an Atriclmm) by T h om a s P. J a m e s , Esq., there will doubtless
yet be detected many other well-known European
species, not a few of which have already been collected in
British America by D r um m o n d .
The southern section has been even less carefully explored,
and offers a promising field for future discoveries.
Among the recent accessions to our Flora from this quarter
are an Orthotriclmm, a Fissidens, and several BrucMce
and Fabroniw, gathered by H. W. R a v e n e l , Esq.; also
some fine Sphagna, an Anomodon, a Fontinalis, and a
MacromUrium, brought thence by our friend, the excellent
bryologist, M. L e o L e s q u e r e u x .
No portion of our territory has contributed so little to
our Bryology and Hepaticology as the Florida peninsula,
which in this respect still remains almost a terra incognita
: its only known species, Pilotrichum cymhifolimi, like
Meteorium pendulum from Western Louisiana (whence
novelties may also be expected), is thoroughly tropical in
all its characters, and gives promise of new and interesting
forms to reward future explorers.
W. S. S.
C o lum b u s , O h io , Ju ly, 1856.
MUSCI ANI ) HEPATICiE
OP THE
U N I T E D S T A T E S
E A S T O P T H E M IS S IS S IP P I.
O r d e r 139. MUSCI. (M o s s e s . )
Low, tuftod plants, always with a stem and distinct (sessile) leaves, producing
spore-cases which open by a terminal lid (except in iSios. 1 - 4 ) , and
contain simple spores alone. Eeproductive organs o f two kinds: 1. The
sterile (male) flower, consisting o f numerous ( 4 - 2 0 ) minute cylindrical
sacs (antheridia) which discharge from th e ir apex a mucous fluid filled with
oval particles, and th en perish. 2. The fertile flower composed of numerous
(4 - 20) flask-like bodies (arc7iegonia,pisiUlidia), each having a membranous
covering (calyptra), te rminated by a long cylindrical funnel-mouthed
tube (style). Th e ripened archegonium (seldom more than one in a flowe
r ma tunng) becomes th e capsule, which is rarely indéhiscent or splitting
by 4 longitudinal slits, b u t usually opens by a lid (operculum) : beneath the
operculum, and arising from th e mouth o f th e capsule, are commonly 1 or 2
rows^ of rigid processes (collectively the peristome) which a re always some
multiple of four : those o f th e outer row are called teeth ; those o f the
in n e r row, cdia, the ir intermediate smaller processes, cUiolai. An elastic
rin g of colls (annulus) lies between the rim of the capsule and opercnhim.
Th e powdery particles filling the capsule are spores o r sporules. Th e
thread-like stalk (pedicel) supporting th e capsule is inserted into th e elongated
torus (vaginula) o f th e flower. Th e pedicel continued through the
capsule forms the columella; when enlarged uniformly u n d e r the capsule, it
forms an apophysis; when protube rant on one side only, a struma. The
calyptra separating early a t its base is carried up on th e apex of the capsule;
if it splits on one side it is hood-shaped o r cuculliform, if not, it is
mitre-shapod or mUriform. Inte rmixed with th e reproductive organs are
cellular jo in ted filaments (paraphyses). Th e leaves surrounding the an-
th en d ia are called the perigonial leaves ; those around the archegonium or
pedicel, the pericliceiial leaves.