve 
plants remain, viz. three male stems with no branches, and nine female axes 
apparently unattached. As the female branch develops late, it is possible 
that the three male plants would have subsequently given rise to female 
branches. 
From what has been said in recording the last thirty-seven cases, it is 
seen that all except the nine free female plants should be disregarded as 
clearly inconclusive 1 on the question as to whether female axes are ever 
produced otherwise than as branches of male stems. 
As regards the nine female stems, it may be that they were accidentally 
detached from male stems in separating them from the sod. When examin- 
ing the last batch of plants (twenty-two in number) it occurred to me that 
1 The proportional number of inconclusive specimens would have been greater if tufts had been 
specially chosen in which basal attachment was common or young male plants numerous. 
