Boodle . — The Monoecism of Funaria hygrometrico , Sibth. 299 
resistance of the rhizoids, which invest the region of attachment. In both 
cases, when the female branch has been separated, it appears like an 
independent plant on account of its rounded base (which bears a tuft of 
rhizoids), the scar being lateral, above the base, and hidden by rhizoids. 
Also, when the female plant is old, the male stem sometimes begins to 
decay away, and it is probable that from this cause actually free female 
branches may be found. The statement of Sachs, Goebel and Van Tieghem, 
that the male organs are on smaller plants of shorter duration, probably 
refers to this and to the fact that the female branches in most cases 
ultimately overtop the male. Campbell 1 states that the male plants are 
about one cm. in height, but that the archegonia are formed while the 
female plant is still very small — a few millimeters in height. Substituting 
‘ axis ’ for ‘ plant/ this is true especially in those cases in which the female 
branch is inserted near the top of the male stem (see Fig. 1 of the present 
paper). 
Summary. 
Funaria hygrometrica is as a rule monoecious, and, where the point 
could be determined, the female stem was a branch of the male. The male 
axis bears a terminal male flower, and produces a lateral branch (innova- 
tion), which forms a terminal female flower. The female branch may be 
inserted at different levels, sometimes high up, sometimes basally ; it 
usually has a tuberous base bearing a tuft of rhizoids, and, if torn away, 
appears like an independent plant. In the region of attachment the con- 
ducting strand of the female branch terminates nearly in contact with that 
of the male stem. The male axis bearing the female branch may, in its 
turn, be a branch of another male stem. Dioecism, if it occurs, is com- 
paratively rare. 
Addendum. — I am indebted to Mr. H. N. Dixon, F.L.S., for a further 
supply of Funaria hygrometrica , which he kindly collected for me at 
Colly weston, Northants. The material was from an oolitic limestone- 
quarry. The rhizoids were numerous, and held a large amount of fine 
limestone soil, hence examination of the specimens was difficult. 
Twenty plants examined included : fourteen in which the female axis 
was clearly a branch of the male stem ; four in which the two axes were 
attached to one another basally ; one female branch attached to a decayed 
stem ; and one female axis apparently unattached. Thus the results 
obtained are confirmatory of those given above. Some of this material 
showed rather prolific branching, similar to that described on p. 298. 
1 Campbell, loc. cit. 
