Funaria hygrometrica

Maier, Eva & Price, Michelle J., 2014, Georg Bojung “ Scato ” Lantzius-Beninga and his contributions on the anatomy of moss capsules: a transliteration from the original German texts, Boissiera 67, pp. 1-79 : 40-41

Funaria hygrometrica .

The formation of the capsule of this interesting moss deviates only a little in not very important factors from the foregoing described.

[original page 583]

As is known, in the lower part of the capsule is as a connection between the columella and the seta formed of a delicate tissue that consists of conferve-like, branched filaments, as I described and drew above under Gymnostomum pyriforme . In the upper part appear also sixteen peristome cells, their outer membranes, however, are not as strongly thickened as in Aulacomnium , but their horizontal separating walls show, by a relatively strong and elongate thickening on the inner side, broad lamellae or projections (Tab. LXII. Fig. 24 ). The inner wall of the peristome cells below show a fairly regular thickening, above they constrict to a nearly cylindrical, terete cord, in juxtaposition to the cord on the outer wall (Tab. LXIII. Fig. 25, 26, 27 . tt.).

The cells of the annulus are very large and are similar to that of Aulacomnium palustre .

[original page 584]

Particularly remarkable is a ring-like structure consisting of two layers of cells each composed of horizontally somewhat flattened cells, and connecting the base of the peristome with the outer capsule wall; the cells are dotted, rough, and at the maturity of the capsule coloured brownish-yellow; the wart-like knobs are arranged in regular rows thus, at a low magnification, appearing as spiral thickenings, see Tab. LXII. Fig. 24. y .

Figures

Fig. 24. Part of a longitudinal section of the upper half of a capsule of Funaria hygrometrica. Magnification x 250.

Fig. 25-27. Transverse sections of the peristome cell layer of the same moss capsule; Fig. 25 of the base of the peristome, Fig. 26 somewhat higher up, and Fig. 27 again higher up. Magnification x 250.