Preview Glossary
Bryophytespecialissue Glossary Thisglossarydefinessomeoftheterms usedthroughoutthisissue. Definitionsaresim- plified andbasedon Malcolm and Malcolm (2000)and Scottand Stone(1976),towhich readersarereferred formoredetailed definitions. Acuminate tapering to a long narrow Dentate having unicellular or multicellu- point. larteeththatareoutward facing. Alar cells specialized cells at the comers Dorsal said of the upper surface ofa ofmoss leaf bases. These are different prostrate stem, the outer surface of a from other leaf cells in size, shape, peristome tooth, the lower surface ofa colour,thicknessorwall ornamentation. leaf, and the upper surface ofa thallose Anticlinal perpendiculartothesurface. liverwortorhornwort Antheridium (plural antheridia) male Endostome found in many mosses, the reproductive organ containing sperm inner peristome, normally arising from (antherozooids). a basal membrane and consisting ofseg- Apiculus (plural apiculi) an abrupt, short mentsalternatingwithcilia pointata tiporapex. Epiphragm (plural epiphragmata) a cir- Archegonium (plural archegonia) flask- cular membrane attached to the tips of shaped female reproductive organ con- the peristome teeth, and partially closing sisting ofan elongated neckand swollen the capsule mouth after the operculum basal region (the venter) supported on a has fallenoff stalk. Theventercontainsanegg. Exostome the outer peristome ofmosses Bracts modified leaves surrounding the consisting ofone or more rows ofteeth reproductiveorgans that usually are split in two towards the Brood bodies anystructuresthat function tip. asvegetative propagules Fascicles a bundle or cluster of struc- Caducous fallingoffreadily, deciduous tures,e.g. leaves, branches, propagules. Calyptra a membranous or hairy cap Gametophyte the haploid multicellular formed fromthewall ofthe archegonium gameteproducinggeneration. after fertilization ofthe egg by a sperm. Gemma (plural gemmae) a type ofvege- Itprotects the embryonic sporophyteand tative propagulecomposed ofonly a few aids in control ofitsdevelopment. cells. Capsule the spore-bearing component of Hairpoint a hair-like leaftip in mosses the sporophyte, i.e. the sporangium, con- formed by a costa projecting well sisting ofa sterile base, a fertile spore beyond the end ofthe leafblade, orby a case and usually, in mosses, a sterile lid, protracted taperingofthebladetip. the operculum. The capsule is simplerin Hyaline colourless and transparent or liverwortsthan mosses. nearlyso. Cilium (plural cilia) a delicate hair or Hygroscopic readily absorbing moisture, tooth-like structure at a margin or on a saidofmossperistometeeth thatbend in surface, or alternating with the endos- andout in responsetohumidity. tomalteeth. Marsupium (plural marsupial) a swollen Conical coneshaped and elongated pouch-like structure Costa (plural costae) the thickened enclosingthesporophyte. midribornerveofa leaf Obtuse blunt with the sides making an Cryptogam plants that do not produce angleofmorethan 90°. flowers or seeds and have their repro- Operculum (plural opercula) in mosses, ductive parts in what once were consid- the lid that covers the capsule mouth; in ered hidden structures. Cryptogams liverworts, the apical portion ofthe spo- include the mosses, liverworts, horn- rangiumwhich opensduringdehiscence. worts, fungi and algae, as well as ferns Ovate egg-shaped. and fern-allies. Papilla (plural papillae) a local thickening ofthe cell wall or a mucilage-secreting cellin someliverworts. 282 The Victorian Naturalist Bryophytespecialissue Perichaetium (plural perichaetia) a clus- Sporophyte the diploid multicellular ter ofbracts surrounding the archegoni- sporeproducinggeneration. um and laterthebaseoftheseta. Soil crust crust-like covering on the soil Periclinal parallel orientation to the that maintains landscape stability. surface. Usually comprised of bryophytes, Perigonium (plural perigonia) a cluster lichens, algaeandfungi. ofbractssurroundingtheantheridium. Spiral arranged in the pattern ofa snail Peristome theringorringsofteethinside shell orcorkscrew themouth ofthecapsule. Thallus a plant body formed as a flat Pluriverous abletooccuron awidevari- plateorsheetoftissue. etyofsubtrates. Trabeculae cross bars or projections on Polysetous a state in mosses where more the back ofa tooth ofthe exostome or than one sporophyte atthe apex ofa sin- the slender support strands that prevent glebranch eachwith itsown calyptra. air-chambers from collapsing in a num- Protonema (plural protonemata) berofthalloidliverworts. branched algal-like filaments or plate- Tracheophyte vascularplant. like growths arising from the spores and Venter swollen basal structure of the fromwhich erectshootsform. archegonium,containstheegg. Recurved curved backward or down- Warty havingsmall protuberances ward, asin leaves. Rhomboid ofcells, quadrilateral in sur- face view or nearly so, with the lateral References anglesobtuse. Malcolm B and Malcolm N (2000) Mosses and other bryophytes, an illustrated glossary. (Micro-optics Seta the stalk or structure ofthe sporo- Press:Nelson,NewZealand) phytecarryingthe capsule. Scot GAM and Stone IG (1976) The Mosses of Sigmoid relating to cell outlines tht have SouthernAustralia,(AcademicPress:NewYork) a slight s-twist; curved in oppositedirec- tions atthetwoends ofthecells. One hundred andfourteen years ago DESCRIPTION,COLLECTION, AND PRESERVATIONOFMOSSES BYR.A. BASTOW \..The great natural order ofmosses is ever at ourside. On almost every wall lop these tiny plantsreartheircapsules,holdingthemaloftto inhale thepassingbree/.eortoreapthebenefitof thematuring sun-ray; aswe wanderthrough the fields they are underour feet, forminga carpet farmore luxuriousthan thatofanyOriental loom;theyareoverourheadsaswethreadourway through thebush;theythrow agentle mantleovertheirbrethren oflargergrowth, and whohave succumbed to the stormy blast, that none may mock the dead; they enlighten the storm-beaten cliffofsombre grey; they glisten on the sides and roofofthe cavern; they twirl in the purling stream; and form a glad luxuriance ofhumble beauty in niche, on bank, on rock, and every- where.’ ‘COLLECTION OF MOSSES. - In the autumn and winter months the mosses in low-lying localities will generally be found in their greatest perfection, whilst in the spring and summer months those growing in more or less mountainous districts are at theirbest, and it is probable that Victoria is as highly favoured as any country in the w^orld for its vast profusion ofmosses. Extensiveplains,alpineand sub-alpineheights, dampforests,andfern-treegulliesarecharacter- isticofthecolony;thereis,therefore,everyinducementtomakeacloseracquaintancewith such delightful forms. A necessary equipment for such excursions consists ofa good pocket lens, a large knife, capacious pockets, a piece ofcarpet or oilcloth, and some papers cut in squares to wrapeachspecimen in.’ From The VictorianNaturalistIX(1892-3),pp. 123-124 Vol. 123 (4) 2006 283
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