Acrogynous Jungerinanniales. 
287 
of a moss sporogonium, hence at dehiscence the four valves of the 
capsule do not become free right down to the point of junction with 
the cylindrical seta ; in systematic books the capsule of Frullania 
is therefore described as “ opening for only two-thirds of its length.” 
When the ripe capsule dries, the elaters contract and their lower 
ends become free from the floor of the capsule while their more 
Fig. 53. Frullania dilatata. A, longitudinal section of well-grown capsule, 
with spore-mother cells dividing; B, cross section of seta; C, part of wall of 
capsule (upper end of one of the four valves) seen from outer surface ; D, part 
of inner surface of capsule-wall, with an elater ; E, diagram (from Jack, 4 Bot. 
Zeit.,’ 1877) showing the arrangement of the elaters on the four valves of the 
capsule-wall, as seen from above. 
firmly fixed upper ends remain attached to the inner surface of the 
capsule-wall. Then the wall splits from above downwards into four 
valves (Fig. 54) which spring outwards with explosive violence, the 
spores being flicked away to a distance of several inches by the 
sling-like action of the elaters which are suddenly bent outwards 
with the four valves. 
