172 
CRYPTOGAM!A- 
After die falling of the outer vail or coveting, the anther^ are' feuiid to %$ 
covered with another little hood, called by Linnaeus operculum , which may be 
considered as a capsule, or perhaps, more properly, a receptacle, supporting the' 
flower and fruit; for within the„same little hood in bitxhaumia$ Linnaeus saith he 
hath observed real antherae hanging by filaments, opening at the fop, and letting 
fall the pollen, and that the seeds lay at the bottom; but this wants further con¬ 
firmation, as the male and female flowers have always been thought to be distinct* 
The seeds of moss are little naked bodies without coat or cotyledon .5 and when 
mosses are dried, they will revive again with moisture* 
N°of 
Species in 
N° Genera. 
Growth. 
Species. Native Of 
Britain. 
1st. 
Without calyptra, (a vail)« 
17 Lycopodium* 
h 
29 Alps, Japan, &c. 
Brit. 6 
18 Porella 
h 
1 Perisilvania 
19 Sphagnum 
h 
3 Alps 
Brit. S 
ad 
. Wi t h 
calyptra , two bed* 
20 Barbula 
h 
1 
21 Dicranium 
h 
1 
22 Grimmia 
h 
1 
23 Koelreutera 
h 
1 
24 Meesia 
h 
1 
25 Mnium 
h 
20 Europe 
Brit. 
26 Neckera 
h 
1 
27 Pohlia 
h 
1 
* The semina licopodii (commonly called witch-meal) are like a fine powder, and 
possess very extraordinary properties.—It is almost impossible to wet it j a quantity 
of it strewed upon a basin of water, not only swims upon the surface without being 
wet, but it prevents other bodies from being wet which are plunged into the water 
through it; so that a piece of money, or other solid body, may be taken from the 
bottom of the basin by the naked hand, without wetting the hand 5 which is ond 
of the tricks commonly shewn by the jugglers in Bavaria: This meal covers the 
hand, and descending along with it to the bottom of the basin, defends it from the 
water. This substance has the appearance of an exceeding fine, light, arid very 
moveable yellow powder, and it is very inflammable J so much so, that being 
blown out of a quill into the flame of a candle, it flashes like gunpowder ; and if 
is made use of in this manner in the theatres for imitating lightning. 
Count Rumford’s Essays, vol. ii. p. 448* 
