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NOSES

WITH A HAND LENS

A Non-TecunicaL Hanppook or THE More
ComMoN AND More Easity Recocnizep Mosses
oF THE NortH-Eastern Unrrep STATES

A. J. GROUT, Px. D.
BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL, BROOKLYN, N. Y.

SECOND EDITION,
REVISED, ENLARGED AND INCLUDING THE
HEPATICS

ILLUSTRATED BY
MARY V. THAYER

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR
360 Lenox Roap, FLatTBusH
BoroucH oF Brooklyn
NEW YORK CITY
AND
THE O. T. LOUIS COMPANY
59 FirtH AVENUE
NEW YORK CITY

@
Qk S#/

G&s
19 0S"

ap F
FL AVE
oe 1905 By A. J. Grout, Pu. D.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

BINGHAMTON REPUBLICAN

Siew ron: New Yor«

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

HE preparation of the First Edition was an experi-
ment, as there was some doubt as to the demand for
such a book and considerable uncertainty as to how

many people would be able to use it successfully.
The sales of the First Edition have proved con-
clusively the demand for a book of this kind, and it has
also been proved that the hand-lens can be successfully used
to determine a much larger number of mosses than was included
in the First Edition. This is shown by the readiness with which
persons of no special scientific training have identified the com-
mon mosses by its use.

By the use of slides prepared as for the compound micro-
scope, and the very best lenses such as are advertised in the last
pages of this book, many characters which were little or not at
all used in the First Edition can be utilized in determining diffi-
cult species. Such characters are the gross structure of the per-
istome, the characters of the costa, and the margins of the leaves,
position of the reproductive organs, and in many cases the gen-
eral outline of the cells.

The hand-lens can never equal the compound microscope for
making out these finer details of structure, but the compound
microscope is beyond the reach of many who would gladly study
the mosses if it can be done with a hand-lens. No characters
have been utilized which the author has not been able to make
out with his lens, but it may easily be true that the beginner may
not be able to see as much at first. The author believes that the
limit of utility of the hand-lens has been reached in this edition,
so far as the mosses are concerned at least. The section on the
Hepatics is less complete owing to the limitations of the author.

vi MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

The arrangement of the families has been slightly changed
and the glossary has been greatly changed; all the terms describ-
ing characters discernible by the compound microscope alone have
been omitted and a number of common botanical terms have been
added for the convenience of amateurs.

My thanks are due Miss Thayer for her careful work in
preparing the illustrations not otherwise acknowledged, and to
Dr. Evans for suggestions and the use of some of his illustrations
of Hepatics. Many of the additional illustrations are from the
Bryologia Europea and a smaller number from Sullivant’s Icones
and Gray’s Manual. Miss Alice Crockett has read all proofs.
Mrs. Annie Morrill Smith has greatly assisted by the loan of
books, specimens, and illustrations.

A. J. GROUT,
Boys’ Hicu Scuoot,

Marcu, 1905. Brookityn, N. Y.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

© OSSES are individually so small and inconspicuous
5) that the effect which they have as a mass in creating
and enhancing the beauty of natural scenery is
often overlooked. Yet if one recalls the desolate
and uninviting appearance of a wood in which the
mosses have been destroyed by fire, or observes carefully the part
which mosses play in completing the attractions of mountain
scenery, he will feel like saying a hearty amen to Ruskin’s
enthusiastic words in the closing paragraphs of his essay on
“Leaves Motionless.”

The freshness which a summer shower brings to the land-
scape is largely due to the unfolding of the mosses on tree and
fence and boulder from patches of lifeless brown into soft
cushions of living green.

Many lovers of nature have observed the beauty of mosses
and have collected them for their beauty alone. Many more
would have collected and studied them had not the difficulties
been so numerous and hard to overcome. Until very recently
there has been no literature in the English language that was
suited to the needs of the beginner. Owing to the small size of
most mosses, the characters which separate species and even
genera are so largely microscopic that a compound microscope
has been considered an absolute necessity for their study.

Many years of study of mosses in the field and in herbaria
have convinced the author that any person of average intelli-
gence can easily learn to recognize seventy-five to one hundred
common mosses with the aid of an ordinary hand-lens of ten to
fifteen diameters magnifying power.

The purpose of this work is to give, by drawings and de-
scriptions, the information necessary to enable any one interested
to become acquainted with the more common mosses with the
least possible outlay of time, patience, and money. The drawings
were made without the aid of the compound microscope in order
that nothing might be represented that is not readily distin-
guished with the simple microscope.

Finally it must be borne in mind by the student that the
present work is limited and incomplete in its treatment, and is
but a stepping stone to the larger and more complete works, and.
to the broader and fuller study of bryology.

A. J. GROUT,
Boys’ Hicu ScwHoot,

AUGUST, 1900. Brooxiyn, N. Y.

KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF MOSSES.

In using these keys the student is advised to turn to the
illustrations in the main part of the book, to explain any of the
characters used in the key that are not otherwise perfectly clear.
A free use of the glossary is also suggested.

PAGE
1. Plants whitish or light gray, scarcely appearing
green. ee ee ee ee eee eer eee Bs
Plants green, yellow-green, or dark green to
AlMOSt: DIACK s.cscws vrais cones aaa eels gues ee

2. Plants of bogs; capsules nearly globular, ovoid
when dry and empty, without peristome

En dnsstaptabses OPIN ors icedenda God NN GNS BA aot Sphagnaceae. II
Plants 8 moist shady places, growing in dense
tufts or cushions; capsules elongated, with

a peristome........ Leucobryum in Dicranaccae. 50
3. Leaves in two rows, with edges apparently to-
WEEMS, ENE Stic cniccdada conan yam nacyes 4%

Leaves in more than two rows, or if apparently
two ranked, the edges of the leaves are not
toward the stem........... ccc cece eee ee ees 5.
4. Leaves apparently split on the inner edge and
sheathing each other and the stem, costate;
peristome present. . .........Fissidentaceac. 30
Leaves ecostate, not split at base, but forming a
continuous wing-margin along the stem in
the sterile plants; peristome lacking........

ere MuphaheniecaugieG an, caueusaly wae w aes 8 Schistostegaccae. 86
GS: “ACKOCArpOUS: sass wteuweivnden cok bawuins weomie 6.
Pleurocarpous. -. . det deesuedecyaleatl aes OO)

6. Plants black or bhicleish . green; ‘desves opaque
or nearly so because of the very thick cell-

walls; growing on trees or rocks............ ah
Plants green to light yellow-green, or, if black-
ee Ish, PTOWINE: ON, GOL ois ace is aaaowneme nas 9.

*Some hepatics will be sought here.

10.

Hig Ee

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Capsule dehiscing by four valves, as in the
Hepatice, almost exclusively alpine or sub-

GIP: «= seapeviprtgordyannde lg taeed indreacaccae.

Capsule dehiscing by an operculum; peristome

OF 16 jointed TeClhiws cc aceevewaccmaarnaeass 8.

Peristome single (very rarely lacking), with
teeth not united in pairs, but usually per-
forate or bifid, richly colored and rarely re-
flexed when dry. Plants often hoary with
colorless leaf apices, nearly all growing on

TOCKS ES quasdoshaen Saath ersesar Grimmiaceac.

Peristome double (with one or two exceptions),
teeth often united in pairs, rarely perforate,
usually reflexed when dry, inner peristome
of very narrow linear erect segments.
Plants very rarely hoary, mostly tree-grow-

TH) ee cosa teaeeeeees s+ Orthotrichaceae.

Peristome of four large distinct unjointed teeth

aah 3 by ages lgd sd ik Rca Georgiaceae.

Peristome having an inner plaited whitish cone;
outer peristome of shorter teeth often pres-
ent. Odd plants best recognized by a refer-

ence to the illustrations........Burbawimiaccae.
Peristome lacking, or of more than four teeth... .10.

Peristome of 32 to 64 short teeth, joined at the
tips to a membrane which nearly closes the
mouth of the capsule; calyptra densely hairy
with long whitish hairs (except Catharinea) ;
leaves with numerous vertical lamellae on
the upper surface of the costa. Plants large
and very dark colored, growing on soil....

Sa disecarsebner ds Lanta amhioe vegeta ticens Polytrichaceae.

Peristome when present consisting of 16 to 32
plainly articulate teeth, frequently lacking;

mouth of capsule not closed by a membrane. .IT.
Capsules cleistocarpous....Bruchia in Dicranaccac.
Capsules cleistocarpous...Astomum in Tortulaceae.

Capsules gymnostoms; leaf-cells small, dense

Sadifedeachoee Poitia and Weisia in Tortulaccac.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Capsules gymnostomous, leaf-cells large, clear

nian wlatesecrmientaa ad Physcomitrium in Funariaccac.
Capsules: peristomiates «4 erary ay cuimasa eo geneween ines 13
Capsules with a large swollen hypophysis, which

is usually larger and more conspicuous than

the spore-bearing part; leaves not papillose;

growing on decaying animal matter.Splachnaceae.
Capsules without hypophysis (some with slender

MECHSE). pi Wah stad drdpitdhosduan d a gudgobduies usenet BOS 14.
Capsules strongly plicate when dry and empty,
often strongly unsymmetric................ 15.
Capsules not plicate or striate when dry or only
very Slightly SOc necacesy dann ds atoaudendea age 18.
Peristome single.............0.0ceeeee Dicranaceae.
PéPistOMe = COUDLE. goss sensuvaiecs sive cin au Arden ldeunanains 16.
Capsules subglobose; inner peristome without
cilia, or cilia very small.........Bartramiaccae.
Capsules elongated, cilia well developed......... ie

Capsules strongly unsymmetric with the mouth
nearly on one side; segments opposite the
teethy . «, EMlaga wate aweldeaetrnn ey Funariaceae.

Capsules only slightly unsymmetric; segments
alternating with the teeth...... Aulacomniaceae.

Capsules subpendent to pendent; peristome
dotiblér sii ae te tieee a oem Bryaceae.

Capsules often unsymmetric or inclined, but
never subpendent; peristome single, teeth
usually forked or twisted or both.......... 19.

Leaves nearly always crisped when dry; per-
istome in most cases of filiform twisted teeth.

Sa Rae gee Rua ee oapeenes ......Tortulaceae.

Leaves rarely crisped; peristome of 16 reddish
forked teeth which are never twisted.......

or plants shorter with falcate-secund leaves

and often only partially submerged; capsules

immersed or emergent, never exserted...:
......Fontinalaceae.

PAGE

89
g2

146

21.

22.

23.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Terrestrial (or a few aquatic), seldom slender or

floating, with capsules exserted on long setz..21.

Tree growing species with the capsules partially
immersed in the perichaetial leaves or at

most barely exserted............0ccces eae 23.

Not growing on trees, or if so with capsules

lone: sexsented jnccicuucsus aus gaseucuc annem. iseaee oe 22.

Leaves subopaque, dense, usually small; leaf-

COM S§ ISHO Iie -o:.4 3 shecisiscsusisansyens doe asi Sianayedeorcae Leskcaccae.

Leaves nearly transparent, leaf-cells in most
cases elongated; peristome with cilia except

in species with erect capsules...... Aypnaceae.

Stems and branches flattened; leaves appear-

ing two-tanked:vscssseaaduxaeenecs Neckcraceae.

Stems and branches nearly terete; leaves not

appearing two-ranked................ Leucodon.

KEY TO GENERA.

Plants with luminous protonema, growing ex-

clusively in caves and dark holes. .Schistostega.

Plants gray to gray-green, growing in bogs and

swamps...... weniaes . Sphagnum.
Plants not gray lexeept Rawcobriiten’y growing
AT “VATIOUS: SIEUALIOMS sc csecsvens df heteecsrhsiacewails aon ine Ts
SACHOCAEDOUSS © -dpncaadunis oa. gxarmeatormmuigna Raaarbel A,
Pleurocarpous. i gaye seed etoeins yew a B.
A.

Capsules square in cross-section; calyptra dense-

Ay Sharttybanansweind atcceambaeayccens Polytrichum.

Capsules round in cross section; calyptra ex-
tinguisher-like, completely covering the cap-

SUES a. aeahe ee, .Encalypta.
Capsules round in cross-section ; calyptra various. 2.

Blackish to brownish-green; growing on the

bark. of diving: tré@S. sac icnwnncicea ts den eewutes 3;
Blackish to brownish-green, growing on rocks. ..34.

Green, growing in various situations but not on

PhEES. cide an Seti aheocat ta msoniteiasals 5.

PAGE

108

I14
143

141

76.

xii MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS
PAGE

3. Capsule long-exserted, not wrinkled when dry. 1. 4.
Capsule short-exserted, strongly wrinkled when
dry; leaves crisped when dry.......-.-+- Ulota. 79
Capsules immersed or partially exserted, strong-
ly wrinkled (except O. speciosum) when

dry; leaves not crisped..........Orthotrichuim. 81
4. Leaves crisped; capsule pear-shaped and puck-
ered about the mouth when dry. Ulota Ludwigii. 79
Leaves scarcely crisped, capsule ovoid, not
puckered or folded...............Druimmondia, 79
5. Capsules immersed or partially exserted; seta
NOL APPAakentres sxe .sauwqewhad ess owsavewebas 6.
Capsules exserted; seta evident.......... «0;
6. Capsules green, without distinct tid platits of
Satrdy: MEAS weacescny als agnmabaseatanane ¢ coats ates es
Capsules with lid and peristome; plants growing
On, Shaded banks: scisece cc sie soninw evaieranti ene Webera. 29
7. Leaves strongly crisped to spirally coiled when
dtys) . hyxthipe earpiece enipeeygaies Astomum. 37
Leaves not crisped when dry................... 8.
8. Capsules pear-shaped, partially exserted...Bruchia. 36
Capsules nearly spherical, immersed and nearly
hidden in the long slender leaves... .Pleuridiuim. 35
g. Capsules erect, urn-shaped, no peristome........ 10.
Capsules erect, greatly swollen at base. .Splachnum. 88
Capsules strongly ventricose; mature plant with-
lb. Tea Ves boc pee viemeromaaawanueneey Buxbaumia. 28
Capsules erect, ovoid to cylindric, nearly or quite
straight. Bish iat ep thay eas ec ata laut ae eoneuSes Il.

Capsules arcuate, unsymmetric, usually cernuous..22.
Capsule symmetric, cernuous or pendent; ovoid,

pyriform, or subglobose..................... 33:
TO. Costa. excurrétity .; ces cargcaeewad Reewnd ones Pottia. QI
Costa ending below apex of leaf....Physcomitrium. 90
11. Plants growing on moist cliffs, usually on lime-
stone; peristome lacking........Gymnostomum. 63
Plants growing on various substrata; peristome
PLeSenty oa 2.4 we hes ewwsmawadewad tyes cen eeu e kD

12, Growing on stones in running water............
sdnahidate, oor sasite wut eaaiauamioase antes Fissidens Julianus. 34

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

2i.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Growing on rotten wood or occasionally on

Peaty, battkSecccnsciaamsieee Midis dues Samoa 13:
Growing On SOilgccneseuinannanren ena aaa tu bleiionen 14.
Growing on rocks or cliffs.............. Dicranum.
Peristome of four teeth................4. Georgia.

Peristome of sixteen teeth....Dicranum flagellare.

Plants with hairy calyptra and appearance of

the Hlatr=Ca pss manatee ea tiieons warns Pogonatum.
Plants without hairy calyptra.............-.5..-15.
Peristome of 32 teeth attached to the columella

as in the HairecapSinicosconsanecgaas Catharinea.
Peristome of 32 hairlike, strongly twisted

teeth; leaves crisped when dry.............. 16.
Peristome of 16 teeth often divided and slender

at apex but not hairlike or twisted.......... 18.
Costa excurrent into a long white hair....Tortula.
Costa not excurrent or barely so...............- 17.

Basal hyaline cells forming a V at the base of

CIE} EAVES ais secre yaw eri ween ete ha es Tortella.

Line of separation between hyaline and dense
cells running nearly straight across the leaf

ar eal eheadenntinias ict AM oust aa hsieiietds Barbula.

Leaves tongue-shaped with long-excurrent costa

as in Tortula.......... Desmatodon plinthobius.

Leaves short, closely imbricated; not tongue-

shaped. . otek fare Rhee Sinead en aeiea ns EO TIGM UME:

Leaves long anil dian ioacearee. costa not

excurrent or only shortly so..............-.. 19.

Plants comparatively large; cells at basal angles
of leaf abruptly enlarged and usually colored

A Laces eae TCREAS S Gabe Bae Sewn aelaleale Dicranum.

Biaate Ste cells at basal angles of leaf not

conspicuously enlarged or colored............20.

Plants rusty red; capsules more than twice as

long as broad. ......265- Didymodon rubellus.

Plants green; capsule not more than twice as

long as broad when moist. Es daniscane aya utr eee Ds

Plants of sandy fields; leaves anionedl hen dies

asa eSiD AA aod darted aly letiaiate een Oe ws IFeisia viridula.

xiii

PAGE

45
7
49
23

*6y
74

xiv MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

PAGE
Plants of moist banks; leaves not crisped......
Ladisaevacsuejacabanneaists fae econaantediaserass .Dicranella. 41
22. Plants greenish-white.............-.-- Leucobryui. 50
Plants dark to light-green, not white..........-- 23.
23. Leaves two-ranked; plants appearing flattened
ice ill ties PRG AERIS RISE: Fissidens. 30
Leaves not two-ranked, arising from all sides
Ob the: ShOMt.c«conerchaanadenetunesset ade Hes 24.
24. Capsules smooth when dry............ 00.0 eee eee 25.
Capsules furrowed or wrinkled when dry........ 28.
25. Capsules with a long slender neck....Trematodon. 40
Capsules with neck short or wanting............. 26.
26. Plants in habit, peristome, and calyptra like the
HAIG CaDSecig wauismecene erat Pogonatum alpinum. 25
Calyptra not hairy; peristome of 16 teeth........ 27.
27. Peristome double; dry capsules usually with a
short neck (long in Pohlia elongata)......
sas depateuchatet ch aceasta Menehanecaeary oes Aa Bryum and Pohlia. 97
Peristome single; capsules without neck, not
SERUMIOSE. oie aks dian snnd beeen hen Dicranum. 45
Peristome single; capsule plainly strumose.
EO a ee ee ete te eee Oncowieoris. 39
28. Bipuites subglobose when wet...............
soisaierants er epab ne Saas BOE Philonotis and Bartramia. 94
Capsules elongated, often subcylindric.......... 20.
29. Growing on rotten wood................ Dicranum. 45
Growing on soil or bases of trees................ 30.
30. Growing in swamps or very wet places; per-
istome double........... Aulacomnium palustre. 92
Growing in barren places, roadsides, paths, etc.;
PETISCOME: VALlOUS ec. vccimamracrnaninadwaricdauern 31.
Growing on soil, base of trees, or rocks; per-
istome: Siglés case anaudeceuaseamoase Dicranella. 41
Growing most commonly at base of trees in
woods; peristome double..................
P .. Aulacomnium heterostichum. 04
31. Cipeles ems: Giayed. mouth at one side
ie kg Mae Mheuse se REO Mewar sees UNOS 89

Capsules inclined, only slightly unsymmetric. .. .32.
32, Setal svellowsines scsi ccna swine Ditrichum pallidum. 38

33.

34.

35.

36.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Seta. dark red-brown. ..0...65 00000020 ee Ceratodon.
Leaves like those of Dicranum longifolium (see
plate XI); seta arched in the middle; cap-
sule without neck, pendent; peristome single
spain merlous ones eaeas Dicranodontium longirostre.
Leaves lanceolate; seta bent at the top; capsule
LONE=NECK EM. awsewaacsmws wwenawiee’ Leptobryuim.
Leaves lanceolate; capsule with short neck....
Led eh OLNGEeeae soe Tt ee Leet ete Pohlia nutans.
Leaves broadly ovate-lanceolate to ovate......
(imiirnrwaeeaadenceccadihitninn Bad Bry:
L€aveS: WwithOut: €OStdicsccvscacmiona ssanmeaeae saws 35.
sea ViES! CO Stat Cin cea cctnesemcepemeheterorers| cabana inie Siehen 30.
Leaves acute, white tipped; capsules entirely im-
mersed, subglobose, opening by 2 lid. .Hedwigia.
Leaves obtuse, without white tips; capsule split-

ting into 4 valves..........4ndreaea petrophila.
Leaves crisped when dry, never white tipped....
gases ale ehhienenieteipe alee wee... Ptychomitrium.

Leaves not crisped, often white tipped..........
SO eee ee Grimmia and Rhacomitrium.
Leaves not crisped; capsule splitting into four

Malvess as, 6} cata eens ag dndreaea.
B.

Growing on stones in or near running water.... 2.
Not growing in. wate Ric went actiociqe agate sels 4.
Growing on the stems of partially submerged

BUSheS;. — Saieciwatanniue aaeacanels aie Dichelyma.
Long and floating (Fissidens Julianus may be

SOUPHt. NSEC) hc ccicemermnmeacenenarans Fontinalis.
Not: long, and: oating sn. ncccncnsade amnveak anes me
Leaves without costa................0.00- Hypnunn.
Leaves: COStat@n is os escqaevegadievauewaene yaad

Rhynchostegium rusciforme, Brachythecium,
Amblystegium, Hypnum ochraceum.
Leaves two-ranked or appearing so, flattened

inte One: planGxivercssseewencsasdiendes axe By
Leaves not lying in one plane.................. me
Leaves without! C0Sta..c2s¢.cca ccs hon Geum enades 6.

PAGE

Xvi

10.

i i

12:

14.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Leaves costate; plants growing on cool moist

FOCKS _~ A cystawstasoua ot atueul aineemantcavetiaarige we Homalia.
Plants growing on trunks of trees........ Neckera.
Plants growing on decayed wood..............

a tokae SGoksiaaate Entodon and Raphidostegium.
Plants growing on soil or decayed wood........

snl ap kta Go ok eshte Coagabid Plagiothecium.
Plants nee once or twice pinnate, looking
like miniature ferns............-.00- 00s eee

Thuidium, Hypnum, Hylocomium proliferum.111,
Plants not regularly pinnate.................005 8.
Capsules erect, straight...................000ee 9.
Capsules cernuous, curved.......... Hypnum family.
Growing on bark of trees...........-.....+----10.
Growing on soil or decayed wood.............. 13.

Growing on stones or bark of trees. .
Ee eS eee Ausibobetam ieiecedvewt

Growing only near the base of trees............II.
Growing at various heights on tree trunks, sel-
dom wear’ the: bases sonsneee va ueaneoen aceddaos 12.
Light green; branches julaceous............ Thelia.
Dark green; branches somewhat flattened or at
least not julaceous................. Anomodon,
Small; seta many times as long as the per-
icheetial léaveSiunerssoadagsene ei etl ana Pylaisia.
Larger; seta not more than twice as long as the
perichetial leaves.............00000. Leucodon.
Plants treelike, growing on the ground in
swamps. . »Feiseseietianeeasss CHmaciun.
Plants growing in prostrate mats on soil or
eeayed, WOO a eine sn dcwne-centainaietéle mp aipsrmuodar 14
Leaves without costa..................... Entodon
L€aves COStatiesn ison yavas anes she dvd desdconanann eee
Anomodon rostratus and Brachythecium acu-
munatunt.

143
137, 127

136

115, 113

114

119

110
109
136
141

139

137

INTRODUCTION.

O many different kinds of plants are called mosses
that it may be well to clear the field by defining the
true mosses as distinguished from the other plants
popularly called mosses.

The sea-weeds or marine alge are often known as
sea mosses, but no true moss grows in salt water.

The moss which drapes the trees in swampy regions of the
South is not a true moss, but a flowering plant bearing flowers
and seeds like a rose or a geranium.

Lichens are frequently confused with mosses, but they never
bear leaves and never are a bright green, but a grayish or
brownish green, rarely black or bright colored. The majority of
species consist of a flat thin body usually prostrate and closely
applied to the substance upon which the plant grows. The
“Reindeer Moss” is a lichen with shrubby hollow stems; the
gray “moss” that hangs from the limbs of trees in Northern
swamps is also a lichen.

The Hepatice, or liverworts, are most closely allied to the
mosses and some species are difficult to distinguish from them.
In general, however, the liverworts consist of a flat expanded
body like a bright green lichen, or, if leafy, the leaves, which
never have a costa, are arranged in two rows on opposite sides
of the stem and often in the same plane, giving the plant a flat-
tened appearance unlike the great majority of mosses. In fruit
the capsule of the leafy forms opens by four valves instead of by
a lid as in the mosses.

The terms used in describing mosses are fully defined and
illustrated in the glossary, and the student should make himself
familiar with the principal terms as early in his study of the
mosses as practicable.

The beginner in the study of mosses should be content with
the study of well developed fruiting specimens. Sterile spec-
imens should never be attempted unless their genus is readily
recognizable from previous experience, or some marked pecul-
iarity renders recognition easy. Imperfect or non-fruiting mosses

2 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

often prove an insoluble puzzle to the advanced student and
would be nothing but a source of discouragement to the begin-
ner. Many mosses of the more difficult genera like Hypnum and
Bryum are not included in this book because they can not be
recognized with any degree of certainty without the aid of the
compound microscope. As some of these difficult species are
common they will prove a source of annoyance to the beginner,
and it is hoped will lead him to obtain, sooner or later, the
necessary books and apparatus for a more extended study.

Almost any form of simple microscope will serve for the
study of most of the mosses with this book, but to obtain the
best results it should be of a construction suitable for carrying
in the pocket into the field.

The hand-lens recommended for this book is of so short a
focus that it can not readily be used for a dissecting lens, so that
some form of dissecting microscope will prove very useful. If
one can not afford a regular dissecting microscope costing from
three to five dollars, a tripod costing less than one dollar will
give good results. Place the object to be dissected on a piece
of plain glass over white paper and stand the tripod on
the glass.

For ordinary work a lens of from 15 to 20 diameters is
needed, for the finer details a lens of 30 or more diameters is
necessary. In studying very minute parts it will often be neces-
sary to mount in water in the same manner as for the compound
microscope. For the preparation of these slides the student
should have half-a-dozen blank slides of glass, such as can be
purchased of any dealer in optical goods, a small pair of fine flat-
pointed forceps and two fine-pointed dissecting needles. A small
scalpel is useful, but a good pocket knife will answer all pur-
poses. Circles or squares of thin glass are useful, but two slides
can be used with the object mounted in water between them.
Mica can be used for covers or for slides and covers both.

In preparing these slides all specimens not fresh and moist
should first be soaked out in hot water, the parts to be studied
should then be carefully removed ‘with the forceps and placed in a
drop of water on one of the glass slides and covered with a cover
circle or another slide. If one has a dissecting microscope with
stand and mirror the slides can be studied in the usual manner,
but almost as good results can be obtained by holding the slide
up to a strong light and examining it thus as a transparent object.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 3

Two blank slides, two rubber bands, a pair of fine-pointed
forceps, and a small vial of water carried in the pocket into the
field will enable one to mount slides on the spot and will often
save the trouble of carrying home useless material or, what is
worse yet, leaving a good thing behind because it is not recog-
nized. The rubber bands are to slip over the two slides and keep
them in place when objects are mounted between them.

To use a hand-lens with the best results the object or slide
should be held with the thumb and fore finger of the left hand,
and the lens with the right hand. Then by resting the right
hand on the left the lens can be focussed without difficulty. It is
usually best to let the thumb of the right hand lie on that of the
left. Ifthe hands do not touch it is very difficult to keep them
steady enough to keep a high power hand-lens in focus.

The only parts for the study of which the dissecting micro-
scope is absolutely necessary are the antheridia and archegonia.
These organs are readily found in acrocarpous mosses if
not too badly decomposed by age, and after a little practice one
will have little difficulty in distinguishing them with a high
power lens. In the pleurocarpous mosses they are often difficult
to find. The best plan is to soak the plant thoroughly and place
it on a large piece of glass, over white paper, and dissect off all
promising buds. These are to be dissected separately in a drop
of clean water on a slide, but they are so small and so often
shrunken or partially decomposed as to make their recognition
difficult. ;

In counting peristome teeth it is well to remember that the
teeth are always in multiples of four, 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64, so that if
a number more than one of these numbers is found one may
know that the entire number is not less than the next higher.

Every one intending to study mosses will find a collection of
dried specimens invaluable, and a collection is more easily made
and cared for than with any other group of plants. The only
reason for pressing specimens of mosses is that they may be
stored satisfactorily in the herbarium. Each species has a dis-
tinctive look when naturally dried in situ, and the pressure should
not be great enough to obliterate this. Note the difference be-
tween plants of Hedwigia dried under pressure and dried in the
open, and you will easily see how important proper drying is for
the student. My own practice is to place the mosses in an or-
dinary plant-press and press with medium pressure for twenty-

4 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

four hours, and then remove and dry thoroughly in the open air.
Mosses growing in thin mats are best spread out in the drying
papers in their natural position, care being taken to remove any
surplus of adherent substratum, soil, rotten wood, etc., also any
other species that may be intertangled with the one it is desired
to collect. If the mats are thick and consist principally of erect
stems, it is better to break them up into vertical sections or
slices before pressing. ‘The substratum, the habitat, the locality,
the date, and the name of the collector should be noted for each
specimen, and either put in with the specimens or else recorded
in a note-book, numbered to correspond to numbers attached to
the specimens. The name of the person identifying the plant
should also be written on the label. Many times it is also im-
portant to give the altitude at which the specimens were col-
lected. The following is a good sample label:

NORTH AMERICAN MUSCI
Pseudoleskea rigescens (Wils.) Lindb.
Bark of Alder Trees. Alt. 1,800 ft.

Beaver Meadows, Vancouver, Id., Aug. 26, 1901.

Cull. J. W. Bailey. Det. G. N. Best.

When dried the mosses may be placed in suitable envelopes or
pasted on cards, and preserved in an herbarium in the usual manner.

In the pronunciation of the scientific names it is well to re-
member that the best authorities give the English pronunciation
of the Latin with the accent according to the rules of Latin gram-
mar. The Roman pronunciation so much in vogue in schools and
colleges is sure at some early date to supersede the English, but
at present the English has the weight of authority.

The pronunciation is indicated by the same signs as in the re-
cent works on the flowering plants.

sIndicates the accent and the long, broad, open, or close
English sound of the vowel.

7Indicates the accent and the short English sound.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 5

Life History and General Structure.

HE fruiting moss plant consists of two distinct parts,
the green leaf-bearing portion and the spore-bearing
part—a slender bristle-like seta (sometimes almost
lacking), bearing at its summit the capsule which con-
tains the spores. The main use of the seta is to bear the

capsules up above the surrounding plants to get light and air, and

especially to place the spores where they will readily be dis-
tributed by the wind.

If you shake the freshly ripened capsule of any of the larger
mosses you can easily see a small cloud of fine powder—the
spores. If you mount such a capsule in water and press down
upon the cover the mass of escaping spores can readily be seen.

When the spores fall on moist earth, under favorable condi-
tions, they germinate by sending out tiny green threads called
protonema; these continue growing until a green felt-like cover-
ing is formed over the bare soil or other substratum. From this
protonema grow the moss plants.

If one examines damp earth that has been undisturbed for a
few months he will readily find this green felt with tiny moss
plants sticking up here and there. Greenhouses and old gardens
are particularly good spots to search for this purpose. If one is
fortunate enough to find fresh plants of the Slender Pogonatum
the green protonema will be very conspicuous.

On the leafy portion of the plant are borne male and female
reproductive organs, antheridia and archegonia. From the fertil-
ized egg-cell in the archegonia develops the spore-bearing part—
the sporophyte or sporogonium.

It is just as necessary that the spores of mosses be widely
distributed as it is that the seeds of flowering plants be scattered
far and wide, and very similar means are employed. The cap-
sules of the Peat Mosses explode and shoot the spores as much
as four inches into the disturbing breeze or onto the hair of pass-
ing animals. Webera and Buxbaumia are miniature powder guns
fired by falling rain drops or by passing insects or other small
animals.

By far the greater number of capsules are like miniature
pepper boxes, shaking their life-bearing powder onto every breeze
and shaken by every puff of wind and every passing object.

The mechanism of the boxes is most wonderful. The seta

6 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

is often as full of spring as if it were tempered steel, and the
little boxes are made with a lid which keeps everything snug until
the spores are ripe, when it falls and leaves the perforated cover,
which can open and close, open when dry and close when moist.
In damp weather it closes so that the spores may not be beaten
straight down by the rain or become wetted and spoiled inside
the capsule by a premature germination. This automatic per-
forated cover is in most cases composed of a fringe of teeth
around the mouth of the capsule; these teeth close up when moist
and spread out when dry by a purely mechanical action which can
be performed long after the cells of the capsule are entirely lifeless.

With the high power lens the teeth and cilia (see Peristome in
Glossary) can readily be seen in a dry capsule which is well pre-
served.

In Georgia the capsules are erect, and its four teeth well
separated when dry, as seen in Fig. 3, Pl. I. Dip one of the
dry capsules in warm water for a moment and see the peristome
close like a tiny vise, giving an almost comical impression of
grim determination.

In Polytrichum the teeth are sixty-four in number, and of
themselves are usually so short that they would have little effect
on spore distribution, but they are all attached by their tips to
the expanded membranous upper end of the columella, forming
a most effective and ingenious pepper-box, entirely automatic in
action. When the weather is dry, the teeth become shrunken in
width, and strongly incurved; the columella also shrinks, pulling
the ends of the teeth inwards (Fig. 2. Pl. I). This leaves ample
room for the spores to be shaken through the openings between the
teeth. The columella shrinks more at the margin than in the

ExpLanation or Prats I.

1. Moist peristome of Polytrichum Ohioense, R. & C. 2. The same
dry. 3. Dry peristome of Georgia. 4. The same wet. 5. Four teeth
of the peristome of Catharinea undulata (1,.), Web. & Mohr. 6, 7, and 8
represent different positions of the peristome of Barbula amplexa, lesq.*
7 shows the peristome immediately after the removal of the operculum. 8
shows the appearance of the peristome of a dry capsule from which the
spores are escaping. The loosely twisted mesh of the narrow teeth forms.
a perfect sieve to control the escape of the spores. If you place a per-
istome in this condition under the microscope without mounting medium
or cover-glass and breathe upon it the teeth will straighten perceptibly. If
you dip it in warm water it will assume the original position shown in 7,
if it be comparatively fresh; if it be rather old and somewhat broken it may
look like 6. The perfect cone in 7 is, of course, a waterproof covering for
the spores inside.

*As the peristomes were drawn by reflected light, the basal mem-
brane was scarcely noticeable.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 7

Pratz I. (See explanation on preceding page.)

8 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

central portion, causing it to assume the shape of a pie-plate.
This upturned margin of the columella also enables the teeth
to remain attached to its edge in their changed position. In
species of this family with more nearly erect capsules the teeth
are longer and often fewer in number, making the escape of the
spores easier.

If you take a capsule in the condition represented in Fig. 2,
and place it in warm water for a few minutes, it will assume the
appearance shown in 1, and no spore can be shaken out; although
a careful examination of the contents of the capsule will show
that the spores are not wetted, for when mounted in water they
are still surrounded by an envelope of air.

The pepper-box is closed, but how? Kerner von Marilaunt
states that the teeth, when wet, curve inwards so strongly that
the columella is pressed against the mouth of the capsule, closing
it effectually. Five minutes’ study, however, will show any one
that the teeth do not curve in when wet, but, instead, straighten
up and outwards; the columella also expands and becomes of
nearly-the same diameter as the capsule. This makes the open-
ings lateral instead of terminal. The teeth expand enough
laterally so that not a single drop of water can enter or a spore
escape. In addition, the spores seem to be protected by the
nature of their outer surface, for it takes a very long soaking
to wet the spores so that they can be satisfactorily mounted in
water for microscopic study.

Plate II, Fig. 2 shows the peristome of Hypnum in its dry
state. Note how the cilia fill the spaces between the segments,
forming a perfect sieve. Fig. 1 shows the same peristome wet
and closed so tightly that no water can get in or spores get out.
One can easily see from an examination of these two figures the
advantage of having the segments alternate with the teeth.

This illustration is from a Hypnum with a strongly curved
capsule. If an illustration were chosen from a species with an
erect capsule the cilia would, in most cases, be more or less
rudimentary and the segments narrowed, as is explained in the
beginning of this topic.

In Fig. 4, the dry peristome of Ceratodon purpureus is shown.
The loosely incurved teeth form a capital sieve. Fig. 3 shows
the same dry. The peristome of Dicranum, shown in Figs. 5,

jNat. Hist. Plants, 2: 814.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 9

Prare IL.

1. Peristome of Hypnum, moist. z. The same dry. 3. The peris-
tome of Ceratodon purpureus, moist. 4. The same dry. 5. A dry peris-
tome of Dicranum. 7. The same moist. 6. The peristome of a Dicranum
from which the operculum had just been removed.

10 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

FicureE I.
Peristome of Orthotrichum callistomum (From Bry. Eur.)

6, and 7, is very similar to that of Ceratodon, only the teeth are
broader and less incurved when dry.

In Fontinalis, which is always submerged, the peristome
consists of a network, through the meshes of which the spores
gradually escape. In a European moss, Orthotrichum callis-
tomum Fisch., the inner peristome is a domelike structure with
apertures near the base which are opened and closed by the
hygroscopic teeth of the outer peristome.

This last is so curious yet so beautifully adapted for its work
that it seems almost like a fairy tale, and would be scarcely
credible if told of some rare unknown tropical plant instead of
having been seen and described by several of the most matter-
of-fact botanists. A somewhat similar arrangement is found in
Cinclidium stygium.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS LW

FAMILY J. SPHAGNACEAE. The Peat Mosses.

HE Peat Mosses (PI. III.) are so different from the other
mosses that many bryologists do not consider them as
mosses at all, but would put them in a separate class.
Their protonema is much like the prothallium of a fern,
and the stalk upon which the capsule is borne is not at

all homologous with the seta of the other mosses, as it is an out-
growth from the gametophyte and not the lower portion of the
sporophyte, i. e., it is developed from the moss plant instead of
from the fertilized egg-cell. The structure of the leaves is also
very different from that of the other mosses. The leaves of some
species are pink or deep red and furnish microscopic mounts of
very great beauty.

Although the Sphagnaceae consists of but one genus, the
number of species is very large and the distinctions are very
puzzling, so that only two or three of the commonest and most
easily recognized species are here discussed.

Economically, the Peat Mosses are of more value than any
others. In many portions of Ireland and Scotland peat is almost
the only fuel supply of the peasantry. In the United States there
is an abundant supply of peat. Dana estimates that there are
15,000,000,000 cubic feet in Massachusetts alone. Cheaper and
more satisfactory fuels are so abundant that peat is little used in
this country.

The memorable coal strike of 1902-03 called attention to our
enormous and easily accessible supply of fuel of this sort, and
some attempts were made to utilize this source of fuel supply.
During the civil war, when coa! was scarce and high-priced, peat
was used to a considerable extent, and if coal should again be-
come scarce and high-priced for any considerable time there is
no doubt that the peat supply of our country could be made to.
furnish fuel for its needs for a century or more. At present it
is not likely to compete with coal, because people are unfamiliar
with its use, and the demand has not warranted any great invest-
ment in plants for scientifically preparing it for market. Those
interested in the matter should read an article by Mr. S.
Power, in the “Outlook” for January 17, 1903.

Peat Mosses grow in and near water in swamps. They
keep growing at the top and dying below. Sticks, leaves, and’
other vegetable matter is washed in among the decaying stems.

12 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

The whole mass, being saturated with water, decays slowly,
leaving a black substance whose combustibility depends upon the
purity of the carbon. The “muck” of the farmers is an in-
complete or impure peat.

Peat Mosses grow into small ponds from the margin and
frequently fill them entirely, forming quaking bogs. In other
instances there is a small black pool in the center of the bog—
all that remains of a much larger body of water that once
occupied the whole area now occupied by the bog.

These bogs are very treacherous, and men and animals not
infrequently perish through being engulfed in the black slimy
mud. There is some antiseptic property in this mud which pre-
serves animal and vegetable tissue for a long time. Huge logs
are often dug out of these swamps in a condition fit for excel-
lent lumber. In Ireland, the body of a woman dressed in hair-
cloth was unearthed from under eleven feet of peat, where it
must have lain for centuries.

Peat Mosses absorb water very freely and serve to hold back
the water that falls during heavy storms, preventing floods and
retaining the water until it is more needed. Because of this
absorbent power these mosses are much used by florists for
packing flowers and by stable-men for bedding.

Peat Mosses are dried and baled like hay and sent to the
cities in great quantity for use in stables instead of straw. The
moss absorbs liquids and gases so freely that stables using it
are almost free from odor.

These mosses are easily recognized by their light gray-green
color (sometimes pink or red at the top) and their peculiar
shape, which is well illustrated in the figures.

Professor Goebel, in his Organography of Plants, gives an
interesting account of the method of spore dispersal in Sphag-
num. According to him, the ripening capsule absorbs air, and
when fully ripe the sun’s rays dry out the moisture, causing the
capsule to shrink in all directions, but a great deal more trans-
versely than longitudinally. This gradually compresses the air
until the lid of the capsule is forced off with an explosion that
has thrown the spores as far as four inches.

Although Professor Goebel did not mention it, it seems to
me that this explosion is very probably “touched off” by passing
animals or even by sudden breezes, so that the spores will find
a ready means of dispersal. Certain it is that the spores will

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 13

Prats ILL.

a. Sphagnum squarrosum, Pers. b. S. acutifolium, Ehrh. c. S. cymbifdlium,
(Ehrh.) Hedw. d. Capsules of Sphagnum.

14 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

escape in dry weather, which is most favorable for wide dis-
persion.

The Peat Mosses of Europe and America are the same in
the main. There are, according to recent continental authors, a
great number of species, which it requires all the trained ability
of an expert to recognize. But for our purposes there are two
easily recognized groups, each of which contains many so-called
species.

The Spoon-leaved Peat Mosses, Pl. III, c, c’, c”, are easily
recognized by their thick branches and their broad spoon-shaped
leaves. The acute-leaved Peat Mosses are figured in a, a’, and
b, b. Figure b represents the Acute-leaved Peat Moss, which
is common in all the peat bogs of Europe and America. It is
often tinged at the top with a bright red or crimson color. The
Squarrose Peat Moss is one of the acute-leaved group, but is
easily distinguished by the spreading tips of the leaves, as is
indicated in Figs. a, a’. The branches are much stouter than in
the Acute-leaved Peat Moss.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 15

FAMILY 2. ANDREAEACEAE. The Andreaea Family,

HIS family is characterized chiefly by the
dehiscence of the capsule, which splits into
four valves after the manner of the Hepatice,
the valves remaining attached at the apex.
The plants of this family are all mosses of al-

pine or subalpine habitat, growing upon granitic or slaty

rocks. The appearance is always dark, sometimes black,
and the leaves are very brittle and dense. The pres-
ence of chlorophyll in the leaves is not apparent except
in very young leaves. There is very little difference
in the capsules of the different species.
ANDREAEA PETROPHILA Ehrh. is common on
exposed rocks in the mountains of our range.

It is easily distinguished from any species of

Grimmia or Orthotrichum by its lack

of costa, and it is much more

slender than Hedwigia, and without
hyaline points to the leaves. The other
points in its structure are best made
out from the illustration. It is
abundant on the face of the Old Man

-of the Mountain in

Franconia Notch,

N. H.

A. Rorui W.

& M. (A. rupestris

of many authors)

occurs with the
preceding and oc-

-casionally descends

to lower levels on

exposed rocks. It
has been found
along the Hudson,
at Yonkers. It is
easily distinguish-
ed from A. petro- Ficure 2. Andreaea Rothii. (From Bry. Eur.)

phila by the elon- Leaves and leaf sections.
gated - lanceolate

16 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Pirate IV. Andreaea petrophila (From Bry. Eur.)
1-4. Plants natural size. 27 & 29. Capsules in different stages of drying-
The other figures are self-explanatory.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 17

leaves and the strong costa reaching to the apex of the leaf, or
beyond.

The last species, if sterile, will be with difficulty distinguished
from Grimmia, by one not familiar with it, unless comparison
with authentic specimens is possible. The time of maturing
spores seems to be spring in each of the species. In A. petrophila
they mature in May and June.

FAMILY 3. GEORGIACEAE. The Georgia Family.

rr A LL of our mosses belonging to this family are distinct

in the four-parted peristome, each of the four teeth
being composed of a solid mass of cellular tissue.
The leaves are ovate or lanceolate, costate, leaf-cells
rounded-hexagonal.

i
GEORGIA.
The botanists of preceding centuries were often under royal
patronage and frequently found it convenient to pay their re-
spects to kings and queens. Thus, Georgia is named for King

George III of England, and Catharinea for Empress Catharine
II of Russia.

G. peLLucipa (L.) Rabenh., the
Common Georgia (Tetraphis pellu-
cida of many authors), is very
abundant on decayed stumps in
moist woods. On the western end of
Long Island, where decayed wood is
scarce, it grows luxuriantly on the
banks ef brooks in swamps, the
black peaty soil being as rich in or-
ganic matter as decaying wood.

The Flagellate Dicranum, which
in New England grows almost ex-
clusively on decayed wood, on Long

FicurE 3. Island and southwards has a habitat

u. Georgia pellucida, X 2. similar to that of Georgia. This goes
b. Gemmiferous branch, X to prove that some mosses growing
2. ¢. Capsule, X 10. 4d on decayed wood are true sapro-

Perist é a US Iso . z
Plate ee 3 eae 4. Phytes, although their saprophytism

18 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

has not gone so far as to enable the plants to dispense with
chlorophyll.

The Common Georgia has two characteristics that will
serve to make its identification easy. Its peristome consists of
four long teeth that are readily distinguishable under the lens.
It is the only common moss with this number of teeth in the
peristome. The other character is the possession of slender
branches bearing cup-like clusters of leaves. In this cluster
of leaves are minute green bodies, gemmz, which fall off and
give rise to new plants in the same way that the bulblets of
Cystopteris give rise to that fern.

It fruits very abundantly and the capsules persist for a
year or two, so that there is no difficulty in finding or identifying
it. The capsules are in the best condition late in autumn.

G. Browna (Dicks.) C. M. (Tetrodontium Brownianum
Schwaegr.) is a very rare species found in less than half a
dozen places in North America. It is a very small plant with
a very few minute leaves at base; entire plant, including sporo-
phyte, less than 1-3 inch in height; capsule oval, teeth very broadly
triangular, almost equilateral. This species has been found in
the mountains of Maine and New Hampshire and in Newfound-
land. It often grows inverted on overhanging rocks.

FAMILY 4. POLYTRICHACEAE. The Hair-Cap
Family.

“>) HE plants of this family are usually of a large size,
Si the simple or slightly branched stems growing from
a creeping underground stem (except Pogonatum
brevicaule and P. brachyphyllum). Leaves usually
narrow, with the base sheathing or at least with
the basal part of the leaf hyaline with larger cells; the
costa bears on its upper surface, except at the hyaline
base, longitudinal strips of tissue (lamellae) one cell
thick and attached to the upper surface of the costa by
one edge, making the costa appear very wide and dense. The
upper leaf cells are usually hexagonal. The plants are usually
dioicous with the antheridia borne in conspicuous terminal
rosettes. The capsule is on a long smooth seta, large, cylindrical,
or prismatic with 4-6 angles. The calyptra is cucullate, covered
with a dense felt of hairs, or at least roughened at apex with

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 19

short spinose projections. Peristome of 32 or 64 teeth, short,
without joints, triangular in cross-section. Columella expanded
at the top into a circular membrane, the epiphragm, which is
attached to the tips of the teeth, and helps control spore dis-
tribution. (See Plate I.)

The plants of this family are among our most common and
conspicuous species, and the student will be sure to fall in with
them in his first day’s study.

KEY TO THE GENERA.

a. Capsules square or six-angled............00. eee ec eeuee Polytrichum,
Capsules cylindric: ss< aides siedan adnan evinces eyes oes 2

2. Calyptra hairy; leaves not crisped when dry............ Pogonatum.
Calyptra not hairy; leaves crisped when dry............ Catharinea.

POLYTRICHUM. The Hair-Cap Mosses.

The Hair-Cap Mosses, called Bird Wheat or Pigeon Wheat
in many localities, are the largest and most highly developed of all
our mosses, and by reason of their size and common occurrence
are familiar objects to nearly every one. Many an old field and
meadow is carpeted with the dark rich green of the Common
Hair-cap. The farmer, however, votes it a pest, as it often
entirely supplants the grass over large areas of meadow.

The hairy cap that gives this genus of mosses its name is
composed of long hairs growing from a little scale-like body,
the calyptra proper, at the top of the capsule.

The Hair-caps, in common with most other mosses, are
subject to great extremes of moisture and dryness, and their
appearance when dry is very different from what it is when
moist, as the leaves fold up against the stem to check the rapidity
of evaporation. Some plants that do not produce a sporophyte
end in a rosette of highly modified leaves. These are the male
plants, and among the leaves of the rosette are numerous
antheridia. The male plants of many other dioicous mosses end
in a similar rosette. The leaves are large, not bordered, with a
sheathing membranous base and very numerous lamelle occupying
the greater part of the width of the leaf above the base, making
the central portion of the leaf very dark and dense. Capsules
prismatic, four- to six-angled, often nearly cubical. Peristome
teeth generally sixty-four.

Pogonatum is put with the Hair-caps by some authors, but
is readily distinguished by the cylindric capsules. Jn other
respects there is very little to distinguish the two genera.

20 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

KEY.
1. Leaf margins serrate, not infolded............4.- sew Be
Leaf margins entire, thin and infolded........... sitswsssiere: JAS
2. Capsule four-angled ......sceeeeees ss eeeeeseeeee sone Be
Capsule ovoid, obscurely es to 6- angied, beak long. . Sde-tnaes gracile,
3- Capsules cubical, beak SHOT esac ores arses mista a sue stand commune,

gs oa much longer than broad, beak long, neck taper-

ng Ohioense.
4. Plants of dry situations, small leaves with long white
AWNS soc eee ccc eee e eer eeee nace 56s Wekace piliferum,
Plants larger, leaves without white awns.
5. Plants of lowlands without felted radicles; capsules 3 mm
to: 5: nm: lone 2. asieiies Veen tessmes tats eee juniperinum.
Plants of alpine or subalpine regions; stems covered with
a dense felt of radicles, capsules 2 mm. to 3 mm. long. strictum.

Our species are readily divided into two groups, as shown
in the key. One with serrate plane margins and the other with
margins thin and infolded, not serrate except at the extreme
apex. The plants are so large and the characters so well de-
fined that there will be no need to make use of microscopic char-
acters except perhaps in the case of P. gracile. These species
are all earth-growing.

P. commune L., Common Hair-cap, is our largest moss,
sometimes having stems a foot long, although usually much
smaller. It is one of the most widely distributed of plants,
being found in all parts of North America, in Europe, and in
Asia. It is also one of the very few mosses put to some
economic use. The Laplanders use it to stuff pillows and beds.
In England it is sometimes used for brooms.

A decoction of this plant was formerly much used to aid
in the growth of the hair in accordance with the curious old doc-
trine of signatures which taught that the medicinal uses of
plants were shown by their shape and structure; e. g. cordate
leaves were supposed to be good for the heart and Hair-cap
Mosses for the hair.

The leaves of the Common Hair-cap are very thick and
strong, with a thinner clasping base and serrate margins. The
young sporophytes appear in late autumn or early spring and
the capsules mature in June or early July.

The Common Hair-cap is variable in nearly all its parts.
The var. perigoniale is a form with very long whitish membra-
nous and long-awned perichetial leaves. The var. uliginosum
has the leaves spreading-recurved when dry; the stems more
slender and less rigid than usual.

P. Ontornse R. & C., Ohio Hair-cap, without the capsule,
is not readily distinguished from the Common, as leaves and

Pirate V.
moist with the calyptra removed.
the same, X 5. e. Capsule of P. Ohioense, X 5.
mune, X 1. g and h P. piliferum, dry and wet X 1. 0. Leaf of P.

a. Fruiting Polytrichum commune, X 1. dry. b, The same
c. Leaf of the same, * 1o. d. Capsule of
f. Male plant_of P. com-

juniperinum, X 10. 6. Portion of the same, X 30.

p. Leaf of P.
piliferum, X lo.

22 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

general appearance are very similar. But with the sporophyte
present the distinctions are clear. In Figs. a,b and d, note that the
capsule of the Common Hair-cap is almost cubical, that the lid
has a very short beak, and that the capsule is entirely covered
by the calyptra. The capsule of the Ohio Hair-cap (e) is
elongated, slender, with a tapering neck; lid much longer-beaked.
The lid and the calyptra of the Ohio Hair-cap fall early in June,
very soon after the spores are ripe, and it is not always easy
to find either in position; but, if the calyptra be found, it will
be seen to cover the upper portion of the capsule only. The
Common Hair-cap, although occurring in woods, is most com-
mon in open fields. The Ohio Hair-cap is most frequent in
shady, more moist spots, often in deep woods.

P. craciLe Dicks. is a rare form, which I believe is often
confused with P. Ohioense. The length and the number of
angles of the capsule are somewhat variable, although the capsules
usually have more than four angles. Microscopic sections of the
leaves are necessary definitely to determine this species.

P. JUNIPERINUM Willd. Juniper Hair-cap, resembles P.
commune very closely in general appearance except for the
light glaucous-green color of its open leaves, so different from
the dark green of the latter that they are strikingly distinct at a
glance when moist, especially if the two species are growing
intermingled, as they often do. It usually grows in drier situ-
ations than commune. A glance at the upper surface of the margins
of the leaves under a hand-lens will serve to distinguish the two
species without the shadow of a doubt. This species matures its
spores at about the same time as commune or possibly a little
later.

P. prirERUM Schreb., the Awned Hair-cap, has the same
light color as the preceding and also has its leaf-margins turned
in, but the leaves differ in shape as shown in the figure, and end
in long white awns. The entire plant is much smaller than in
any of the other species, rarely growing larger than the figure.
It also grows in much drier places than the other species, the
thin layers of soil around the edges of ledges in dry pastures
deing 9 favorite habitat. It matures in June and July.

I have found this species on ledges next the bare rock, next
+ but farther from the ledge the Juniper Hair-cap, and in moist
lJepressions in the ledge the Common Hair-cap, growing on the
accumulated soil and humus.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 23

P. strictum Banks will surely be found by all mountain
climbers. It is very common in open boggy places at an altitude
of 3,000 feet or more. It is closely related to P. Juniperinum,
but is readily distinguished by the more slender, densely radicu-
lose stems and the much smaller capsules.

POGONATUM.

The Pogonatums differ from the Hair-caps mainly in the
cylindrical capsules, not square or angular in section. The teeth
are thirty-two and the capsules are straight or curved. The
spores mature in autumn or winter, except in P. alpinum, in
which they mature about July.

KEY.
ge Slee beatehing s.4 a cusaes ta maee pen res Smee oe hea te Z
Stems simple; leaves numerous, strictly alpine, growing
close: together 5 swass aisha oeatewae Paid wre ws eaFias capillare.

Stems simple; leaves few, radical; protonema persistent,
forming a green layer on which the plants are scat-

tered; plants of low and median altitudes.......... 3:
z. Plants dark green; capsules smooth, curved.......... alpinum.
Plants glaucous; capsules papillose, erect or very
MIE ATI ISO0 - sirec else Oaleuty ay otaanings Dae pee AG NTN WA ME eons urnigerum,
3. Leaves lanceolate-subulate, serrate brevicaule.
Leaves lingulate, blunt, entire..... brachyphyllumn.

P. BrEvICAULE (Brid.) Beauv., the Slender Pogonatum, [P
tenue (Menz.) E. G. B.] is probably the most common of our
species. It grows on bare moist banks of clay or loam where
other plants have not yet obtained a foothold. The plants do not
grow close together, as with most mosses, but singly and scat-
tered, the soil between them being covered with green feli-like
protonema. All mosses grow from just such green felt; but
after the moss plant proper has developed, the protonema usually
disappears. In P. brevicaule, however, the protonema is per-
sistent and plays an active part in the nutrition of the plant,
seeming to perform the function of leaves, for the leaves on this
plant are very few and short as compared with the allied species.
This is well illustrated by the figures, the dark shaded upper
portion of the leaf being the only part that contains chlorophyll
and therefore the only portion that performs the functions of 2
leaf. These marked and interesting modifications may be due
to the fact that this moss grows on freshly disturbed earth, and
by this method is enabled to fruit before its competitors for the
space are able to develop The capsules mature in late autumn.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 25

P. BRACHYPHYLLUM (Mx.) Beauv. is found on sandy and
loamy soil, in the New Jersey pine barrens and southwards. It
is very much like P. brevicaule, but is easily distinguished from
it by its entire leaves. It need not be looked for in the northern
part of our range.

_ P.arprnum (L.) Roehl. is common in woods and shady places,
especially in elevated regions; thus it is at once recognized by its
larger size and longer curved capsule with long-beaked oper-
culum. The leaves, also, are much longer and more slender.
Without the capsules this species is most likely to be mistaken
for some of the Hair-caps. Its capsules mature in June or early
July.

P. urNIcERUM (L.) Beauv., the Urn-like Pogonatum, grows
in woods and shady places, preferring elevated regions. It is
not uncommon and in some localities may be even more com-
mon than either of the species mentioned above. I, however,
have met with it much less frequently. It is at once distingushed
from P. alpinum by its straight erect capsule, which is scarcely
to be distinguished from that of P. brevicaule. It is usually
smaller than the P. alpinum and much larger than the P. brev-
icaule, but is so variable that this is not to be depended upon.
Its leaves, however, will serve to distinguish it readily from P.
brevicaule, when its size is deceptive. The capsules mature in
autumn.

P. caprnypareE (Mx.), Brid. will be found on most of our
higher mountain-tops. It has broad leaves like those of P.
urnigerum, but they are much more strongly curved when dry.
It is also much smaller, with simple unbranched stems and
shorter capsules.

CATHARINEA.

The Catharineas are very closely related to the Hair-caps,
but have the calyptra nearly bald. It is merely roughened with
a few vestigial hairs. For this reason it has been called
Atrichum, meaning without hairs. Polytrichum means many
hairs. The leaves are not sheathing and but slightly
embrace the stem, lingulate or ovate-oblong, crisped when dry;
margins bordered, serrate, teeth often in pairs. Capsule cylindric,
often somewhat curved; operculum long rostrate; peristome of
thirty-two teeth.

26 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

The capsules of the Catharineas are in good condition from
late autumn to early spring.

KEY.
1. Capsule 4: 1; leaves not at all wavy on the margins when
moist, midrib narrow «2... ese eee eee eee eee eet eeee crispa.
Capsule 6-8: 1; leaf margins wavy when MO Sheek sare 2 ;
z. Midrib constituting 1-8—1-10 of leaf.......-.- cece eee eee undulata,
Midrib constituting 1-3—1-q of leaf ........--s- seer renee angustata.

FicurE 4.

a, a, a. Catharinea undulata, wet and dry, X 2, and capsule X 5. DB.
Leaf X 10. c, c. Capsule and leaf of C. angustata X 5 and 10, re-
spectively.

C. unputata (L.) W. & M., Wavy Catharinea. Leaves
lingulate, strongly undulate when moist and strongly spined at
the back. Occasionally specimens are found with two or more
sete from a single plant.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 27

The Wavy Catharinea is one of the very common mosses,
occurring everywhere in eastern North America. It seems to
be rather rare on Long Island, but in most parts of the country
it is exceedingly common. It grows best on moist shady banks
of brooks. It can easily be recognized by its long slender
slightly curved capsules, leaves strongly crisped when dry, and the
narrow midrib due to few and short lamelle. (See glossary).

C. ancustata Brid. Narrow-leaved Catharinea, resembles
the Wavy Catharinea very closely, but grows in dryer, more
sandy soil, and is usually much smaller with narrower straighter
capsules, as shown in the cut. The only sure way to distinguish
them is by the leaves. The differences are shown in the cut.
Although the leaf of the Narrow-leaved Catharinea is narrower,
the midrib is much broader, constituting one-third to one-quarter
the breadth of the leaf.

C. crispA James is a rare
species in most parts of the
country, but it is common in
swamps along the south shore
of Long Island. It will prob-
ably be found fairly common
along the Middle Atlantic
coast.

Its leaves are oval-oblong,
thrice as broad in proportion to
their length as those of C. un-
dulata, not at all wavy when
moist, and not spinose upon
the back; the lamelle appear
as darker lines on the costa,
but do not materially increase
its apparent width. The capsule
is much shorter than in either

FIcureE 5. *
Catharinea crispa, x 1. of the other species. When

sterile, this species is almost sure to be mistaken for a Mnium.

28 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

FAMILY 5. BUXBAUMIACEAE, The Buxbaumia
Family.

HE plants of this interesting family are small.
almost or quite stemless, with leaves few or none.
They grow on earth or rotten wood. Perichetial leaves
present but often disappearing long before the maturity
of the capsule. Capsule very large in proportion to the

size of the plant, oblique and asymmetric. Calyptra small, conical.

Peristome single or double, forming a whitish cone.

A most peculiar and fantastic family, the members of which
will readily be recognized by a comparison of the figures given
under the species.

\
BUXBAUMIA.

The drawings speak for themselves. No one who finds the
queer looking objects figured here will have any difficulty in iden-
tifying them.

The leaves are few and are clustered at the base of the seta.
They entirely disappear before the capsule ripens, so that the ma-
ture plant consists of only the roughened seta with a few rhizoids
at the base and the queer bug-like capsule. Mrs. Britton calls
the Buxbaumias “ The
Humpbacked Elves.” To
the author they look like
bugs ona stick. We have
two species in eastern
North America, Busxbau-
mia aphylla L., and B,
indusiata Brid.

B. APHYLLA has the
capsule red-brown, shin-
ing, strongly flattened
above; outer peristome
of a single series of very
short teeth; spores ma-
turing from December to
June, occasionally found
mature in September.

Ficure 6.

Two different views of Buxrbaumia e il
aphylla, X 1. Two different views, X 4. Plants growing on soll.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 29

B. inpusiatTa has the capsule green or yellow, dull, little
flattened above; outer peristome of four concentric rows of
linear teeth, of which the outer row is short and the inner
more than half the length of the cone; spores maturing a month
or so earlier than in the preceding. Plants growing on very
rotten wood, rather smaller. Both species are widely distributed
across the continent, but B. aphylla is much the more common.

WEBERA.*

Much more common than Buxbaumia and scarcely less in-
teresting is the odd little Webera shown in Fig. 7. The capsules
have much the same one-sided tilt, but are less irregular in
outline and are partially incased in the fringed perichetial leaves.
The capsule resembles.a grain of wheat in appearance and is
almost sessile, the seta being so short as to be scarcely apparent.
The leaves are persistent and the non-fruiting plants are fre-
quently so abundant as to make a broad mat of dark green,
dotted here and there with the lighter colored capsules. In look-
ing for Webera search for a moist bank where there is little or
no tall vegetation, and which at
a little distance appears dark
green mottled with white. (The
white is a lichen that is nearly
always found with the Webera.):
Webera is so common and so
easily recognized that every lover
of mosses should be able to col-
lect it in his home locality. The

Ficure 7. capsules persist for a long time,
a. Webera sessilis, X 4. b. but July is a good time to collect
Leaves, X 4. c. Perichetial this species.
leaves, X 4. d and e. Peris- In Webera, as well as in Bux-
tome. and operculum; X10; baumia, the upper surface of the
capsules is flattened in cross-section and the capsules all point
in the direction of the light supply, often looking like soldiers
in close array at “shoulder arms.” Both the position of the
capsule and the flattening of the upper surface is an adaptation
for light absorption, but in Webera the first drops of rain that

*We have but one species of Webera, IW. séssilis (Schmid .) Lindb.—
Diphyscium foliosum of many authors.

30 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

fall in a storm strike the upper surface (Vide “ Goebel Organ-
ograhpy,” Pt. I, p. 237, Balfour’s translation) and send the spores
out in little puffs, sometimes to a height of two inches. This
effect can be produced by tapping a mature deoperculate capsule
lightly upon the upper side. Note how the nozzle-like peristome
is pointed straight up so that the spores are fired as high as
possible from the miniature powder gun. It seems probable that
the wind which accompanies summer storms serves to further
disperse these spores and that the ejection of the spores ceases
after the capsules are well wetted; but this needs further in-
vestigation.

It also seems perfectly sure that other agencies than rain-
drops will serve to force the spores out of Webera and Bux-
baumia’s “powder guns;” for example, the impact of the feet
of large insects and other small animals. Perhaps the jet of
spores may leave some clinging to the hair or fur of the animals
which discharge them, and through that means they may be
carried for considerable distances.

FAMILY 6. FISSIDENTACEAE, The Fissidens Family.

HIS is one of the most natural and easily recognized
Si of the families of mosses. Only one genus, Fissidens,
is common and the characters of this genus are the
characters of the family for the most part.

FISSIDENS.

The leaves of Fissidens are in two rows on opposite sides of
the stem and both rows lie in the same plane, giving the plants
a peculiar flattened appearance like a Hepatics. The leaves are
vertically placed and apparently split along the basal portion of
the upper margin so as to clasp the stem and the base of the leaf
next above.

The leaf-cells are small, rounded or hexagonal. The sporophyte

Prate VII. Fissidens adiantoides. (From Bry. Eur.).
5. Plant natural size. 8. Perigonial leaf. 9-11. Leaves. 11 x. Cross
sections of the lower part of leaf. 11 a. Apex showing border of lighter
cells.

(See explanation on preceding page.)

Puate VII.

32 MOSSES WITH A .HAND-LENS

is lateral or terminal, exserted; peristome like that of Dicranum,
with sixteen forked, highly colored teeth, which are often papillose
above.

The- peculiar structure of the leaf has been explained in

several ways, but the explanation given by Robert Brown in
1819 ‘has recently been verified by the studies of Mr. E, S.
Salmon. ;
. According to this theory the clasping portion of the leaf
represents the original leaf, while the rest of the leaf is made
up of ‘lamelle, one dorsal and the other terminal. This theory
is strongly confirmed by the fact that these supposed lamelle are
wanting in the perigonial leaves and very much reduced in size
or wanting in the lower-stem leaves. Moreover, the peristome
shows this family to be closely related to the Dicranaceae, in’
which dorsal lamelle are often strongly developed.

The leaves are often bordered, sometimes with a number
of elongated cells, much as in Mnium, but, more frequently, with
cells of the same shape and size but of a different color; the
border is usually too narrow to be distinctly made out with a
hand-lens.

F. cristatus Wils. is apparently the most common species.
It grows on moist soil or stones in shaded places. The
sporophyte is lateral and the leaves are margined with a border
of lighter cells as shown in the plate of F. adiantoides.

F.aprantores (L.) Hedw. can be told from F. cristatus with
certainty by the compound microscope alone. The latter species
seldom reaches more than an inch and a quarter in height while
F. adiantoides may be two or three inches high. Both species
mature their spores in winter.

F. osmuNDIoIDES (Swtz.) Hedw. is
one-fourth to two inches in height
(rarely twice this) ; leaves not bordered;
dioicous; with terminal sporophyte;
capsule suberect or inclined; operculum
with a needlelike beak nearly as long
as the rest of the capsule. Spores ma-
ture in summer (July). Common on
various substrata.

F. raxirotius (L.) Hedw. is usually

Leaf-apex of F, taxifoliuse
(From, Bry. Eur.)

Plants

Fissidens Julianus (From Bry. Eur.). 1 and 2.

Prate VIII.

natural size.

34 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

less than %4 inch in height; sporophyte

lateral; capsule inclined, often cern-

uous; beak of operculum long, usu-

ally bent at base; spores maturing

in late autumn or winter. On damp
F clayey soil. Its ‘“‘ear-mark” is the
i excurrent costa.

F. Juntanus (Savi.) Schimp.
grows on stones in brooks and looks
like a small Fontinalis. The lens
readily shows the leaf structure to
be that of Fissidens. This species

Ficure 9. is frequent in brooks in New York
a ee and New Jersey in the vicinity of
cides. (From Bry. Eur.) New York City. (See Pl. VIII.)

FAMILY No, 7. DICRANACEAE. The Dicranum
Family.

HE plants of this family vary in size from exceedingly
minute to several inches in height. The leaves are
broadly lanceolate to subulate, often sheathing at base,
costate; leaf-cells square, or rectangular to linear, filled
with chlorophyll above, more elongated and with little

or no chlorophyll toward the base, often with special inflated
cells at the basal angles. The calyptra is smooth, narrow, and
cucullate. The capsules are an elongated sete, narrow, oval to
cylindrical, frequently cernuous and curved; operculum usually
long-beaked; peristome of 16 teeth which are cleft half-way to
the base or further into two lanceolate or subulate divisions,
usually of a reddish color, transversely barred.* There are a few
cleistocarpous species with capsules rounded and immersed or
elongated and exserted.

The leaf character and the peristome when present will
usually indicate the family to one who is at all familiar with it.
The plants of this family are inhabitants of soil and rocks,
rarely growing on trees, frequently on decaying wood.

*For an illustration of a Dicranum peristome and a description of its
workings see p. II.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 35

subulaliim

FIGuRE Io. Pleuridium subulatum (From_ Bry. Eur.)
1. Plant natural size. 3. Basal part of stem with leaves. 4, 5, and 6
are leaves from different parts of the stem.

PLEURIDIUM.

Pleuridium and Bruchia are both exceptions to most of the
statements made above, as they are degenerate members of the
family.

P. susutatum (L.) Rabenh. Down among the tufts of grass
in dry and sandy fields in early spring, one can find soft silky
tufts of green containing innumerable little green spheres like

36 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

emerald dewdrops. ‘These green spheres are the capsules nestling
among the leaves because of the shortness of the sete. The
drawing can give no idea of the beauty of a dense tuft several
inches square, fresh from the field, wet with the spring snows
and rains.

The plants are one-twelfth to one-eighth inch high; the
spores mature from April to June. Not uncommon in old fields
on sandy banks, etc., less frequent northwards.

As shown in the figures the leaves taper gradually to the
apex. In P. alternifolium which is not rare near the coast,
the plants are about one-fourth inch in height and have many of
the leaves so suddenly narrowed as to resemble a ladle in outline.

BRUCHIA.

Bruchia is named after
one of the famous old world
bryologists, Ph. Bruch, one
of the authors of the great
Bryologia . Europea, from
which many of our illustra-
tions are taken. Our most
common species is

B. SuLLivantir, named by
Austin after Sullivant, the
greatest American bryologist,
so that this little plant iy very
interesting for its name alone.
It may be found growing with
Pleuridium, but it is at once
‘distinguished by its partially
exserted, pear-shaped capsule
and mitrate calyptra. Its
spores mature about two
weeks later than those of
Pleuridium sudulatum.
Neither Pleuridium nor
Bruchia have lid or peris-
tome, but set free their spores
by the irregular breaking apart

Ficure 11. Bruchia Sullivantii.
1. Natural size. 2. Magnified. (From
Sulliv. “ Icones.”) of the capsule (cleistocarpous).

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 37

ASTOMUM.

A. Sutuivanti Schimp. is associated in habitat with the
two mosses mentioned above and is also small and cleistocarp-
ous so that it is better to treat it here, although it belongs
in the Tortula family. The plants are
larger than in Pleuridium or Bruchia
and are readily distinguished when dry by
the spirally twisted leaves and also by
the fact that the spores begin to mature
in the fall. The plants without fruit much
resemble Weissia viridula and the cuts of
that moss will help in the study of the leafy
part of this. The lower part of the stem
; is omitted in the cut and the capsules are
Ficure 12. dstromum ysually much more concealed by the leaves
crispum (From Dixon : .
and Jameson.) when dry; indeed they are so hidden as to

Searcely to be diss 46 often overlooked, the plants are undoubt-

tinguished from A.

Sullivantii with the edly mistaken for sterile Weissia viridula.
hand-lens.

DITRICHUM.*

D. vacinans (Sulliv.) Hampe, the Dark Ditrichum, has a
habitat very similar to that of Ceratodon and at first sight might
be confused with it. The capsules are much the same color and
somewhat furrowed, but it is smaller with more erect symmetric
capsules that have much less conspicuous furrows when dry.
It matures its spores late in autumn, which of itself will be
sufficient readily to distinguish it from Ceratodon. It is not
frequent in the more northern portion of our range.

D. tortire (Schrad.) Hampe, the Brown Ditrichum, is fre-
quent throughout in moist sandy or gravelly soil by roadsides
and in old fields. It is closely related to the preceding, but is
smaller, with light brown capsules which mature at about the
same time and are smooth when dry.

It is more common than the Dark Ditrichum, especially
northwards. It grows in more moist places of the same general
nature, being especially fond of moist banks of recently disturbed

*Ditrichum Timm.=Leptotrichum Hampe.

38 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

/ bh: pe

Ficure 13. 4, b, and ce, D.trichwm pallidum, vaginans and tortile
respectively, X 2. d, Capsule of D. pallidum X 20. ve, Capsules of

D. vaginans X 10. f, Capsule of D. tortile X 20.
soil, which as yet have not become occupied with other vegeta-
tion. The young sporophytes sometimes bend over towards the
light until they are parallel with the incident solar rays, so that
the young green capsules with their abundant assimilative tissue
are equally illuminated on all sides. Such plants remind one
very strongly of house plants in a window. Its spores mature
in autumn. It is a most variable species in pretty nearly every
character.

These two species often grade into each other and the Dark
Ditrichum is probably only a variety of the Brown.

The Red Didymodon [D. rubellus (Hoffm.) B. & S.] some-
what resembles the Dark Ditrichum, but is more red than brown
and its leaves are two or three times as long and somewhat
curled when dry. It belongs in the Tortula family, although
evidently related to the Ditrichums.

D. paLuipum (Schreb.) Hampe, the Yellow Ditrichum, is
more abundant southwards and in the lowlands, and is much
larger than the other two species. It is easily recognized by its
bright yellow sete and unsymmetric capsules, which mature in
late spring. It is most frequent in dry sandy soil.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 39

ONCOPHORUS. (Cynodontium Schimper).

Ficure 14.

Capsule 13, leaf X 10,
and leaf cells X 200 ot
Oncophorus Wahlenbergii.

The species of this genus are as a
rule alpine or subalpine, but one of
the number,

O. Wau eneercii Brid. is frequent
enough to warrant mention here. This
is a pretty little moss growing on rocks
and soil in cool situations in or near
the mountains. Its crisped spreading
leaves, somewhat resembling Dicranum
fuscescens in appearance, with their
suddenly dilated bases, and the arcuate,
smooth or irregularly-wrinkled, plainly
strumose capsule render it easy of
recognition by one who has ever seen
it before.

CERATODON Brid.

C. purpurtus (L.) Brid., our only
species, is one of the commonest of all
our mosses. It is found on the edges
of paths, roofs of old buildings, sand
by the seashore, and in general any
barren compact soil is its favorite
habitat. The plants are short and
grow close together, forming dense
thin mats of dark green. The lance-
like young sporophytes appear early in
spring as soon as the snow is melted.

By the middle of the summer the capsules often decay beyond
recognition and the seta breaks from the plant at the touch.

Unless one has become familiar with Ceratodon it is not
always easy to recognize it without mature capsules.

40 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

The leaves may be
entire or slightly denticu-
late at apex, and the costa
is sometimes percurrent
or even excurrent. The
stems sometimes become
three inches long in
shaded places.

When the capsules
have fully matured they
shrink when dry and be-
come furrowed. This pe-
culiar furrowing and the
dark rich color of the
capsules, a color called
purple by the older bot-

anists but which is really

Ceratodon purpureus X z. Leaves, calyptra, ag very dark chestnut or
and capsule X Io.

FIGuRE 15.

red-brown, make it easy
to recognize. The peristome is shown in Plate II.

clulacomnium palustre has a capsule furrowed in a similar
manner, but it is easily distinguished by the characters noted
under the description of that genus.

TREMATODON Mx.

T. ampicuus (Hedw.) Hornsch.., the
Long-necked Moss, is so odd in appear-
ance that it will need little description.
It is not common, but will be met with
oceasionally in rather dry soil in copses
and old fields where the grass is thin. Be-
sides the long neck, the bright yellow
sctac, closely resembling those of Dit-
richum pallidum, are an additional aid

Trematodon ambiguus jin identification. The capsules mature
X1, and capsule X5. ce 1S Guin AHR.

T. toncicotiis Mx. is easily distinguished by its much longer
neck, twice the length of the rest of the capsule, which is more
cylindric than in T. ambiguus. Moist clayey or sandy soil in
the southern part of our range and southwards.

Ficure 16.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 41

-
DICRANELLA.,

Plants small, like miniature Dicrana, scarcely branched.
Leaves lanceolate-subulate, without specialized angular cells.
Capsule short, erect or inclined, frequently striate; lid beaked;
peristome dicranoid, of 16 teeth, cleft to the middle into two
filiform divisions.

The small size and narrow silky leaves, narrowed gradually
or abruptly from a broader base to a channelled subulate apex,
render the genus easy of recognition, especially if the dicranoid
capsule be present. The capsules present variations similar to
those of Dicranum, but capsules that remain erect and sym-
metric when dry and empty are rare; dioicous.

KEY:
1. Seta yellowish, sometimes becoming dark with
ABEL i guar dunsendecicans 2
Seta red Ee
z. Capsule oblong, tapering at the neck, sulcate,
mouth incurved when dry...............-. heteromalla.
Capsule oblong, tapering at the neck, scarcely
plicate, mouth erect when dry............ heteromalla Fitzgeraldii
Capsule gibbous, strumose at neck, smooth
WHET (A ay ssh: th paiesae eo deans ya:duaseualers: suciaba ete bie cerviculata.
3. Leaves scarcely secund, not pellucid........ varia.
Leaves secund or erect, pellucid by reason of
very large thin-walled cells............... rufescens.

D. HETEROMATLA (L,.) Schimp. is our only common species.
It is found on shaded, sandy banks throughout our range. The
plants are simple or forked, one-half inch to two inches in
height, and grow in dense tufts or sheets of various shades of
green from bright yellowish to dark. The leaves are falcate-
secund, gradually narrowed from the base so that the lower
portion of the leaf has a triangular form; the upper part is
subulate, and channelled with costa percurrent or excurrent.
The seta is yellow, becoming dark with age; capsule oblong to
oblong-ovoid, suberect, typically slightly curved, brown when
dry and empty, and furrowed and constricted below the mouth
with the mouth oblique in a very characteristic manner; oper-
culum rostrate, oblique.

The obliquity of the mouth and the deepness of the fur-
rows in the capsule walls seem to be progressive with age. The
capsules mature in November and December, but do not as a
rule appear to assume their characteristic pose until spring. This
fact accounts for some of the discrepancies in descriptions,
especially of the varieties, although the species as a whole is
exceedingly variable.

42 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Puate IX. Dicranella heteromalla (1.) Schimp. (From Bry. Eur.)
1 and 2. Plants natural size. 5. Leaves. 11. Perichetial leaf. 16 and
17. Capsules. 18. Dry capsule with mouth oblique. 19. Peristome.

The variety ortuHocarPpa (Hedw.) E. G. B. is a form with
erect straight capsules and, as far as I am able to determine, is

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

FicurE 17.
u. Dicranella heteromalla Fitzgerdldii.
sule of the same X Io.
ages.

b. Cap-

c. Capsules of different

an inhabitant of
elevated inland re-
gions. The cap-
sules, however, ap-
pear to become
curved and fur-
rowed with age.
Var. Frrzcrr-
Aupir (R. and C.).
I cannot agree
with Mrs. Britton,
whom I followed
in the FIRST EDI-

TION, in making
this a synonym of
var. orthocarpa,

as it appears to be

a southern and seaboard form, being very abundant about New
York city. The capsules are only lightly striate until very old, and

the mouth is slightly or not at all oblique.

It has been found

along Lake Champlain and may occur near the Great Lakes.

In the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical
ber, 1895, Mrs. Britton describes and figures

Club for Novem-
a very interesting

mountain form with pedicels strongly curved backwards which
straighten in drying so as to assume the normal form.

D. cEervicuLATA (Hedw.)
typically on peat. It appears to be rare.
smaller in. every way than the last,

4&3
f i"
ise ul tS
TGC PIM
Ae Re

FicurEe 18
Capsules and peristome of D. cerviculata.
Bry. Eur.)

(From

Schimp. grows in wet places,

The plants are
the leaves are
less falcate, with
a half-sheathing
base, often
nearly entire;
capsule arcuate
and gibbous,
with a clearly
strumose neck.
The spores ma-

ture in summer.
according to
European au-
thors.

44 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

D. rurescens (Dicks.) Schimp. The smallest of our species,
less than 1-3 in. high and very slender. Plants usually simple,
yellowish green or reddish green, turning more strongly reddish
in drying; leaves small, pellucid by reason of the large thin-
walled cells, linear-lanceo-
late, gradually narrowed;
costa percurrent but not
excurrent; margin plane,
denticulate above; cap-
sule erect or _ inclined,
symmetric, oval, small,
urn about 1-32 inch long;
seta and capsule dark red,
seta tasted to the left;
operculum short-rostrate to
apiculate; spores maturing
in summer. Not infrequent
on bare moist earth, espe-
cially on clayey soil.

The seta of D. hetero-
malla and its varieties is
twisted to the left and
sometimes becomes very
dark, so that forms of
var. Fitzgeraldii may be
mistaken for D. rufescens
unless one has specimens
for comparison. But ru-

Dicranella rufescecens (From Bry. Eur.) fescens is very much
1 and 2. Plants natural size. 6.b. Por-
tion of base of leaf.

Ficure 19.

smaller and more slender,
and the leaf-cells are so
large and pellucid as to strike one’s attention at once.

D. varia (Hedw.) Schimp. is a somewhat similar species with
a similar habit, but rather less frequent. It is larger, bright or
yellowish green, not reddish, with short, usually branching stems.
The leaves are entire with margins narrowly revolute; the cap-
sule is larger and curved, the seta twisted to the right; spores
inaturing in autumn and winter.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 45

DICRANUM.

The Dicranums have leaves that are narrowly to broadly lance-
olate with lower cells rectangular, angular conspicuously dilated.
The capsules are on straight erect setz, erect or inclined; teeth
red, cleft half-way into two or occasionally three segments. (See
Plate II).

The Dicranums of our region are one of the most common
and beautiful elements in woodland scenery. ‘They are, for the
most part, bright yellow-green and grow in wide thick tufts or
mats. The leaves are fre-
quently more or less se-
cund, as though the wind
had blown them all in one
direction. They are com-
mou on the ground,
stones. rotten wood, and
sometimes they occur on
the base and trunks of
trees. Most Dicranums
mature their spores in
autumn, but more obser-
vations are needed to give
exact dates for each
species.

eames There are eighteen or

a. Dicranun scoparium 1 4. Cap- twenty species of Dicra-

sule X 5. b. D. fuscescens % +». b. num within our range, but

Capsule and calyptra x 5. only seven are common

enough for treatment here. These seven are best treated in three

groups. The first group contains two species with single curved
capsules, the Broom Moss and the Fuscous Dicranum.

The second group contains two species with curved clustered
capsules and undulate leaves. the Wavy Dicranum and Drum-
mond's Dicranum.

In the third group are three species with single erect cap-
sules, the Flagellate Dicranum, the Fulvous Dicranum, and the
Long-leaved Dicranum.

D. scopartum .(L.) Hedw., the Broom Moss. The plants
are large, sometimes four inches in height, and grow in rather
dense tufts on decayed wood, stones or soil. The lower part of

46 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

the stem is usually covered with a dense felt of radicles. The
leaves are falcate-secund but not undulate or crisped. The cap-
sules are curved but are not plicate or striate when dry except in
a rather rare variety which has the capsules slightly striate. The
spores mature in late summer or autumn.

The Broom Moss gets its name from its resemblance in
miniature to a hair broom er counter brush. It is almost as com-
mon and widely distributed as the Common Hair-cap, being found
in all portions of the northern hemisphere. It is often used by
florists to form banks of green in show windows.

D. ruscescens Turn., the Fuscous Dicranum, is a smaller
plant yet frequently larger than the figure. The leaves are
strongly crisped when dry and the capsules when dry are plainly
striate or sulcate. It usually grows on decayed wood in cool
moist woods at an elevation of 1000 feet or: more, but may be
found on soil or bases of trees and occasionally at lower alti-
tudes. The differences between this species and the last are well
shown in the figures.

D. unpuLatum Ehrh., the Wavy Dicranum, is very robust,
3 to to inches high, often decumbent at base; growing in loose
wide tufts, densely radiculose, bright glossy yellow-green. The
leaves are undulate, with a silky luster, very long, lanceolate,
gradually narrowed, scarcely secund, margin recurved below for
1-3 to 1-2 the length of the leaf, above this strongly serrate
to apex. The costa is comparatively narrow, with two strongly
serrate lamecllac on the back above. The alar cells are dis-
tinctly marked. The capsules are clustered (several sete from
the same perichetium) and the sete are long and reddish. The
capsules are cernuous and arcuate, striate when empty, with
spores maturing in late summer.

Our largest and most beautiful species, common in shaded
places on soil and stones covered with humus, but not fruit-
ing freely. The only species with which it could possibly be
confused is the next.

D. DrumMonptit Muell., Drummond's Dicranum, is most likely
to be mistaken for D. undulatum, but it is rather smaller and
less glossy; its leaves are less undulate and are secund and
strongly crisped, not recurved at base below; they are much
more slender pointed than in the Wavy Dicranum. The cap-
sules of the two species are very much alike.

The spores mature in summer. It grows on decayed wood
in forests in elevated regions, not common.

a. Dicranum undulatum * 1. a’. Leaf X 8. b. D. Drummondu X 1.
b’. Leaf X 8. c. D. flagellare X 2. co’. Leaf X 10. d. Flagella X 10. &.
D. fuluum * «. €. Leaf and capsule X ro.

48 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

D. Loncirotium Ehrh., the Long-leaved Dicranum. This
species grows only in rocky elevated regions, sometimes found
on the base of trees as well as the surrounding rocks. The
leaves are very long and narrowly acuminate so that the leaf
apices look somewhat like hairs, giving the plant a silky ap-
pearance, secund but scarcely crisped when dry with costa more
than % the width of the leaf at base. A little above the base
the leaves are suddenly narrowed and in the upper part of the
leaf nothing but costa is left for the rest of the length of the
leaf. The capsules are cylindric and smooth; the spores mature
in summer.

DicRANODONTIUM LONGIROSTRE is a moss very closely resem-
bling this species when without capsules, but the sete are very
long and curved so that the capsule is sometimes almost pendent.

D. FLAGELLARE Hedw., the Flagellate Dicranum (Pl. X),
has slender branchlets (flagella), with minute leaves, which
give it its name. It is one of our most common species and by
reason of its crisped leaves and narrow costa is not likely to be
confused with any of its group. The flagella are very charac-
teristic when present. It grows on decaying wood and peaty
banks in moist shady places everywhere.

D. runvum Hook., the Fulvous Dicranum (PI. X). This
is the only other common Dicranum with erect capsules. It is
fulvous brown in color, always growing on rocks. The leaves
are secund, somewhat crisped when dry, gradually narrowed
from a lanceolate base to an almost linear apex; margin serrate
in the upper 1-5 to 1-4. The costa is at least 1-3 the width of
the leaves at base, somewhat excurrent, toothed at back, with the
apices much more slenderly tubulose than in D. flagellare.

The Flagellate and Fulvous Dicranums need never be con-
fused, for the former grows on rotten wood or peaty banks, while
the latter always grows on rocks.

The Fulvous Dicranum is distinguished from the Long-leaved
by its color, its shorter leaves, and by growing at lower altitudes
in more shaded, less exposed localities.

-”

Prats XI. Dicranum longifolium (From Bry. Eur.)
1. Plant natural size. 5. Leaf. 5.a. and 5.b. Leaf apex and base.
5x. Cross sections of leaf. 311 and 12. Capsules.

50 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

LEUCOBRYUM. ¢

L. craucum (L.) Schimp., the White Moss. Any one
accustomed to walk in the woods must have noticed the grayish-
white tufts of the White Moss, looking like gigantic pincushions.

This moss does not fruit freely, but by searching in moist
woods the sporophyte can usually be found without a great deal
of trouble. It matures from September to June.

P The White Moss prefers moist or even swampy
woods, but is often found in drier situations. The
plants grow densely packed together, those in the center
continually elongating and new plants being added
around the edges of the tuft. The White Moss re-
sembles the Peat Mosses in color, and the cushion-like
tufts take up and retain water in the same sponge-like
way.

Braithwaite states that this species often produces
on the upper leaves otf the female plants, minute tufts
of “radicular tomentum” with young plants which fall
off and serve to reproduce the plant, which produces
spores rather infrequently. The amount of rainfall has
apparently some influence on the spore production of
aryum this species, for I have noticed that it produces spores

oe with unusual abundance after an especially wet summer.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 51

FAMILY 8 GRIMMIACEAE, The Grimmia Family.

too difficult to study with a hand-lens, but nearly
all the more common forms can be distinguished if one
knows what to look for as characteristic of each
species. The plants grow in tufts or mats and almost
always grow on rocks. They are dark-brown or blackish,
often green at the surface of the tufts where the young grow-
ing portion of the plant is. In many plants the leaves end in a
whitish hairlike point that gives the plants a gray or hoary ap-
pearance. It is of great importance in determining the species
to find out whether the margins of the leaves are plane or
recurved when dry, and this can readily be made out by
a careful examination with a hand-lens in a strong light. In
appearance the plants of this family are much like those of the
Orthotrichum Family, but in the Grimmia Family the calyptra
is never hairy; the capsules are smooth when dry or at most
irregularly wrinkled; the peristome single with the 16 teeth
sometimes spreading but never reflexed, often forked, but never
united in pairs; leaves never crisped (except Ptychomitrium).
In the Orthotrichum Family the calyptra is often hairy, the
capsules are nearly always deeply plicate when dry with 8 or 16
regular folds; the peristome is double, though the segments are
often very narrow; the 16 teeth are often united in pairs, and
nearly always strongly reflexed when dry, sometimes bending
so far back as to touch the capsule wall; and the leaves are often
crisped, although not so in the genus Orthotrichum. With few
exceptions the plants of the Orthotrichum Family grow on the
trunks of living trees.

Two species (Orthotrichum anomalum and Ulota Americana)
of the Orthotrichum Family grow on rocks, both have hairy
calyptras and a double peristome. Some species in both families
lack the peristome. Some species of Andreaea when sterile are
hard to distinguish from this family, but nearly all are subalpine.
Farther distinctions are found under Andreaea.

KEY TO THE GENERA.
Leaves crisped, without whitish tips, costate; capsules long ex-

SGrted: 4. vaunie Be had a umsie gh <Biets ws Fecnasarseadon ne wet eae eo Ptychomitrium
Leaves not crisped, with whitish tips and no costa; capsules im- mae
METSEM: .cpa.o vsti eoeee ate eeS aaeae Plat LEAS wasn te wale Hedwigia.

Leaves not crisped, costate, whitish tips present in some forms,
absent in others; capsules immersed or exserted........... yo
earch cesta aay SRE Ge BAN aia ogsee ga aaiuE Se) Mab Grimmia and Rhacomitrium

52 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

,
HEDWIGIA

is named for Hedwig, one of the best bryologists of the eigh-
teenth century.

H. arzicans (Web.) Lindb. (H.
cihata Ehrh.) is our only species. It
is common on boulders, ledges, stone
walls, and dry exposed places. The
plants vary a great deal in size, but in
general have much longer stems and
branches than their relatives, besides
being much the most common of all
the family.

The lower part of the plant is
brown or black,
the upper green,
with a tinge of
gray due to
the colorless
tips of the
leaves. The
perichetial
leaves are ciliate
along their up-
per margins as
shown in the
cut. There is
no costa in any
of the leaves,
and no peris-
tome, both of
which charac-
ters are rare in
this family. The
capsules are en-
tirely concealed
in the longer s
more. slender '
perichetial
leaves, and the

fa RET totst tape
(goo! Psaploke TANS shaty
[fa SERI IEE Ce SEDER ES EES

FicurE 22.
4a and 4d. Apices of leaves of Hedwigia albicans.
toa. Apex of perichetial leaf. (From Bry. Eur.).

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 53

only indication of their presence is a slight enlargement of the

ends of some of the branches. The capsules are almost spherical,

with a clear-cut lid and no peristome; they mature in spring.
An attempt has been made to illustrate the remarkable trans-

eee tl.
ae

SRS

lsc

7
4
wi
Rade
Se ety th,

Ficurs 23. Hedwigia albicans, a, X 1, dry and wet. b, Capsule with
a portion of the perichetial leaves removed X 10. c, Branches, dry and wet
x 5. d, Leaves X Io.
formation that these plants undergo when moistened, but no
drawing can do justice to the magic of the change.

PTYCHOMITRIUM.

This genus is rare in most parts of our range and only one
species is likely to be found.

P. rncurvum (Schwaegr.) Sulliv. The plants of this
species are about 14 inch in height (% inch with fruit) and

Piatt XII. Explanation on next page.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 55

grow on granitic rocks from Connecticut southwards. The leaves
slender. The spores mature in winter or early spring.
are crisped and without whitish hair points; the calyptra is
mitrate, plicate and without hairs; the operculum is long beaked;
the capsule nearly smooth when dry, and the peristome teeth are
The crispate leaves remind one very strongly of Ulota and
indeed it is most likely to be mistaken for a member of that
genus so far as general appearance goes, but its habitat on gra-
nitic rocks and its long beaked operculum, scarcely striate cap-
sule and single peristome of slender teeth will easily differ-
entiate it.

GRIMMIA AND RHACOMITRIUM

are so much alike, except in microscopic characters, that it
will be much more convenient to treat them together. The
family description will answer for these genera.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

1. Capsule exserted or at least shorter than the seta..........-..-eeeee 2.
Capsules immersed, longer than the seta........ cece cece cece eeaes 5.

z. Seta strongly curved; leaf margins not reflexed. G. eens
Seta. straight; leaf margins recurved sek. cece es ccees cee eaneee ews

3. Stems usually elongated and slender, bearing numerous short
clustered obtuse lateral branchlets; leaves “lanceolate, acute;
subalpine or growing on exposed rocks........e cece eee eee eee 4.

Stems stout without short lateral branchlets; leaves lingulate
broadly obtuse; growing near waterfalls and on wet rocks in
cool or elevated HO PIOMS Fea veressd ssc ase Godrsiiaes Sonar Sav ete Ge enses R. aciculare,
4. Leaves without whitish hair tips.................. ..-R. fasciculare.
Whitish hair tips present on some of the leaves . microcarpum,
5. Plants with conspicuous whitish leaf tips, columella not attached

£0: Oper CUO ese: occas coeur semen wee Haw aes wae G. Pennsylvanica.
Whitish leaf tips absent or inconspicuous; operculum falling
with columella, attached: occ. 60 cent ciawaes waned came 2e% G. apocarpa.
?
GRIMMIA.

G. apocarpa (L.) Hedw., the Common Grimmia, is our most
common member of the family next to Hedwigia, for which it
might possibly be mistaken, but it is smaller, with whitish leaf
tips scarcely visible, often lacking on many of the leaves, with
leaves plainly costate and with margins strongly recurved. The
peristome is well developed and plainly visible with a lens. The
most distinctive character is the falling of the columella attached
to the operculum. This character is best ascertained by remov-

Prate XII. Ptychomitrinm imcurvum. (From Sulliv. ‘‘ Icones.”) 2.
Plant, highly magnified. 6. Apex of leaf. 12. Side view of annulus and
peristome tooth. 6 and 12 require a compound microscope.

ACK ie AAC

I ow sere

it’ Gepece ie
va “OF 4

Prats XIII. Explanation on the next page.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 57

ing the lid from a ripe capsule with dissecting needles and ex-
amining with a high power lens. There are other species with
this peculiarity, but they are rare or local.

G. Pennsytvanica Schwaegr., the Pennsylvania Grimmia,
seems to be our most common
species next to apocarpa, but
in the northern portion of our
range it seems seldom to fruit
and is apparently little col-
lected. It is a large coarse
dark green moss from % inch
to 1 inch high, slightly hoary
at the ends of the stems;
leaves lanceolate, appearing
very dark and opaque in the
upper part, margin strongly
recurved, hair-point short and
rough, cells at extreme base
elongated-rectangular and hy-
aline or yellowish; next
above these the cells are short
rectangular, as shown in the
figure. The spores mature in
late autumn, but operculate
capsules may be found in
April.

G. Ouneyr Sulliv., Ol-
ney’s Grimmia, grows in
dark green tufts, blackish be-
low, more compact and finer
grained than apocarpa; stems

FicurE 24. Grimmia Olneyi (From
Sulliv. “Icones”). 1. Plants natural
size. 6. Leaf apex. 12. Capsule and often nearly denuded of

seta. is
leaves below, about 1 inch

high; leaves lanceolate from an ovate base, the upper ending in a
long rough hyaline hair, margins not at all reflexed; capsule ex-
serted on a curved seta; operculum beaked; spores maturing in
April. On rocks, not rare in the lowlands of the central portion

Puate XIII. Grimmia apocarpa (From Bry. Eur.).
1, 2, 3 and 4. Plants natural size. Fig. 6a, Apex of upper leaf. Fig.
18. Operculum with the attached columella. The other figures are self-
explanatory.

es hls
Bia q ae
ee

Pratt XIV. Explanation on next page.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 59

of our range especially along rivers, extending north to southern
Vermont. This is our only species with curved seta, and even
in this a portion of the seta seem almost erect. In the dried
specimens the capsule appears more fully exserted than is indi-
cated in the figure. This is the only one of the species here
treated that has plane leaf-margins.

RHACOMITRIUM.

R. acicutarg (L.) Brid. is one of our common mosses
occurring around waterfalls and on wet rocks in cool and in
elevated situations. Plants large, 1 to 3 inches long, and very
stout; the broad leaves broadly obtuse, entire or denticulate at
apex with small distant teeth, characterize this species so dis-
tinctly that no further description is needed, except that given
by the plate. The leaf-characters are so distinct that this
species is easily recognized with a hand-lens. The spores mature
in spring, but well-developed capsules are found in autumn. In
this species as well as in most others of the genus nearly an
entire year seems to be needed for the complete development
of the sporophyte.

R. FASCICULARE (Schrad.) Brid. grows in rather close flat
patches, yellowish green above, black or brownish below, bearing
very numerous short obtuse lateral branchlets (see Pl. XVI);
leaves lanccolate, nearly or quite obtuse, without hyaline point;
costa faint, vanishing below the apex; peristome teeth divided
to the base, spores maturing in spring. Most likely to be con-
fused with microcarpum, but easily distinguished by the total
absence of hair-points. Common in alpine or subalpine regions,
but not likely to be met with elsewhere.

R. microcarpum (Schrad.) Brid. resembles the last in gen-
eral appearance, but with leaves shorter and having a stronger
percurrent costa and hyaline-tipped leaves (in the perichetial
leaves the costa ceases below the apex and the apex is some-
times obtuse without hyaline tips, making a puzzling combina-
tion), hyaline apex of leaves denticulate; capsule smaller and

Pratr NIV. Grimmia Pennsylvanica (From Sulliv. “ Icones ’”’).

1. Plants natural size. Figs. 15, 16 and 17. Antheridial buds, perigonial
leaf, and antheridium respectively. The other figures are self-explanatory.
A number of the figures require a compound microscope for their
demonstration.

Pirate XV. Rhacomitrium aciculare (From Bry. Eur.).
1. Plants natural size. 5, 6, 7. Leaves.

|
saee
eer aE
PyatE XVI. Rhacomitrium fasciculare. (From Bry. Eur.).
. Plant natural size, showing characteristic method of branching. 7.a.
Beis ‘of leaf. The other figures are self-explanatory.

62 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

lighter-colored than in the last; spores maturing in spring. Our
most common species after aciculare, growing on exposed rocks

on hills throughout our
range, but apparently
somewhat local. The
form with obtuse peri-
chetial leaves which
seems common in the
Franconia Mountains is
likely to be mistaken for
fasciculare, unless the
lower leaves be examined.

FIcurE 25.

Rhacomitrium microcarpum
leaf-structure,

EH AN

(From Bry. Eur.).

Leaves and

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 63

FAMILY 9. TORTULACEAE, Tortula Family.

~) HE family name is particularly appropriate, as not only

are the leaves twisted (often strongly crisped) when
dry in nearly all the species, but the peristome also is
strongly twisted in a large number of the genera. The
family is a large one with a very great range of
variation which is partly due to the degeneracy of several of its
members. The species here treated all grow on soil or crumbling
moist rocks and cliffs. Nearly all are short stemmed with
radicles present at base only. [he leaves in nearly every case
have the basal 1-3 to 1-2 made up of thin-walled hyaline or
slightly colored cells, while the upper portion is made up of
minute thick-walled cells so that it appears nearly opaque. The
costa is nearly always strong and often excurrent. Astomum,
which is treated with Pleuridium, does not open its capsules by a
lid, and Pottia, which is treated with Physcomitrium, and Gymnos-
tomum have no peristome, but the great majority of the species
have a well developed peristome which may consist of 16
straight, slender, more or less divided teeth, or in many cases of
32 fine hairlike teeth spirally twisted in several turns (see Plate I,
Figs. 6, 7, and 8.) The capsules are on rather long straight sete
and are usually erect and cylindrical or nearly so.

KEY TO THE GENERA.

1. Leaves tapering gradually from the base to the acute apex.......... 3.
Leaves increasing in width from the base upwards, or at least
not narrowed until near apex, broad in outline and rounded
at apex except for the costa, which often extends out into a

long: “white. Nairic< ssa. s yp smaee peptone wictia a wa gia davay & ome pare ae
z Peristome of 32 filiform strongly twisted teeth which arise from
a high basal membrane (basal membrane short in T.

PPL UAT CUIDS) 5: oss ans gst spel ids cat Sata Se Bacab EE shea TS Be Sad Bios ISSR TSN Tortula
Teeth 16, ‘short, note twisted: . iste woctsien 4 cineergoneunee ayoraleng: Desmatodon.

3 Peristome lacking. Plants common on wet ledges and cliffs
whete lime is present:s iveses cca ce os ease be hema ne Gymnostomum.
Peristome present, operculum falling as soon as detached............ 4.

4. Leaves curled to slightly crisped, with margins revolute; basal
part of leaf usually somewhat colored; peristome twisted... .Barbula.

Leaves strongly crisped when dry with margins plane or rolled
inwards and base usually hyaline.............: ese ee cence ee eeees be
5. Peristome of 16 short teeth; plants small...........-0.0-02005 Weisia.

Peristome of 32 slender twisted teeth; plants large for the
PAM seseice 5 aia oH Hea GA ba oe Ee PRN REMAN Se Pale Tortella.

?
GYMNOSTOMUM.

If you can find a wet ¢liff with some lime in its composition

64 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

you will be almost sure to find a portion of it covered with the
dense mats of Gymnostomum which we might call, after the
manner of a well known Flora, the Toothless Twisted Moss, as
the generic name means, lacking a peristome. The dense mats
usually produce an abundance of small ovoid capsules which
mature in autumn. The leaves are really less twisted than any
other genus of the family, hardly enough to be noticeable.

G. curvirostrE (Ehrh.) Hedw. This is apparently our most
common species as well as our largest. The plants sometimes
reach a length of 4 inches. The leaves are scarcely twisted when
dry, narrowly lanceolate, acute, with one margin, at least,
recurved. The seta is usually longer than in the other species;
capsule dark red-brown, glossy, thick-walled, widest at mouth
when dry and empty. The operculum remains attached to the
columella after separating from the urn and is thus attached for
some time. The spores mature in late summer or autumn.

This species and the next are very closely related and are
often confused. If collected in autumn or winter this species is
readily distinguished by reason of the fact that the operculum
remains attached to the columella after dehiscence. I have found
opercula as late as May or June when the young sporophytes
were beginning to appear. When moistened the capsule-walls
and the operculum swell so as to again close the capsule and
thus do the work ordinarily done by the peristome.

G. rupEstrE Schleich. is distinguished from the preceding by
the broader-pointed, plane-margined leaves, the shorter seta, and
the thin-walled, yellowish-brown capsule and by the completely
virostre.
piece

WEISIA.

The Weisias are small mosses growing in tufts or mats on
soil, especially rather dry sandy soil with our species, freely branch-
ing; the upper leaves are usually much larger than the lower,
erect-spreading, strongly crispate when dry, elongated-
lanceolate with the costa usually excurrent into a short point;
capsule well exserted on a seta of moderate length, usually erect
and symmetric, ovoid, plicate when dry and empty.

W. viripuLa (L.) Hedw. is a species common in rather dry

Pirate XVII. Gymnostomum curvirostre (From Bry. Eur.).
1 and 2. Plants natural size. 12. Section of capsule.

Pirate XVII. Explanation on preceding page.

Puate XVIII. Weisia viridula (From Bry. Eur.). 1, 2, 3, and 4. Plants
natural size. The other figures are self-explanatory.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 67

soil and occasionally growing in more moist situations. It is
exceedingly variable in its peristome and its size. Our plants are
mainly of the smaller size figured in the plate, but the capsules
are nearly always erect. It may usually be distinguished from
Astomum when sterile by its larger size and longer leaves. The
margins of the leaves are so strongly inrolled above as to make
them appear almost tubular. The capsules do not apparently
become wrinkled as shown in the plate until they have reached a
considerable age. The spores mature in spring. In Californian
forms the peristome is almost entirely lacking.

BARBULA.

The leaves of this genus are lanceolate from a broader base
(except B. unguiculata) and are somewhat contorted when dry
but scarcely crispate, margins revolute. The costa is percurrent
or barely excurrent. The capsules are nearly cylindric and the
peristomes strongly twisted. Tortella and Tortula are likely to
be confused with Barbula, but in Tortella the leaves are strongly
crisped when dry and the transparent cells at the base run up
the margin so that the boundary line between the transparent
and opaque areas is in the shape of the letter V. In all our
species of Tortula here described the costa is long excurrent into
a hair point.

B. uncuicuLata (Huds.) Hedw., the Common Barbula, is
our most common and most variable Barbula. The plants are
green to dirty green, ™%-inch high; leaves erect-spreading or
slightly recurved when moist, spirally twisted when dry, lingulate
to oblong-lanceolate, obtuse. The costa is excurrent into a short:
round mucro; margin recurved below, but plane above. The
perichztial leaves are longer and more acute. The seta is red-
brown; the capsule oblong or cylindric, usually symmetric, with
beaked lid. The peristome teeth are long and slender, spirally
twisted in two turns. The spores mature from late autumn to
early spring. On damp earth, walls, and stones. Exceedingly
variable, especially in leaf forms, which may become lance-
linear, and even acute in the case of the perichetial leaves. It
might be confused with Tortella caespitosa, but the leaves are
shorter than in that species; the margins are recurved and the
hyaline basal cells do not run up the margin. In general the
plants are much darker colored.

Puate XIX. Barbula unguiculata (From Bry. Eur.). 1, 2, 3. Plants
; natural size.

oluta (From Bry. Eur.).

Puatt XX. Barbula conv

70 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

B. convo.uta Hedw., the Sheathing Barbula, is next to the
preceding our most common Barbula. The plants are slender, less
than %4 an inch high, densely caspitose, yellowish green. The
leaves are erect-spreading when moist, crisped when dry, oblong-
lanceolate to lingulate, obtuse to obtusely acute. The costa ends
in or below the apex, very rarely excurrent into a minute point.
The margin of the leaf is said to be slightly recurved at base,
but this character is very hard to demonstrate. The perichactial
leaves are long-shcathing, convolute, inner without costa. The
seta is 4% to 1 inch long, slender, straw colored or becoming red-
dish with age, and the peristome several times twisted. The
spores mature in spring. On soil, especially in limestone regions,
in rather dry places.

At first sight this species reminds one of Ceratodon, but the
longer operculum, yellowish seta, and convolute perichetial leaves
easily distinguish it, even with a hand-lens.

TORTELLA.

Much like Barbula except for the differences enumerated
under that genus. The plants are usually larger with longer,
plane-margined leaves, and grow in denser, often densely radi-
culose tufts.

T. cagsprrosa (Schwaegr.) Limpr. strongly resemble Bar-
bula unguiculata, but the leaves are much longer, with plane mar-
gins and hyaline cells running up the margin. It is common on
roots of trees and on soil in woods. The spores mature in
spring.

T. tortuosa (L.) Limpr. The plants of this species are 1-3
inches in height, densely radiculose with red-brown filaments,
stout, growing in dense rounded tufts, pale or yellowish green
above, light brown below. The leaves are crowded, very long

4 inch), lncar-lanceolate, tapering gradually to the slenderly
acute apex, spreading and flexuose when moist, very strongly
crisped, and often spirally contorted when dry. The costa is
excurrent into a short acute point, hyaline area at base large and
extending obliquely far up the margin. The seta is % to 1 inch
long, red below, paler above. The spores mature in late spring.
Common on rocks, especially limestone, perhaps the most com-
mon species of the family except Weisia viridula, but fruiting

Pratt XXI. Tortella tortuosa (From Bry. Eur.). 1 and 2. Plants natural size.

72 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

rather infrequently. This species is of almost world-wide dis-
tribution.

The large size of the plants and the long-linear or lance-linear
slenderly acuminate leaves, much crisped when dry, make the
species easy of recognition.

TORTULA. The Twisted Mosses.

The Twisted Mosses are large for the family and are easily
recognized by the tongue-shaped leaves with long excurrent,
hairlike costa, and long twisted peristome. To make out these
characters satisfactorily it is best to mount the parts on a
microscopic slide. In all the species except T. muralis the
basal part of the peristome is tubular.

The Twisted Mosses are not common, and the person who
gets good fruiting material has cause for congratulation.

T. muratis (L.) Hedw. The botanical name of this plant is

SBA

Ficure 26. Teaves, leaf sections, and radicles of Tortula muralis. (From
Bry. Eur.).

Puate XNII. Tortula murals (From Bry. Eur.).
1 and 2. Plants natural size. 9, 10 and 11. Antheridial bud, perigonial
leaf, and antheridia respectively. The other figures are self-explanatory.

74 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

typical of the compactness and convenience of scientific terms.
It means the Twisted Moss that grows on walls. And it is on
walls and stones, especially those that contain lime, that one
should look for this moss. It grows abundantly on the mortar
of the wall at the upper side of the Richmond trolley line on
Staten Island at the point opposite the New Dorp Railroad station.

It typically grows in small dense cushions, short, averaging
about % inch high, dull or bright green; leaves twisted and
curled when dry, oblong-lanceolate below to elongated-lingulate
above; margin closely revolute, causing the leaves to appear
margined; costa excurrent into a very long smooth hyaline
hair which is usually one-half the length of the leaf;
capsule broadly cylindric, on a red-brown seta which is orange
when young. Distinct in fruiting forms by the narrow basal
membrane, The combination of papillose leaf-cells, smooth hair-
point and revolute margin will serve to distinguish from every-
thing except possibly Desmatodon plinthobius.

T. ruratis (L.) Ehrh. is larger than the preceding, 1 to 2%
inches high, branched, bright green above, reddish-brown below;
leaves recurved-squarrose above>when moist, when dry appressed
and somewhat twisted, oblong to oblong-spatulate, rounded or
notched at apex; perichetial leaves acute; costa excurrent into a
very long and very rough hair which is hyaline above and often
colored at base; margin reflexed almost to apex. The capsule is
cylindric, long, with lid half as long as capsule, basal mem-
brane constituting one-half the long peristome; spores maturing
in spring. On ground in woods and on stones. Common on the
Pacific coast but infrequent eastward. Variable but distinguished
by the italicized characters. The hair-point is so very strongly
toothed that the roughness can be seen with a hand-lens. The
western forms of this species grade into the form known as
T. ruraliformis (Besch.) Dixon, a more robust plant with the
leaves acuminate; the lamina at the base of the hair-point scarious
and running up along the base of the hair.

DrEsMATODON PLINTHOoBIUS Sulliv. & Lesq. i a small moss
about 1% inch in height, or less, which is common in the Central
States. The leaves are smaller than those of Tortula muralis
and the hair point is often as long as the leaf, but otherwise so
much like that species that confusion is likely to result. The
small size of the plant and the short untwisted peristome will
serve to identify it.

PuateE XNIII. Tortula ruralis (From Bry. Eur.). z. Plant natural size.
The other figures are self-explanatory.

76 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

FAMILY 30. ENCALYPTACEAE, Extinguisher Mosses.

have but one genus of the Extinguisher Mosses,
which as a whole are closely related to the Twisted
Mosses in habit and leaf structure. The leaves are
large and tongue-shaped and are crisped when dry
as in Tortula,
but the costa is
little or not at all
excurrent. When
in perfect fruit
there is no possi-
bility of mistaking
the Extinguisher
Mosses, as the
large extinguisher-
like calyptra ex-
tends well below
the capsule as
shown in figure 27.

ENCALYPTA.

E. STREPTO-
caRPA Hedw., the
Common Extin-
guisher Moss, is
very common on
limestone, but
rarely or never
fruits in this
country. The
plants are very
large, I to 2%
inches in height,
and many of the
large (about %
f inch in length)

‘ coarse leaves are
Ficure 27. _Encalypta streptocarpa. (From strongly incurved

coe 1. Plant natural size. 1b. Plant en at apex and sub-

OSo 80808.

8 0
0002S:

Pirate XXIV. (From Bry. Eur.). 3 and 4a. Leaf and flattened leaf-
apex of Encalypta streptocarpa. The rest of the figures are of &. ciliata.
16. Mouth of capsule with peristome. At the left of 16 is the fringed

calyptra. 2. Tjeaves. 3a. Apices of leaves. 3b. Cells at base of leaf.
2x. Cross-section of leaf.

78 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

cucullate. The costa does not reach the obtuse and rounded apex.

E. cata (Hedw.) Hoffm., the Fringed Extinguisher Moss,
is frequent on rocks in mountain regions. The plants are about
one inch in height. The slightly excurrent costa, leaves plane-
margined in the upper portion, and the fringed calyptra are its
ear marks. The spores mature in summer.

FAMILY 1. ORTHOTRICHACEAE. The Orthotrichum
Family.

OMEWHAT resembling the Grimmia Family, but nearly
always growing on trees. The plants are small, rarely
reaching an inch in height and usually much shorter,
blackish or brownish green below. The leaves are
oblong- or linear-lanceolate and usually very hygro-

scopic. The calyptra is nearly always hairy and the capsules

often immersed, with very distinct longitudinal wrinkles when
dry and empty. The peristome
usually consists of 16 rather
short teeth which are nearly al-
ways reflexed when dry and are
often united in pairs; the inner
peristome is usually represented
by 16 slender hairlike proc-
esses, almost too minute for
the hand-lens. In the First
Edition this family was united
with the Grimmiaccac. Mem-
bers of these two families may
become so dry and brittlt as to
crumble to dust in the fingers
and yet retain their vitality un-
impaired, springing into re-
newed growth with the next rain.

DRUMMONDIA.

Drummondia is a com-

Ficure 28. Drummondia clavellata. mon moss of the Orthotrichum
a, X 1. b, X10. c, Calyptra Xx 10. family. It always grows on the
d, Empty capsule X 10. bark of trees, but is easily dis-

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 79

tinguished from its tree-growing allies by three characters. Its
stems are long and closely applied to the bark of the tree, sending
out short horizontal branchlets so thickly that the stems below
become apparent only when the plant is removed. The capsule is
on a long seta, the calyptra is cucullate, and the peristome is so
small as to be scarcely apparent.

Drummondia is named for Drummond, one of the earliest
collectors of American mosses. D. clavellata Hook. is our only
species.

ULOTA (Weissia of the First Edition.)

The Ulotas have the characteristic brownish-green or black-
ish-green color of the Orthotrichum family. They are distin-
guished from all save Orthotrichum by the hairy calyptra. Both
Orthotrichum and Ulota grow on the bark of trees or more
rarely on rocks, in cushions of varying size and thickness. The
Ulotas growing on trees usually grow in more rounded tufts with
the leaves more crisped when dry than is usual with Orthotri-
chum growing in similar situations. The books all say that the
hairs on the calyptra of Ulota are flexuous, and those on Ortho-
trichum straight, but this distinction appears to be rather too fine
for the amateur to profit by it. The capsules in both genera are
erect and symmetric and quite regularly striate when dry with
eight or sixteen ridges and as many alternating furrows. These
ridges consist of cells larger, darker, and thicker-walled than the
alternating tissue. The seta in Orthotrichum is so short that the
capsule is nearly always partially immersed; in Ulota the seta
is long enough to exsert the capsule entirely beyond the periche-
tial leaves.

U. Lupwicerr Brid., the Puckered Ulota, has pear-shaped cap-
sules, abruptly narrowed to the very small mouth; the ridges and
furrows extend only a short distance from the mouth of the
capsule, giving it the peculiar and characteristic appearance
shown in the cut.

U. crisp, Brid. The capsules of the Crisped Ulota have a
much larger mouth and are striate for the entire length. The
seta is shorter, the color is lighter, and the tufts are rather
thicker than in the Puckered Ulota. In the not uncommon
variety crispula of the Crisped Ulota the capsule is much
shorter and is suddenly contracted into a neck, narrow and much

80 MOSSES WITH A HAND-“LENS

Ficure 29. a, a, Ulota crispa X 4 and X 1 respectively. b, b’, Cap-
sules of the same X 20. c, Young sporophyte with calyptra x 20. d. d’, U.
Ludwigit X 4 and X 1 respectively. c, Capsule * 20. f, Calyptra of
mature capsule X 21.
twisted when dry. These two species grow exclusively on trees.

U. Americana (Beauv.) Lindb., the American Ulota, grows
exclusively on rocks. Its leaves are rigid when dry like those
of Orthotrichum, not crisped as in the two tree-growing species ;.
the capsules very closely resemble those of the Crisped Ulota.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 81

All three of the Ulotas are common in the hilly regions of
our range. Their capsules mature in autumn or early
winter, but apart from the calyptra are more characteristic when
dry and empty. The tree-growing species furnish good collect-
ing for winter and early spring, when most other mosses are
buried under the snow.

The use of the name Ulota instead of Weissia seems to be
sanctioned by the best authorities, hence the change.

ORTHOTRICHUM.

The Orthotrichums are most frequent on trees about houses,
and in orchards and village streets, although they are not lacking
in other situations where the trees stand somewhat apart. They
can be found abundantly on almost any fruit or shade tree in
the country. In the larger cities for some reason they do not
seem to thrive. They may frequently be found growing with
Ulotas, from which the immersed or emergent capsule and non-
crisped leaves distinguish them at once. One species (O.
anomalun) grows on rocks. ‘The calyptras are less densely
hairy than those of Ulota; O. strangulatuim has a calyptra without
hairs. The species are usually considered difficult to identify
even with a compound microscope, but I find that a few of the
commoner species can be recognized with the aid of a hand-lens.
Capsules must be thoroughly dry to answer the description of
dry capsules. The leaves have revolute margins, except in
O. obtusifolium, which appear as a darker margin when the
leaves are mounted on a slide. Drummondia has the general
appearance af an Orthotrichum with an exserted capsule, but the
calyptra is cucullate and without hairs and the capsule is not
wrinkled when dry.

The plate of O. sordidum gives a good idea of the character-
istics of the genus.

KEY.
1. Rock-inhabiting species; peristome teeth 16, erect or erect-spread-
ing on dry “capsules; capsule fully exserted, 16-striate....anomalum.

Tree-inhabiting species; peristome teeth usually united into 8

pairs, recurved or reflexed when dry; capsule immersed or
emergent, S:Strates io on ccens Senta eae Cuda es ROE ERGO ES ee

z. Leaves obtuse (rarely with some leaves acute), broad pointed,
margins Plane. 24s andes ceeds ween Canwawe eRe eas obtusifulium.
Leaves acute, margins revolute or involute.............00 see eens 3s

3. Capsule almost or quite exserted, smooth, or very slightly
plicate around the mouth when dry and sempty.... - soccest ews speciosum.

82 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Capsules immersed or slightly emergent, plicate the whole

length: when’ :diteyie-gs.cscveue alga sd orsia eve love dae sree aeecondeai. 6! dant aie Wand eoe-a 4.
4. Heo capsule strongly contracted below the mouth when
dry aad empty, dark Colored. scx .sic.s tus svieceew So vsatenng soearaes @ setae 5.
Empty capsule only slightly contracted below the mouth, straw
COlOTEd! | css erereeacimegc neh seat cee 3 Vahe ee O ORS Ohioense.

5. Empty capsules dark red-brown on the folds, so deeply folded
in many cases that the folds almost touch each other;

calyptra, ‘without ‘hairsiscioc . Kew nies situa eek Se eee strangulatum.
Plants larger with hairy calyptras; capsules lighter colore
and, less: deeply: plicate s s2ijs4 ice eps eiee & ayers oigns asd shacetnanti s. ese sordidum.

O. anomaLum Hedw. Rock O. (Figure 31) grows on rocks
in rather dense cushions, dark olive green or brown below;
calyptra hairy; capsule usually fully exserted, 16-striate, the 8
intermediate folds less distinct, oval-cylindric when moist, cylin-
dric when dry, abruptly narrowed to the neck. The peristome is
erect when dry, of 16 teeth, usually separate. Spores maturing
May-June. Not rare.

This species will not be confused with any other species of
Orthotrichum, but may be confused with Ulota Americana. The
latter has the dry capsule gradually narrowed into the long neck
and the teeth reflered when dry; besides it is almost black in
color except at the extreme ends of the stems and branches, and
grows in loose wide mats. Its spores
mature much later, July-September.

O. Ontornsr S. & L. (Figure 30) grows
in rather dense, small cushions, yellowish
green, brown below; stems about I-inch
long; leaves oblong-lanceolate; calyptra
hairy, moist capsule immersed, oblong-
ovate, when dry slightly 8-plicate, cam-
panulate, becoming more narrowed with
age, straw-colored; peristome of 8 double
teeth, strongly reflexed when dry. The
spores mature in early spring (April).

eae ec Betas Common on trees. / When sterile it is a
chum Ohioense. Dry 4ifficult matter to distinguish this from O.
and empty capsule. 10 strangulatum, but the straw-colored lightly-
Stoma. plicate capsules are easy of recognition.

O. speciosum Nees., the Smooth Orthotrichum, is perhaps
the largest of our species, being an inch to an inch and a half in
height, yellow-green above; leaves tapering, very acute. ‘The
calyptra is large, hairy, campanulate; capsule oblong-cylindrical,
almost exserted, the upper leaves barely reaching the base,
smooth or barely marked with irregular ridges when dry; oper-

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 83

Ficure 31. Orthotrichum anomalum (From Bry. Eur.).
2, 3, 4 and 5. Leaves; x and x’ indicate where the sections 3x and 3%’
were made. 1. Vaginula.

culum rostellate; peristome of 8 teeth, which when dry are
recurved rather than reflexed, as the tip of the tooth some-
times touches the capsule wall in a way to remind one of the
handle of a mug. The spores mature by October, but I have
collected operculate capsules in March.

O. sorpipum S & L. somewhat resembles the preceding in
leaf characters. It is at once distinguished by the immersed or

Plate XXV. O. speciosum (From Bry. Eur.).
z, 3 and 5. Leaves. 7, 8. 10 and 15. Capsules and peristome.

Puare XXVI. O. sordidum (From Sulliv. “ Icones Musc. Suppl.’’)

1. Plants natural size. 3. Leaves. 4. Leaf sections. 5. Cellular struc-
ture of leaf base and apex. 12. Antheridial branch with antheridium and
paraphysis. 11. Segment of peristome highly magnified. 13. Superficial
stoma. The other figures are self-explanatory.

Pirate XNVI. Explanation on preceding page.

86 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

emergent plicate capsules. The spores mature in late spring or
summer.

O. straNcuLatum Sulliv. (Figure 32.)
This is one of our commonest mosses,
abundant on shade trees almost everywhere.
It can be recognized with a hand-lens by
the characters given in the key if one is
familiar with it. The capsules are not so
deeply plicate until a month or more after
the spores ripen. It is a little smaller than
the preceding, the leaves are narrower, and
the calyptra naked; the spores apparently
mature about a month later.

In August I have found O. speciosum,

O. sordidum, O. strangulatum, and O. Ohto- See or es how:
ense growing together on fruit trees, chum strangulatum.
O. strangulatum is much the most abundant, and is easily rec-
ognized by the strangulate, dark red-brown capsules appearing
as described in the text. O. Ohtoense is about the same size, but
the straw-colored capsules catch the eye at once. O. sordidum
stands out at once by reason of its greater size and larger leaves
and capsules less plicate than in O. strangulatum. O. speciosum
is somewhat smaller than sordiduwm, and at this time the cap-
sules are immature with the hairy calyptra still firmly attached.
The comparative size of speciosum and sordidum is just the
reverse of what my herbarium specimens and the book descriptions
lead me to expect as the specimens of speciosum I collected
were much smaller than those in my collection.

FAMILY 12. SCHISTOSTEGACEAE. The Luminous
Moss Fainily.

ge CHISTOSTEGA OSMUNDACEA (Dicks.) Mohr., the Luminous
SS Moss, belongs in a family all by itself because of its
Gx Wj numerous peculiarities. It is found in caves and dark
6,4j| oles in the woods, sometimes under the roots of over-
turned trees. It has once been found under the sill of

an old shed.
On looking into one of these caverns containing the Luminous
Moss, the bottom seems covered with a golden-green glow, some-
thing like the appearance of a cat’s eyes in the dark. In order

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 87

to see the glow one must look into the cave in the direction from
which the light enters and care must be taken not to shut off all
the entering light, as the Luminous Moss, like the moon, shines
by reflected light alone. If one attempts to gather the glowing.
substance he will find nothing but dirt and stones with possibly
a few tiny green plants like those in the figure. The compound
microscope will reveal threads like those shown in the plate, but
the lens will show only a cobwebby appearance of fine green

Ficure 33. Schistosega osmundacea (From Bry. Eur.). 1, 2. Plants
natural size. 29. Protonema as it appears under the compound microscope.

88 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

threads. This beautiful plant is probably the reality upon which
are based the fairy tales of goblin gold. The discovery of this
rare and curious plant will repay a search in every dark hole
one sees. If present it can always be seen from the outside, as it
cannot grow beyond the reach of light. Mrs. Britton’s Observer
articles give a much fuller account of this moss,

FAMILY 13. SPLACHNACEAE, The Splachnum Family.
SPLACHNUM.

HERE are several species of Splachnum, but only one
is likely to be found.

S. AMPULLACEUM L,, the odd looking moss repre-
sented in Fig 34, is not very common and will not be
found readily by most students. It is so striking in

appearance that no one can fail to recognize it. The spores
are borne in the slender
upper portion; the swollen
and colored (lilac or pur-
plish) lower portion is the
neck of the capsule, which
is covered with stomata and
filled with loose tissue suit-
able for the assimilation of
carbon dioxide. When dry
this portion becomes irreg-
ularly shrunken in a man-
ner very difficult to repre-
sent in a drawing.

There are several other
rare mosses of the Splach-
num Family, all remark-
able for the swollen neck
(much less conspicuous
than in Splachnum, how-

aa
Ficure 34 Splachnum ampullaceum, far 4
Set 1 capsule, ripe and unripe x ever), and for growing
5. e plant and capsules represented i =
are rather small, as they are often On animal excreta or de
found of twice this size). caying animal tissue.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 89
FAMILY 14. FUNARIACEAE. The Cord Moss Family.
FUNARIA.

so-called because of the twisted seta, which is very
hygroscopic and untwists when moist. Its Latin
name, Funaria, is derived from funis, a rope. This
twisting of the seta is not peculiar to this moss,
however, but is a very common thing in nearly all moss families.
The Cord
Moss is to be
found every-
where, being
especially abun-
dant in waste
places and on
soil recently
burned over. 1
have seen it
completely cov-
er the soil in an
old strawberry
bed. When
mature it is
easily recog-
nized by the
peculiar look-
ing curved cap-
sule with its
mouth on one
side. When im-
mature it is
much harder to
recognize, be-
cause the capsule is erect and nearly symmetric and the calyptra
has not assumed the rakish position indicated in the figures.
This moss has perhaps been given a more careful study
than any other species; it is described in nearly every text book
on botany. ‘here are several other species in the United States,
but this is the only one commonly found. The capsules mature
early in June.

FIGURE 35. Funaria hygrometrica X 2, with
capsules of various ages and degrees of magnification.

90 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

F. ruavicans Mx. is found from New York southwards.
We are indebted to Mr. R. S. Williams for the fol-
lowing notes which are taken from the “Bryologist” of
January, 1901: ‘ The species grows in separate tufts as well as
mingled with hygrometrica, from which it may be distinguished
by the average smaller size, erect pedicel, more pointed leaves,
and mouth less oblique, as well as less furrowed capsule, which
matures a week or two earlier than in hygrometrica, in this
region at least, where the best specimens were collected from
the 1st to the 1oth of June. When well ripened, the capsules are
very dark reddish, with a low convex lid, not apiculate.” Mr.
Williams also states that the mouth of the capsule is constantly
smaller in flavicans.

PHYSCOMITRIUM. The Urn Mosses.

P. rurBINATUM (Mx.) Brid., the Common Urn Moss, is com-
mon on earth in conservatories, by roadsides and in old fields.
It is abundant in moist places by paths in the parks of Greater
New York. It must be collected in May to get the calyptra in
position. Although a
very near relative of the
Cord Moss, it entirely
lacks the _ peristome
which is so conspicuous
in that species.

A much rarer moss,
Pottia, may be found
and confused with the
Urn Moss, which it
closely resembles. Pottia,
however, is smaller, be-
ing about one-half as
large, matures its cap-
sules in winter, and un-
der a lens will be seen
to have the midrib ex-

Ficure 36. Physcomitrium turbinatum current instead of end-
x 4; capsule X 15. ing below the apex of
the leaf, as in the Urn Moss.

There are several species of Urn Mosses, but this is much
the most common and most likely to be met with.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS gi

POTTIA.

Pottia belongs in the Tortula Family, but is treated here be-
cause of its resemblance to Physcomitrium. Plants short,
branched, scattered or in tufts. Leaves soft, broad in outline,
enlarging upwards, ovate to oblong, costa reaching apex or be-
yond. Capsule erect and exserted on a straight seta, ovoid to
cylindric; peristome lacking in our species.

P. rruncatuLa (L.) Lindb. (P. truncata Fuern.) is our only
common species, and will be readily recognized from the generic
description and the figure. It is most likely to be confused with
Physcomitrium, as its habitat and general appearance are some-
what similar. The spores mature from late autumn to early spring.

Ficurt 37. Pottia truncatula (From Bry. Eur.).
1, 2, and 3. Plants natural size. 8b. Leaf cells.

92 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

FAMILY 15. AULACOMNIACEAE, Bog Moss Family.

Cage LOSELY related to the Mniums, but distinguished in
our species by the capsules, which are strongly and
regularly wrinkled when dry.

Gymnocybe has been dropped for Aulacomnium
because the latter seems to be in most general use.

AULACOMNIUM. The Bog Mosses.

A. paALustRE Schwaegr., the Ribbed Bog Moss, is very
abundant in swamps and wet shaded hollows. It is rather lighter
in color than most of the accompanying mosses. When in fruit
it is readily distinguished by its capsules, deeply furrowed when
dry. From the figures the capsules might possibly be confused
with those of Ceratodon, but they are much longer and much

—o
SVE t—~S

SKK

———

S—

ER
SS

a.
a

[so

Ficure 38. Aulacomnium palustre X 10; capsules X 10; pseudopodia X 4.

‘aged yxau uo voneurdxy YTANX ava

oy
AaBo Raa acedy

wilt
SS isiaiwiey
Rien

94 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

lighter colored (yellow-brown). The plants are several times as
large as those of Ceratodon, often reaching a height of two or
three inches. Note also the difference in habitat.

When not in fruit, this species frequently bears on the end of
the stem a number of long slender pseudopodia, which, when
young, bear clusters of gemme at their ends. These gemme
serve to reproduce the plant asexually and may account for the
rather infrequent appearance of the sporophyte.

The capsules mature in early summer.

A. neEterosticoum (Hedw). B. & S. looks so much like a
Mnium that it might well be called the Ribbed Mnium. It is
common on rich moist soil (not wet) in woods, especially about
the bases of trees. The ribbed, or wrinkled, capsules and broad
Mnium-like leaves, coarsely serrate and without border, are its
distinguishing marks. The spores mature in early spring, but
the young “lances” are well started in the preceding autumn.
When thoroughly dry the capsules are more strongly wrinkled
and more contracted under the mouth than is shown in the
plate.

FAMILY 16. BARTRAMIACEAE. Apple Moss Family.

HE plants of this family mostly grow on rocks that
are moist or in many cases, very wet. The capsules
are subspherical when moist, but are strongly
wrinkled when dry. :

BARTRAMIA.

The Bartramias grow in moist niches in cliffs and on moist
shady banks, looking much like tufts of green wool. The char-
acteristic thing about them is their capsules, which are globular
and somewhat unsymmetric when moist, but dry with regular
folds and alternate ridges. When very dry the body of the
capsule becomes so shrunken as to be smaller than the mouth of
the capsule itself. We have two species.

B. rpomirormis (L.) Hedw., the Long-leaved Bartramia or
Apple Moss, easily distinguished by its longer leaves crisped
when dry and by its larger capsule.

Prate XXVII. Aulacomnium heterostichum (From Bry. Eur.). :, Plants
natural size. The other figures are self-explanatory.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 95

Ficure 39. a4, Bartramia pomiformis X 1. b, B. Oederi X 1. ©
Capsule of B. pomiformis X 10, and ce, Mouth of same with operculum.
d, Capsule of B..Oederi & 10. f and g, Leaves of B pomiformis and B.
-Oederi respectively < 10.

B. ogperr (Gunn.) Swartz. the Short-leaved Bartramia.
The Long-leaved Bartramia is common throughout our range
whenever the country affords a suitable habitat, but the Short-
leaved Bartramia is rather rare. The difference between the
species as shown in the figures is so marked that they cannot be
confused.

Both species mature their capsules in spring; the Long-
leaved Bartramia in April or early May, and the Short-leaved two
or three weeks later.

PHILONOTIS.

P. rontana (L.) Brid. is the only species of Philonotis
likely to be met with, is very common where water drips or runs
in shallow streams over rocks. When in fruit it may be
mistaken for a Bartramia on account of the similarity of the
‘capsules. The capsules of Philonotis, however, have a protuber-
ance on the lower side that is entirely lacking in Bartramia.

Philonotis grows in much wetter places, has much longer,
‘more slender stems that are often fasciculately branching at the
top; shorter, more acute leaves, and is dioicous. ‘The male heads
are conspicuous objects among the fruiting plants, though sel-

96 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Ficure 40. Philonotis fontana * 1; leaf, capsule, and male head X 10.

dom appearing in sterile mats. Although Philonotis is common,
the sporophyte is infrequent. The capsules mature in May or
June.

FAMILY 17. BRYACEAE. The Bryum Family.

HE capsules of the Bryum Family are nearly always
drooping and frequently have a well marked neck when
dry. The peristome is double and well developed.
(See glossary under ‘“ Peristome”). The leaves are
usually plainly bordered by a thicker darker margin: of

elongated cells, and the costa is stout and often excurrent.

BRYUM.

Bryum is perhaps the most difficult and troublesome of all
the genera of mosses. The genus is large (500 species, 195 in
Europe and America), and the distinctions between the species
are often few and difficult to observe. There are, however,
several species that can be recognized readily.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 97

It is hard to distinguish in a description between Mnium and
Bryum, but after one has collected them much he will rarely
make a mistake. In general the leaves in Bryum are smaller,
and the leaf cells are longer and proportionately narrower. The
Giant Bryum, however, is very like a Mnium in size and shape
of leaf.

Many species other than those mentioned here are sure to be
found, but the genus is one of the most difficult, and cannot be
thoroughly studied with the hand-lens alone. Pohlia (Webera of
many authors) is treated with Bryum because of its close re-
semblance. It is by many authors included in Bryum. The leaf
cells in Pohlia are much longer and narrower than in Bryum,
but it is difficult to see this satisfactorily with a lens.

B. arcenteum L,, the Silvery Bryum, grows everywhere at
almost all altitudes. It is specially fond of dry compact soil in
sandy fields and waste places. It grows abundantly in paths and
between the bricks of sidewalks in towns and cities.

When fully grown it is a bright silvery gray, due to the
fact that the leaves are white and without chlorophyll when old.
The young plants are
green and may easily be
mistaken for something
else. The leaves end in
a slender bristle and are
crowded and closely
overlapping, making the
stems and branches
prettily julaceous.

: The capsules mature
in autumn, but can be
found in recognizable

condition at almost any
season. When fully

Ficure 41. Bryum argenteum X 4; mature the seta and
branch X 10; capsule X 20.

capsules are dark red.

B. rosEum (Weis) Schreb, the Giant Bryum, is the largest
and showiest of all our species, and, moist and fully expanded,
is a striking object in any situation. The stems spring from
stolons and are nearly leafless except at the summit, where
the very large leaves form a rosette. Under favorable cir-
cumstances it forms large mats on old rotten logs or at the base of

98 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Ficure 42. Bryum rosewm X 1; leaf and capsule X 4.

trees in rich peaty soil. Although common, it seldom fruits in
either America or England, but reproduces freely by its stolons.

The antheridia mature in late August or early September,
and the male heads are so large and conspicuous that it is easy
to find them in almost any locality where the species grows.
The antheridia are so large as to be easily seen with a hand-
lens. One who has access to a compound microscope should not
fail to study the antherozoids with high powers.

B.cagspiticium L,., the Common or Matted Bryum. There
is no particular reason for calling this species “matted” except
to translate its scientific name, but it is by all odds the most
common species. It grows among thin grass in open fields,
around the edges of ledges and bare spots of soil, and on old ash
heaps; usually in dry places. It is often associated with Funaria.
There are two or three species so closely related to it that it is
almost impossible to distinguish them with a lens, but this is so
much more common than any of the others that in nine cases
out of ten anything answering to the following description and
figures will be the Common Bryum. The size and general appear-
ance of the plants are well represented in the cuts. The leaves
are plainly bordered; the costa is excurrent; the antheridia

PrateE XXVIII. Bryum caespiticium (From Bry. Eur.). 3, 4 and 5. Plants
natural size. 2b. and 3b. Plants magnified. 6, 7 and 8. Leaves.

100 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

grow intermingled with the archegonia (difficult for the lens).
The capsules mature in May and June, and as the antheridia and
archegonia are ripe at about this time, it must take the plant
a full year to mature its spores; for this reason the leaves at the
base of the seta are often badly torn and decayed.

B. srtmum Schreb., the Red-stemmed Bryum, is another com-
mon species, growing on wet cliffs and in swamps. It is known
by its large size (2-6 inches) and the dense felt of red-brown
radicles that cover its stem. The leaves are rather distant, 1-12
of an inch or more long, plainly bordered, with costa percurrent
or excurrent, and red in old leaves. This species is exceedingly
variable in size and gen-
eral appearance and one
who has collected it several
times cannot feel sure that
he will recognize it the
next time he finds it.
The spores mature in mid-
summer.

B. puvaLLi Voit. the
Winged Bryum, is a rare
plant growing in elevated
swamps, but is so peculiar
as to be easily recognized
even when sterile. The
stems are slender and weak
with leaves very far apart,
much farther than the cut
would indicate, and so
strongly decurrent as to
make the stem appear

Ficure 43. Portion of stem of Bryum winged. They are scarcely
a much enlarged (From Bry. margined, and the costa is
not excurrent.

Poniia nutans (Schreb.) Lindb., the Nodding Byrum, is
one of the mosses most frequently sent me for determination.
It grows everywhere in moist or swampy places on peaty soil,
rotten wood, etc. The plants vary from ¥% to 2 inches in height,
rarely over an inch as I find them. ‘The upper leaves are long
and narrowly lanceolate, faintly serrate at apex, and not mar-
gined. The costa is strong and ends below the apex. With the

———

=
—

Pirate XXIX. Pohlia nutans (From Bry. Eur.). 1 and «z. Plants natural
size. The other figures are self-explanatory.

102 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

lens the costa appears to be percurrent and the leaves entire.
The spores mature in early summers

Pouiia ELONGATA Hedw. isa rather rare moss found
only in the mountains. It grows on damp soil in cool shaded
places. It is at once known by the slender long-necked capsule

Ficure 44. Pohlia elongata natural size and capsule enlarged. (From
Bry. Eur.).
which is never to be
confused with the Long-
necked Bryum because
of the different position
of its capsules and its
broader, lanceolate
leaves. The spores ma-
ture in August.
LEPTOBRYUM = PY RI-
FoRME (L.) Wils., the
Long-necked Bryum, is
closely allied to the true
Bryums, although placed

in another genus. It is

Hever a5. Leplobryuin Pyriforme easily recognized by its
2; leaf and Capsule x 10. long-necked capsule and

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 103

slender hair-like leaves. The capsules mature in June and July.

Some species of Pohlia have very long-necked capsules, but
the leaves are so much wider that there is no need of confusing
them with the Long-necked Bryum.

This species is frequent on moist shaded cliffs and on rocks
near water. It is not as rare as the author once thought, for it
is frequent on damp mortared walls in various situations. The
author has collected it on the basement of his Brooklyn house
and in the cut which leads up to Montague Street from the
Brooklyn end of the Wall Street Ferry.

MNIUM.

The Mniums are closely related to the Bryums, but in habit
and general appearance are different enough so that they can
usually be distinguished without difficulty. As a rule, the plants
are larger and broader. The Giant Bryum, however, looks very
much like the Mniums.

There are numerous species of Mnium, many of them com-
mon. We have about ten that are common enough and suff-
ciently well characterized to warrant description here.

KEY.

ip QHeavest: mareined +2: G saageas eapaira a mesanke wasamere samen osed Goa eae e OnE 2.
Leaves mot) ‘margzined..:sacd0 cic 0< carcaenauierse a rald on sawed awe ea os TIP
a, Téaves: Entire. acc ose Byars ss ease ce nen Ge ames Gomis thee a dimnions 3-
Joeaves: Serhate: ...c64 4 t0% daacia SAH ete GSO REES Ae rE tees oe 4.
3. Growing on rocks in the bed of brooks............-++.+-- punctatum,
Growing on soil in shaded swampy places........ punctatum elatum.
va, “Capsules: ‘chastened: cca dete exeged big gc E GAS FemHeye. dene 4 ee Asai Se 8.
Gapsiiles: Single: we esssnew ogaio acs ip Haieecne o iebhaie Hdeabare Soins om gbeemRe Sy a Ee
5. Leaves serrate to base. . : i VAted eoeee eee affine ciliare.
Base of leaves sentire.cce cowses soul eas abs abt aimed eaae a eee el 6.
6. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 5: : .hornum.
Leaves oblong, rounded, or obovate..... 02... ce cece ee cece eee eee Ds
7. Mouth of capsule (peristome) red..............0 0. cee eee spinulosum.
Mouth of capsule not réds ¢ visi eon e eae wahony ease Rawat sylvaticum.
8. Leaves tapering to the acute apex... ...-.e cece cece e cece eee nneee 9.

Leaves obtuse and rounded at apex, mucronate by the excur-
TENE COStA. scraiiis Hewat saesiee et aed eS ee eae eee a Bee a ¥ rostratum.
9. Teeth at margins of leaf double; peristome red........... spinulosum.
Teeth at margin of leaf not double; peristome not red............. 10.
to, :Plants: dicicous, with, stolon$).i o asi caves siete pean we cee ose affine,
Antheridia present at base of seta; stolons lacking........ Drummondii.

11. Plants very large resembling large forms of the Large-
léaved: Minit: capes gecece waist wo 3 pentcang Hos ween w dower ars) cinclidioides.
Plants: sialll ag ccsc4.14 sede wh oo ene % oemuem a emtghsig wie ky. G aioe stellare.

M. sytvaticum Lindb., Woodsy Mnium. One of the first
signs of vegetable life in early spring is the array of upright green
sporophytes of the Woodsy Mnium, which is common in lawns
and parks in moist shady corners, and is to be found abundantly

104 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

in moist woods everywhere, growing, sometimes on the soil,
sometimes on rotten wood. ‘The capsules mature in May, but
can be found in recognizable condition until August.

M. AFFINE CILIARE (Grev.) C. M., the Toothed Mnium, closely
resembles the Woodsy Mnium in many respects, but is easily dis-
tinguished by the leaves. The leaves of the Toothed Mnium are
serrate with very long and slender teeth, which extend to the
base of the leaf. In the Woodsy Mnium the leaves are serrate
with shorter teeth that do not extend much below the middle of
the leaf. Until one has had some practice, it may be necessary to
mount the leaves in order to see the serration plainly. No reliance
should be placed on the shape of the leaves in distinguishing
these two species, as the leaves vary greatly in shape in different
plants and on different parts of the same plant.

M. arring Bland. The common form of this species is the
variety described above. The species 1s rather rare and is a
puzzling form for the hand-lens student. The figures and
description of M. Drummondti in the First Epition were based
on this species largely. It has the capsules clustered, and teeth
on the margins of the leaves shorter than in the Toothed Mnium.
It is distinguished from M. Drummondii by the longer, less
decurrent leaves, absence of creeping stems, and by having an-
theridia and archegonia on separate plants. The male heads
bearing antheridia can usually be found mixed with the plants
bearing capsules.

M. Drummonpr B. & S.,the true Drummond’s Mnium, is so
infrequent as not to require a treatment here. It is distinguished
from M. affine by the characters given under that species. By
carefully stripping off the perichetial leaves and mounting
them and the seta on a slide the presence of antheridia’ can
usually be made out with a high power lens.

M. sprinuLtosum B. & S., the Red-mouthed Mnium, is a third
species somewhat resembling the Woodsy Mnium and growing
in similar situations, but less common and usually growing in
woods. The peristome is a very bright red-brown, and after the
operculum has fallen it makes a very conspicuous red band about
the mouth of the yellowish-white capsule. If the leaves of the
Red-mouthed Mnium be carefully studied, the teeth on the mar-
gins will be seen to be in pairs. To see this with a hand-lens
requires considerable care, as the teeth are small and hide one
another. The capsules mature at least two weeks later than

Prats XXX. u, Munium affine ciliare X 1. b, Leaf X 4. ¢, Leaf X
10. d, M. sylvaticum X 1. e, Leaves of different shapes X 10. f, Cap-

sule X 10. g, M. affine X 1.

106 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

those of the Woodsy Mnium. Before the lid has fallen its pro-
nounced beak is an aid in identification. In Europe the capsules
of this species are usually clustered, but
in the eastern United States I find the
great majority of plants with single
capsules. The plants also seem rather
smaller than the Western and European
forms. _

M. nornum L. There are several
species of these double-toothed Mniums,
but the only other one readily recogniz-
able with a simple lens is the Long-
leaved Mnium, whose leaves are pro-
portionately much longer and narrower,
with the costa ending below the apex.
It is dioicous and the disc-like male
heads are an additonal aid in identifica-
Ficure 46. Mniumhornum. tion. This species is more abundant
(From Bry. Eur.). Plant southwards and is frequent around
natural size. New York City in shaded springy places.
It does not appear to fruit freely, but if one can find fruit in
April with the calyptra in its queer position on the seta, instead
of on the capsule, he can make no mistake. (See Pl. 31, 0.)

M. rostratum Schrad., the Beaked Mnium, is a fairly com-
mon species which seems to fruit infrequently. The leaves are ob-
long to obovate and rounded at the apex with the costa running
abruptly out into a short point. They do not taper as in most
species, but are rounded at apex into an outline nearly semi-
circular. The border is strong and the teeth single, sometimes
rather short at the apex. The capsules are clustered and strongly
beaked, as in the Early Mnium, but the plants seem to spread
largely by stolons which form loose mats over the soil in moist
shaded places. The antheridia are mixed with the archegonia.
The spores mature in spring.

M. puncratum L., the Early Mnium, grows on moist, stones
in the bed of brooks. It matures its capsules in April, long before
any other species. It is at once recognized by its obovate entire-
margined leaves and beaked operculum.

M. punctatum ELATUM Schimp., the Large-leaved Mnium, is
said to be merely a variety of the Early Mnium growing in the
mud in swampy places. It is often much larger than the figure.

PuateE XXXI.a, M. punctatum X 1. b, Capsule and operculum X
to. c, Leaf x 4. d, Var. elatum X 1. e, Leaf of var. elatum X 4. f,
Leaf of M. spinulosum X 20. g and h, Apex and margin of same X 40.
o, Leaf of M. hornum X 10. p, Apex of the same X 4o.

108 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

sometimes having leaves half an inch long. The leaf cells are
so large as easily to be seen with a lens and in some cases with
the naked eye of a trained observer.

The two species without borders to the leaves are rather
infrequent and so different as to remove all danger of confusion.

M. crncuipiomweEs (Blytt.) Hueben. is a very large moss four
to six inches high, said to have been found a foot long, and
looking almost exactly like an overgrown Large-leaved Mnium.
The leaves are larger and oblong and when mounted show no
trace of a border. This is a rare species of cool bogs.

M. sTELLARE Reich. is a small moss usually less than an inch
high, though sometimes becoming more than two inches in length.
It grows in rather dense cushions at the base of trees in swampy
woods. Although frequent it rarely fruits. The leaves are
elliptic-oblong with no trace of margin and teeth too fine to be
seen with a’lens; the costa ends farther below the apex than in
any other species included here.

Pleurocarpous Mosses.

The remainder of the mosses have creeping stems, seta aris-
ing from short lateral branchlets and peristome double.

FamMILY 8 LESKEACEAE. The Leskea Family.

LL the members of this family except Thuidium have
erect capsules. The leaf cells are so strongly covered
with little projections as to make them less trans-
parent than in most other pleurocarpous mosses. The
“Twisted Mosses, it will be remembered, had leaves

that were subopaque for the same reason.

ANOMODON.

The bases of trees in cool moist woods frequently wear an
apron of dark green, extending from the roots to three or
four feet above the ground and often entirely encircling the
trunk. This “apron” is usually composed of one or more species
of Anomodon, often mixed with an Hepatic (Porella). The
mats of Anomodon are quite thick and are composed of a net-
work of nearly leafless stems growing close to the bark and

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 109

Ficure 47. Anomodon rostratus (From Bry. Eur.). 1. Plant natural size.

sending out the crowded branches that compose the “pile” of
the mat. The Anomodons are nearly all rather coarse mosses
with the sporophyte arising from the branches. The capsules are
conic-cylindrical, straight, and erect.

Some species of Leskea grow in similar situations and have
a very similar sporophyte, but the Leskeas are much smaller, do not
produce such dense mats, and the sporophyte arises from the stem.

There are three species of Anomodon growing on trees as
described above. The Common Anomodon, the Blunt-leaved
Anomodon, and the Slender Anomodon.

110 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Ficure 48. a, Anomodon abi-
culatus X z. b, Capsules X 10.
vc, Leaf X 10. d, Branch of A.

attenuatus, moist, X <.

A. avicuLatus B. & S., the
Common Anomodon, and A.
minor (P. Beauv.) Fuern.,
the Biunt-leaved Anomodon,
resemb'e each other so closely
that it is not easy to distinguish
them without a compound
microscope. Both have simple
blunt branches and grow al-
most exclusively on trees.

A. atrenuatus (Schreb.)
Hueben., the Slender Anomo-
don, grows freely on rocks as
well as trees; its branches are
slender and tapering, and freely
branched. It almost never fruits.

A. Rostratus (Hedw.)
Schimp. grows in dense mats
like a very coarse velvet. It is
found in wet places particularly
at the foot of trees in swamps,
growing on the ground rather
than the tree. It is also common

at the base of wet cliffs and on wet rocks where a little soil has

collected. The leaves are |
different from those of
any of the other species
and are easily recog-
nized when mounted, by
the shape and the hair-
like apex. The spores
are ripe in late autumn.

THELIA.
THELIA HIRTELLA
(Hedw.) Sulliv., the

Common Thelia, is very
common in the southern
and coastwise portion of

Ficure 49. Thelia hirtella * 4; leaves
X 20.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS M1

our range. It grows almost exclusively on the bark of stumps and
the bases of trees. It forms thin closely adherent mats, easily
recognized by their whitish-green color, erect symmetric capsules
with whitish peristome, julaceous branches, and concave sub-
orbicular leaves. The capsules mature in autumn.

THELIA ASPRELLA (Schimp.) Sulliv. has a range and habitat
very similar to that of T. hirtella, but is even lighter in color;
when fresh, light glaucous-green. T. Lescurii Sulliv. is very
similar to the above named species, but grows in rather dry
soil. It is confined to the more southern coast regions (northern
limit Connecticut). It rarely produces capsules, while the other
species fruit freely.

THUIDIUM. The Fern Mosses.

The Fern Mosses have been noted by every lover of out-of-
door life because of their delicate and beautiful fern-like
form. The branches are given off very regularly like
the pinne of a fern, and the branches themselves often give
off branchlets as regularly as the pinna of a fern is divided into
pinnules.

T. scrtum (Beauv.) Aust., the Smaller Fern Moss, is the
one most likely to be met with, especially in the northern por-
tion of our range. The capsules, besides being much smaller than
in the Common Fern Moss are only slightly cernuous and are
nearly symmetric. ‘The capsules mature in autumn.

T. apretinum (L.) B. & S, Wiry Fern Moss, is another
simply pinnate species that is common. This moss is most fre-
quently found in dry sterile places on the ground among the
grass, and on ledges. It varies considerably in appearance ac-
cording to habitat and its immediate condition as to moisture.
Usually it is very evenly and regularly pinnate. Though fre-
quent, it is very rarely found fruiting in our latitude. Mr. R. S.
Williams, however, found it fruiting freely in Alaska. Mr.
Williams also reports several other similar cases, one of the
most conspicuous being Hypnuim rugosum L.

T. pewicatuLum (L.) Mitt., the Common Fern Moss, grows
in damp shady places over stones and earth, rotten logs and the
like. It is very regularly twice or even thrice pinnate. It grows
abundantly in suitable situations throughout our range, but pro-
duces capsules rather sparingly. These mature in early autumn

112 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

and are very large, much curved,
and are borne on long stout sete.
The perichetial leaves bear long
cilia along their upper margins.
This is one of the characters by
which this species can be dis-
tinguished readily from another
closely related species, 7. recog-
nitune.

T. rEcocnNitumM (Hedw.)
Lindb. will not be distinguished
from the Common Fern Moss ex-
cept by close scrutiny. The peri-
cheetial leaves are not ciliate and
the stem leaves when moist are
spreading-recurved instead of

a __ erect-spreading, as in the Com-
Froure 50. a, Thuidium deli- 14 Bern Moss. The shape

catulum X 1. b, T. scitum X 1. f

c, Capsule of the same x 5. T. Of the stem leaves is also dif-

abietinum X 1. ferent; the figures explain these

differences better than any de-
scription. Both species grow on the ground, stones, or rotten
wood, but this matures its spores in July, the other in early
winter.

Ficure 51. Portion of stem and leaves of Thuidium recognitum, at the
left. Same of T. delicatulum, at the right.

Growing on the bark of trees are several smaller species that
are usually only once pinnate.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 113

HyLocoMiuM PROLIFERUM (L.) Lindb. (H. splendens of many
authors), the Mountain Fern Moss, although belonging to a dif-
ferent genus from the other fern mosses, is best treated in con-
nection with them because of its similarity in form. As will
be seen by the figures it is much larger and has a very peculiar
and characteristic habit. Every year each of the main shoots of
the previous year develops a single fern-like shoot from the
middle of the upper side instead of branching out from the side
of the shoot as in the case of most mosses. This gives the plant

WV (i

Ficure 52. Hylocomiwm proliferum X 1.
its peculiar habit and its botanical name of “ proliferum.” It is
one of the too rare cases in which the botanical name is descrip-
tive of the plant to which it is applied.

This moss grows abundantly in cool moist mountain woods
on stones and old logs. When found growing elsewhere it is so
stunted as to give no idea of its beauty in its favorite habitat.
The capsules, which mature in autumn, though not rare, are spar-
ingly produced in proportion to the number of plants. When a
patch does fruit, however, it often fruits heavily.

114 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

FAMILY 19. HyYPNACEAE. The Hypnum Family.

HE preceding species belongs to the great Hypnum
Family, which contains a vast number of our common
mosses. The majority of the members of this family
are slender and prostrate, or creeping with ascending
branches. The sporophyte varies a good deal, but the

capsules are more or less unsymmetric and cernuous in most
species. The members of this family usually grow in dense thin
mats on soil, stones, rotten wood, and bark of trees. There are
hundreds of species belonging to this family and the number with-
in our own range is very large. Many of the species and even
genera are so closely related and are distinguished by so few and
so minute differences that no one but a trained and expert student
of mosses can name them correctly. For this reason only a few
of the most strongly marked species can be treated here. This
is to be regretted, for many of the commonest mosses will thus
be omitted and the student will be discouraged by finding so
many things that he cannot identify. It is safe advice to the be-
ginner to leave the Hypnums until he has studied the more
easily recognized mosses.

Roughly, the more common genera are distinguished thus:
Plagiothecium and Entodon are flattened in a plane parallel to
the substratum, but the capsules of Entodon are erect and sym-
metric, while those of Plagiothecium are curved and cernuous.
Brachythecium has very short ovoidal capsules that are cernuous
and somewhat curved (except B. acuminatum and B. oxycla-
don); the leaves have a strong midrib. Eurhynchium, Cirriphyl-
lum, and Rhynchostegium, have the strong midrib and short
capsules of Brachythecium, but the opercula are grotesquely long-
beaked, much as in Dicranum. Raphidostegium has long-beaked
capsules like the three genera mentioned above, but the leaves
lack the midrib. Pylaisia grows exclusively on the bark of
trees, and is dark green; the short branches are strongly curved
at the end when dry, and the capsules are erect and symmetric.
Hypnuim has so many varying forms that one can best get an idea
of it from studying the individual species described below.

Nearly all the genera of the family were formerly included
in the genus Hypnum and the appearance of the species through-
out the family has such a similarity that Hypnum can appropri-
ately be used for the common name of many species scientifically

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS II5

included in other genera. Also it will frequently be more help-
ful to group species from different genera with a similar ap-
pearance rather than to put all species of a genus together.

KEY TO THE HYPNUM FAMILY.

Leaves strongly turned to one side (secund).......... 006s eeeeeee 2
Leaves not secund aWanersh echo 8.
Leaves with a midrib mh Be 3.
Leaves without midrib 4.
Plants very robust, never fruiting; leaves wrinkled cross-

WISE ic dane fa euedie eosin se Boning e Sse Jo fined a oanaceos Hylocomium rugosum.
Plants slender to moderately stout; leaves often wrinkled
lengthwise, never crosSwis€......... 00s see eee eee Hooked Mosses
Capsules wrinkled lengthwise when dry........ Hypnum curvifoliun.
Capsules not appreciably wrinkled when dry............-seeeeees 3.
Capsules long-beaked; alar leaf cells much enlarged and

HVS: i tees oo A SEER Oy BEETS Ob ccs Boe Raphidostegiunt.
Capsules not long-beaked; alar cells not much enlarged... ... oe. 6,

Plants plume- like; capsules strongly curved..Hypnum crista- castrensis.
Plants pinnately branching but less plume- like; capsules erect

Or Only: slightly: CuUPVved sais sess saci veces 8 seaedes wow SoecRis id Bncerala ose era ee Fis
Plants slender; dry capsule with mouth oblique........... H. reptile.
Plants more robust, almost always on rotten wood; mouth of

dry capsule not oblique................4-% ..H. imponens.
Plants growing on stones in cool brooks.............. H. ochraceum.
Growing in water....... cece eee e nee cence Water-loving Hypnums.
Growing in various situations, often in wet places but not in

WAGE Te ste Sp ax exten Yo Reacelealte a, eclouite i 4S RNs Sicuuwolac at So beae Bus ANNI co aoe cerca ab tO 9.

Leaves with midrib; capsules very short and, stout, not more
than three times as long as broad........0 0... ccc cece eee
th eae ak oi Seialiana 2 octane éSetranit ee Brachythecium and the Beaked Mosses.

Leaves with midrib; capsules more than 3:1.............000ee0ee 10.
Leaves without distinct midrib. ....... 0.0... cc ccc cece eee II.
Plants large, with a treelike habit; leaves appressed when dry;
capsules cylindric and straight,...............000eee eee Climacium.
Plants stout, suberect; leaves spreading when dry; capsules
CUT VO gs arian er dVlida co icden at Saud a semen sti sene atas aoe Hylocomium triquetrum.

Plants slender, creeping... Amblystegium and Hypnum Baa
Capsules erect and cylindric cake vege oleras hdta izes,

Capsules more or less curved
Capsules wrinkled when dry..... paeaaes

Capsules: smooth, wher diy seca g-c s< 5% ceSibw ce gigie wan onl So ewes « yore
Leaves appearing flattended into two ranks. 5
Leaves not flattened into two ranks.......--+ecss ssc es ees saeee 14.
Plants bright golden green, usually growing on soil........

es ae Schreberi.
Plants green, usually growing on decaying wood... H. Haldanianum.

Plants usually growing on bark of trees.............00000 ee

ssaheheod: subsea. ai ensdata ay aqeeiie date eanene ecaee Amblystegium adnatum and Pylaisia.
Plants usually growing on soil or decayed wood or over

StONES: scans Mears ove ey ova BREE Entodon and Hypnum Haldanianum.

HYPNUM.

In one section of this composite genus the leaves are all

turned to one side (secund), and the branching is more or less
regularly pinnate, giving the plants a plume-like appearance in
many cases. The leaves are without midrib. This section is
often called Hypniuim proper. Two of the most common and

116 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Ficure 53. a, Hypnum crista-castrensis X 1. b, H. imponens X 1.
ce, Portion of branch of H. crista-castrensis X 10. e, Capsules X 10. d,
Capsules of H. imponens X 10.

easily recognized mosses of this group are the Plume Moss
and the Pinnate Hypnum.

H. crRIsTA-CAstRENsIs L., the Plume Moss, is common on
decayed wood and stumps in cool moist woods in New England
and New York, and probably throughout our range. A few
starved specimens have been collected on Long Island. To be
appreciated this moss should be seen in the cool moist recesses
of the primeval mountain forests, where it covers the fallen and
decaying trunks of huge trees with ample robes of richest tex-
ture. The shoots are ascending and as regularly pinnate as any
feather, even to the triangular apex of the shoot. Its color is a

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 117

light yellow-green. Its capsules are strongly curved and cer-
nuous; they mature in autumn.

H. mmponens Hedw., the Pinnate Hypnum, is a much more
common moss in the lowlands and grows almost exclusively on
rotten wood in moist shady places. It somewhat resembles the
Plume Moss, but is prostrate, forming dense closely cohering
mats. It is also darker green; the capsules are nearly erect and
symmetric, and the pinnate branching stops short of the apex of
the shoots, as is shown in the figure. A careful examination will
show that there is a difference in the curvature of the leaves; in
the Pinnate Hypnum the leaves curve towards the substratum at
tight angles to the plane of the stem, while in the Plume Moss
they curve towards the branch next below on the stem. The
capsules of the Pinnate Hypnum are produced much the more
freely; they mature in winter, but persist in good condition for a
long time.

Hypnum curvirortum Hedw. is a much rarer moss that
somewhat resembles H. imponens when sterile. It is more con-
fined to the mountains, is larger, lighter colored, and has curved
cernuous capsules that are very strongly furrowed when dry.
The leaves when dry are so regularly arranged as to give a
characteristic appearance like a carefully dressed braid of hair.

H. patient1ar Lindb. has furrowed capsules almost like those
of the preceding and its general appearance is so similar that it

FIcuRE 54. Hypnum curvifolium X 2; tips of branches x 4; and
capsules X 4.

PuateE XXNII. Hypnum reptile (From Bry. Eur.). 1 and 2. Plants
natural size. Erect capsules like 18 are rare. 19 does not show the mouth
oblique enough to be typical.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS L1G

is often hard to separate the two. In this species, however, the
branching is irregular and the leaves do not have the peculiar
braided look of the preceding.

Hypnum reptite Mx. is another regularly early pinnate moss
of this group, but it is less than half the size of the three described
above. Its general appearance is also fairly well represented in Fig.
51 b, but the capsules are longer and more curved. With a lens
the leaves of the Thuidiuim will be seen to be acute and straight,
while those of the Hypunm are curved and long acuminate. The
Thuidium grows in thin mats so that its pinnate character is
easily seen at a glance; the Hypnum grows in such
densely interwoven mats that it is often necessary to disen-
tangle it before its pinnate character becomes apparent. Hyp-
num reptile matures its capsules much earlier than any of the
three other species mentioned above. They are usually fully
ripe in August, and when dry and empty the mouth becomes
oblique, almost as much so as in Dicranella heteromalla.
Even if the capsules dry with the lid on, the mouth takes the
oblique position strongly enough to be noticed. This obliquity
of the mouth is not clearly shown in the figure.

AMBLYSTEGIUM ADNATUM (Hedw.) J. & S. is another
species resembling H. reptile and often associated with it, es-
pecially on the bases of trees, but the leaves are not curved and
the capsules are nearly straight and sub-erect.

H. Harpanianum Grev., the Common Hypnum, is almost
sure to be found in any moist shady place where decaying wood
is present, covering the unsightly masses of rotten wood with
its upholstery of bright green. Occasionally it grows on soil
rich in humus. It is one of our commonest mosses and nearly
always fruits freely.

The Common Hypnum in appearance is very little like the
species previously described; the leaves are straight and equally
spreading on all sides, not secund. When mounted and examined
with a high-power lens the abruptly enlarged cells at the basal
angles are very conspicuous and render the determination cer-
tain. The capsules are cylindrical and somewhat curved, much
like those of the Pinnate Hypnum, only larger. They mature in

Prate XXXIII. Hypnum Haldanianum * 2; branch X 5; capsule x
to. 6, 7, 8, and 11. Leaves. 7b. Base of leaf showing enlarged cells at
basal angles. 18. Paraphyllia (too small to be seen with the lens.) (Leaf
drawings from Bry. Eur.).

#
Plats XXXIII. Explanation on preceding page.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 121

Ficure 55. Hypnum Schreberi X VY.

Fic. 56. Leaves ot
Hypnum Schreberi.
(From Bry Eur.)

late autumn or winter, but remain in fairly
good condition until the next summer.

BrRACHYTHECIUM oxycLADon (Brid.) J.&
S., the Long-capsuled Brachythecium, some-
times grows on decaying wood and then is
scarcely to be distinguished from the Common
Hypnum with certainty unless the leaves be
examined with a high-power lens, when they
will be seen to have a strong midrib, and no
enlarged cells at basal angles. The capsules
are usually much darker than those of the
Common Hypnum. The usual habitat of the
Long-capsuled Brachythecium is on moist
ledges and rocks.

H. Scuresert Willd., Schreber’s Hypnum,
is the bright yellow-green moss that forms
dense deep cushions by almost every moist
shaded roadside in inland country regions. It
is abundant in moist pastures and open woods,
and sometimes makes its most luxuriant
growth in a sphagnum bog. It is so common,
so conspicuous, and withal so large, that every
one must have noticed it at some time or other.

122 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

The stems are often four to six inches long and nearly erect,
and crowded so closely together as to form dense soft cushions
into which the foot sinks deeply. Examined closely, the stems
appear a bright red through the semi-transparent leaves.

Ficure 57. Hylocommum rugosum. Plants natural size; leaves X 5,
and leaf cells.

Schreber’s Hypnum has broad obtuse leaves incurved at apex
and very concave, and is put by some botanists in a subgenus of
Hypnum, by others in Hylocomium. The capsules mature in
autumn; they are not as frequent as one would expect from the
abundance of the plants.

Hytocomium rucosum (Ehrh.) DeNot., Wavy Hypnum.
When well developed this is one of the most striking of our
mosses; the stems reach a length of four inches or more, and
with the leaves are as thick as a lead pencil. The branching
may be sparse and irregular or frequent and pinnate. The
rather dense mats are usually bright glossy yellowish-green. The
leaves are 4% inch or more in length, strongly falcate-secund,

. MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 123.

strongly wrinkled or undulate crosswise, with a single costa
running 2-3 the length of the leaf. Small depauperate specimens
may not be recognized at first sight, but the peculiarities of the
leaves are well marked. It never fruits in this part of the world.
Its favorite habitat is on bluffs.

HyLocoMium TRIQUETRUM (L.) B. & S., the Shaggy Moss,
is common on shaded banks that are neither extremely wet nor
very dry. Its branches usually come out irregularly as illus-
trated in the figure and its leaves stand straight out from the
stem, giving it its
characteristic ragged
appearance. Some-
times in moist moun-
tain woods it branches.
regularly and grows
to a height, or rather
length, of five or six
inches, so that one is.
with difficulty per-
suaded that it is the
familiar moss uf every-
day acquaintance.
The stems are very
stout and stiff but
elastic, or “ springy.”
Because of this elas-
ticity this moss is
sometimes used for

lez
we SSS y : :

Se i packing china and

Ws of. other brittle objects.

SS hr Although the Shag-

GS gy Moss is common,

Ficure 58. Hylocomium triquetrum X 13 its capsules are rather
stem leaf X 4.

infrequent. They ma-
ture in winter or early spring; when dry they are often regularly
furrowed with deep wide furrows. The leaves have two slender
parallel nerves reaching about 34 the length of the leaf.

Hypnum cuHrysopHyLtum Brid., the Spreading-leaved
Hypnum, is a moss common on soil, stores, bases of trees, etc., in
shaded swampy places, and on wet cliffs. It is highly variable,
but always has the leaves spreading at nearly right angles whether

Prate XXXIV. 1. Plant of Hypnum chryso-
fhyllum natural size. 15. Capsule of the same. 6, 7,
and B3. Leaves of the same. 9, 7a, and 7b. Leaf,

leaf apex and base of Plagiothecium striatellum.

(From Bry. Eur.).

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 125

wet or dry. The plants are usually slender and creeping; the
leaves are costate and of the shape shown in the figure. The
capsules are not wrinkled and mature in late June.

PLAGIOTHECIUM STRIATELLUM (Brid.) Lindb., the Ribbed
Hypnum, is another moss common in swamps and damp places,
especially at the roots of trees and on peaty hummocks. The
leaves are spreading as in the preceding, but the plants are much
less creeping, the costa is absent, the capsule is plainly wrinkled
when dry much as in Hypnum curvifolium (See Fig. 54), and at
the basal angles are a number of inflated hyaline cells as shown
in the plate. The spores mature in early May in the vicinity of
New York City, where both this and the preceding species are
common. The wrinkled capsules, spreading ecostate leaves, and
early season of maturing spores make this an easy species to
identify. ,

The Hooked Mosses.

Growing on stones, earth, and decayed wood in shaded
swamps, edges of brooks, and shores of lakes and streams, will be
found another type of Hypnum with strongly secund and hooked
leaves. These mosses belong to the sub-genus Harpidium. As a

Ficure 59. Hypnum uncinatum X 1; capsules X 10.

126 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

rule the Hooked Mosses are much larger than the true Hyp-
nums and are seldom or never regularly pinnate. The leaves at
the end of the branches are specially noticeable for their hook-
like appearance. Mounted and examined with a high-power
lens, the leaves will be seen to have a well developed midrib,
which at once distinguishes them from those of the true
Hypnums.

The species of this subgenus are, perhaps, the most puzzling
of any of the Hypnum Family and it is entirely useless to en-
deavor to enable anybody to distinguish the species without the
use of a compound microscope.

Hypnum uncinatum Hedw., the species figured, is the most
common member of the subgenus. It is most frequently found
on damp stones, more rarely on soil. The capsules are usually
produced freely, maturing in autumn.

AMBLYSTEGIUM.

Most Amblystegiums are very slender creeping mosses with
capsules which are often disproportionately large and which
usually take the peculiar position shown in Fig. 60, 31 and 32,
when dry. This peculiar shrinking is not always present; it is
lacking in A. adnatum which has been treated in connection

Hy
Ficure 60. Plants of Amblystegium serpens natural size and capsules
much enlarged.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 127

with Hypnum reptile. Another species, A. irriguum, is treated
in connection with the Water-loving Hypnums. The species as a
rule are hard to determine without a compound microscope and
only one other is included here, although we have a much larger
number of common species.

A. serpens (L.) B. & S., the Creeping Hypnum, is common:
on soil and moist rotten wood in shaded places. As will be seen
from the figures of the plants the leaves are almost too small to
handle readily with forceps, but when mounted a well developed
costa can be made out. The lens, however, will not show the
cells,

Ficure 61. Leaves of Amblystegium serpens, highly magnified.

RAPHIDOSTEGIUM.

R. recurvans (Mx.) J. & S., the Common Raphidostegium,
looks very much like one of the true Hypnums with irregular
branching and secund ecostate leaves. It is a bright yellow-green
and grows in dense mats on rotten stumps and logs in wet
shaded places. It is common throughout our range, but I have
rarely seen it in fruit in the vicinity of New York City. The
chief distinction from the true Hypnums lies in the very short

128 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Ficure 62. Raphidostegium recurvans X 2; capsules < to.
capsules with lid very long beaked, and the enlarged alar cells
like those of Hypnum Haldanianum. Until one becomes familiar
with it, it is hard to recognize unless in fruit. The capsules.
mature in autumn and are often produced in great profusion.

The Water-loving Hypnums.

There are several species belonging to the Hypnum Family
that grow on the stones in the bed of brooks, particularly in
mountain regions. They do not belong to one genus, but their
similarity of habitat, often combined with similarity in appear-
ance, makes it easier to study them together.

Of the Water-loving Hypnums treated here four, H. dilata--
tum, H. ochraceum, Rhynchostegium rusciforme, and Amblyste-
gium irriguum, grow on stones in brooks and are constantly sub-
merged except at the very lowest water. Brachythecium plumosum
is found on stones and soil wet by spray or submerged at high:
water, also in swampy places. Brachythecium rivulare may grow
either in the water or alongside the stream or in very wet swamps.
With the exception of H. ochraceum the four mosses growing in
the water are-almost black except the young growing tips of
stems and branches.

RHYNCHOSTEGIUM RUSCIFORME (Neck.) B. & S., the Beaked’
Water Moss, is the coarsest, with broadly ovate costate leaves
and strongly beaked capsules, which latter mature in September..

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 129

Ficure 63. Rhynchostegium rusciforme * 2; leaf and capsule X 10.

They are light colored and frequently produced in large quantities
and present a very pretty appearance indeed against the dark back-
ground of the leaves.

H. pinatatum Wils., the Round-leaved Hypnum, belongs to
the subgenus Hygrophypnum. Its leaves are suborbicular and

Ficure 64. Hypnum dilatatum X 3; leaves and capsule X 10-

130 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

ecostate. The capsules are not beaked. They mature in July
according to Limpricht, but in autumn according to my obser-
vations. ‘The Round-leaved Hypnum is frequent in mountain
streams, but has formerly been referred to another closely re-
lated species (H. molle Dicks.), a much rarer moss with ovate-
elliptical leaves.

There are several other species of Hygrohypnum that may
be found in water. One of these (H. ochraceum Turn.) may be
recognized by its yellowish or ochre-green color and strongly
secund leaves narrowly obtuse at apex and having the costa
short and double, or single and half the length of the leaf
or mose.

AMBLYSTEGIUM IRRIGUUM (Hook. & Wils.) B. & S. is a
small moss very much smaller than any of the other Water-
loving Hypnums. The leaves are strongly costate to the apex. The
peculiarity of this moss is its harsh gritty feeling, which remains
after being thoroughly washed. This is, perhaps, the blackest of
the four submerged species. The capsules are in good condition
in summer; when dry and empty they assume the characteristic
Amblystegium pose shown in A. serpens, though they are smaller
than in that species.

BRACHYTHECIUM.

The Brachytheciums, as previously stated (p. 114), are dis-
tinguished by their short thick unsymmetric cernuous capsules,
and leaves with a well developed midrib. There are at least two
species of Brachythecium that should be classed among the
water-loving members of the Hypnum Family, although they are
not so thoroughly aquatic as the two species just described.

B. rtvuLare B. & S., the Rivulet Brachythecium, loves best
the wet gravelly soil at the edges of cool swift brooks. Fre-
quently it will entirely cover the gravelly bottom of a mountain
stream that is nearly dry during the summer. It is submerged at
times of high water and never grows in places that become
entirely dry; occasionally it will grow submerged, but even then
it is attached to the gravel at the bottom of the stream and not to
the stones as in the case of the two preceding species. When
growing submerged the stems of the Rivulet Brachythecium be-
come greatly elongated, slender and sparingly branched, with
few and distant leaves. It is always much lighter colored than

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 131

either the Beaked Water Moss or the Round-leaved Hypnum;
the leaves are rather smaller, ovate and obtusely acute. The branch
leaves are usually much smaller than the stem leaves, and are
slenderly pointed. If the stem leaves be carefully removed and
mounted the alar cells will be seen to be quite appreciably larger

|
i
|

FicurEe 65. Brachythecium rivulare X 1; leaf and capsules X Io.

than the others, although not so markedly so as in the Common
Hypnum. The stems are often tall and stout, with a shrub-like
habit. The capsules are not beaked and mature in autumn. If
the seta be examined with a high power lens it will be seen to be
covered with fine papille throughout.

B. prumosum (Sw.) B. & S. grows on rocks in the bed
of brooks, but is not submerged except at high water. The
difference in habit alone is sufficient to distinguish it from
B. rivulare; it is much smaller, darker green, more closely applied
to the substratum, nearly prostrate, with acuminate stem leaves.
The seta is papillose in the upper portion only.

B. popubEuM (Hedw.) B. & S. is a much more slender
species growing on boulders, often near streams, but never on
stones regularly submerged at high water. In this species the
midrib runs to the very apex of the leaf, and the seta is papillose
in the upper part only.

com SY; r Ss

plumosum. s

Pratnr XXXV. Brachythecium plumosum (From Bry. Eur.). 1 and
2. Plants natural size. 2, 3, and 4. Branch leaves. 5-9. Stem leaves.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 133

Two other species of Brachythecium are treated elsewhere
(pp. 121 and 139).

Ficure 66. Leaves and leaf base of Brachythecium populeum (From

Bry. Eur.).

The Beaked Mosses.

As has been previously stated, the Beaked Mosses (Eurhyn-
chium, Rhynchostegium, and Cirriphyllum) are very closely
allied to Brachythecium, differing mainly in the long-beaked oper-
culum. One of these, the Beaked Water Moss, has already been
described on page 129.

There are several species of Beaked Mosses that belong in the
genus Eurliynchium that are fairly common, but it is doubtful if
they can be accurately determined without the aid of the com-
pound microscope.

Euruyncuium uHIANS (Hedw.) J. & S., the Light Beaked
Moss, is very common on sandy soil in the lowlands. It is
abundant in the public parks of Brooklyn, but rarely fruits there.
It prefers damp places, not wet. The leaves spread so that the
branches appear flattened in a horizontal plane. When fresh,
the color is a peculiar shining light yellow-green. The branch
leaves are usually bluntly acute. The capsules are produced
sparingly, maturing in October.

134 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Ficure 67. a. Eurhynchium hians X 2. b, b, Capsules X 10. vu, Leaf X
20. d, Leaf of Rhynchostegium serrulatum X 10.

EURHYNCHIUM STRIGOSUM ROBUSTUM Roell., Common Beaked
Moss. This species is common on the ground, roots of trees
and decaying wood in cool woods, particularly on the sides of
ravines. The plants are about the size of the preceding, but form
closer mats, are a darker green, and are not flattened. The seta
is smooth, while in E. hians it is very rough. One should not
attempt to identify any of the Beaked Mosses for the first time
unless the lids are on some of the capsules, for it can not be
done with certainty.

RHYNCHOSTEGIUM SERRULATUM (Hedw.) J. & S., the Dark
Beaked Moss, is found in a similar habitat, but has a more
southerly and coastwise range, and is more likely to be found
near the base of trees. It is also flattened, but is a rich
green in color and the leaves are much longer and more slenderly
acuminate, as shown in the figure. The seta is smooth.

CrrripHyLLum Boscr. (Schwaegr.) Grout, the Spoon-
leaved Moss, is one of the Beaked Mosses that is easy to recognize
when in its normal condition. It grows in fields among the grass

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 135.

Ficure 68. Cirriphyllum Boscii % 4; branch X 5; leaves and capsule X 10.

and on the ground in woods. Its leaves are very concave, being
shaped much like the bowl of a spoon with a long twisted point
added. The leaves are very regularly imbricated, making the
branches turgid and very markedly julaceous, so that they look
like little glossy yellow-green catkins. Although it gets as far
north as southern Vermont, it is much more abundant south-
wards. It fruits sparingly, the capsules maturing in autumn.

PLAGIOTHECIUM.

The stems and branches of the Plagiotheciums grow close to
that upon which the plant grows (substratum) and the leaves
are apparently in two rows, giving the plants a flattened appear-
ance like that of the Dark and the Light Beaked
Mosses. They are readily separated from the Beaked Mosses
by the fact that the Plagiotheciums have leaves without a midrib.
or else with a very short and double midrib. The capsules are
also an aid, as they are long and slender like those of Hypnum
proper. The species are numerous and difficult to determine.

There are two species everywhere present that may perhaps
be recognized with the aid of a brief description and the accom-

136 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Ficure 69. a, Plagiothecium denticulatum X 2. b, Three capsules of the
same X 10. c, Capsules of P. sylvaticum X to.

panying cuts. Both these species grow on humus in damp woods

and shaded places; they grow at the base of trees and about rocks

where there is a slight layer of humus for their nutrition.

P. penticutatum (L.) B. & &., the Slender Plagiothecium,
is more slender in habit and has nearly symmetrical suberect cap-
sules with the lid not beaked.

P. sytvaticum (Huds.) B. & S., the Woodsy Plagiothecium,
is generally a much coarser plant with larger, curved and cernu-
ous capsules having a long-beaked lid. The capsules of both
species mature in summer.

PYLAISIA.

. Pylaisia affects the habitat of the Grimmia Family in that
it grows on the bark of living trees. It is readily distinguished
from the members of that family by being pleurocarpous, by the
long exserted capsules, by the lighter green color, and by having
the branches somewhat hooked at the end when dry. Old apple
trees in rather dense orchards are a favorite habitat.

P. Scutmpert R. & C., the Common Pylaisia. (P intri-
cata of most authors). It is also common on trees in the
open woods and can be found on the shade trees of almost any
of the smaller New England towns, but does not seem to thrive
near the large cities. The plants grow closely interwoven and
present. the appearance represented in the figure only when dis-
entangled. The erect subcylindric capsules mature in autumn.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 137

Pylaisia seems to be favored by most botanists in spite of
technical objections, so Pylaisiclla is dropped in this edition.

Ficure 70. Pylaisia Schimperi * 10, wet and dry; leaf X 20;
capsule X 10.

ENTODON.*

The Entodons have erect symmetric capsules, ecostate, very
concave leaves and a beautiful glossy yellow-green color that
enables one to recognize them without much trouble. The ma-
jority of the species are flattened, but have the appearance of
being pressed flat instead of having the leaves apparently two-
ranked as in Plagiothecium.

E. sepuctrix (Hedw.) C. Muell., the Round-stemmed Ento-
don, is probably the most common species in the southern portion
of our range. The stems and branches are round and julaceous
with closely imbricated leaves. It grows on rotten wood, soil,
moist rocks, bark of trees, etc.

E. CLADORRHIZANS (Hedw.) C. Muell., the Flat-stemmed En-
todon, is nearly always found on decayed wood, rarely on soil
rich in humus. Its strongly flattened stem and branches easily
distinguish it from the Round-stemmed Entodon. This charac-
ter, together with the peculiar color characteristic of the genus,
will differentiate it from species belonging to other genera.
There are a number of other American species of Entodon that
resemble the Flat-stemaid Entodon, but they are rare and not
likely to be met with. The leaves of both species are very con-
cave, but those of the Flat-stemmed Entodon are larger. Both
species mature their capsules in autumn or early winter.

*Entodon C. Muell —Cylimdrothecium B. & S.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 139

B. acuminatum (Hedw.) Kindb., the Erect Brachythecium,
is often mistaken for the Round-stemmed Entodon. It has a
similar habitat and very nearly the same range. It also has
julaceous light-green branches and erect symmetric capsules.
A careful examination of the leaves will enable one to decide
at once to which of the two any given specimen belongs. The
leaves of the Brachythecium are somewhat smaller, scarcely con-
cave, ovate-lanceolate and gradually acuminate, and strongly
costate. The Erect Brachythecium is an anomaly in the genus
and it and its allies should probably be placed in a separate
genus. It is not related to Entodon, but is treated in connection
with it because of its similarity in appearance. Its capsules are
occasionally somewhat curved. They mature in autumn.

CLIMACIUM. The Tree Mosses.

The Tree Mosses are perhaps the largest of the pleurocarpous
mosses. They are very markedly tree-like in habit and this, to-
gether with their size, has always brought them to the notice
of those accustomed to country life. They are often
mistaken for small forms of the Running Pine (Lyco-
podium). These mosses are common in moist or wet soil,
particularly in wooded swamps, where their favorite habitat is
around the bases of stumps, trees or other similar elevations.
They are also found in moist grassy places, but rarely fruit in the
latter habitat, and infrequently in the former. The erect tree-
like shoots grow from stolons that are partially or wholly under
ground. These continue to grow horizontally, producing new
shoots each year.

C. penproipEs (L.) Web. & Mohr., the European Tree Moss,
and

C. AmericaAnum Brid., the American Tree Moss. The leaves
of the American Tree Moss are usually much more closely
appressed when dry and are much more conspicuously auricled;
its capsules are nearly twice as long as those of the European
Tree Moss. Both species mature their capsules in autumn. The
European Tree Moss is a native of America as well as of Europe,

Pruate XXXVI. a. Entodon cladorrhizans X 1. b. Branch X 5. wu
Leaves X 20. d. Capsules X 10. ec. E. seductrir X 1. £. Branch X 5.
g. Leaves X 20. h. Capsules X 10. i. Leaves of Brachythecium acumina-
tum X 20. j. Capsules of the same X Io.

140 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Ficure 71. a, Climacium Americanum X 1. b, Capsule X 10 ¢,
Branch leaf X 10. d, Branch leaf of C. dendroides X 10. e, Capsule of
the same X Io. :

but it was first described from the Old World. It is more com-
mon northwards, while the American Tree Moss is more com-
mon southwards. Both species are common in New England.
C. Krnppercir (R. & C.) Grout, a third form of the Tree
Mosses is common in swamps in the southern portion of our
range. It grows close to the water and often down into it. It
is prostrate or creeping, and rarely, if ever, assumes a tree-like

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 141

habit. It has previously been called a variety of the American
Tree Moss (C. Americanum var. Kindbergii R. & C.), or Kind-
berg’s Tree Moss. It is named after Dr. N. Conrad Kindberg, of
Linkoeping, Sweden, who has determined Prof. Macoun’s Can-
adian Mosses. This form is very abundant in the swamps of
Long Island. It looks like a very coarse Hypnum with large
erect symmetric capsules. It fruits freely, the capsules maturing
in early autumn.

LEUCODON.

The various species of Leucodon grow almost exclusively
on the bark of deciduous trees; very rarely are any found on dry
rocks. The Leucodons are seemingly able to do without moisture
for considerable periods, as they rarely or never grow at the
base of trees, but at a height of five or six feet and above. The
main stems are long, slender, branching, almost filiform, with
minute leaves and abundant rhizoids. The branches are numer-
ous, suberect, horizontal, or hanging downward and curved out-
ward, usually julaceous and nearly simple. The leaves are con-
cave, with margins recurved below, ecostate, entire, closely
appressed when dry, spreading when moist. The calyptra is
cucullate, often attached below the capsule by the clasping base.
The capsules are exserted or emergent, erect and symmetrical ;
peristome apparently simple, teeth 16, bifid or occasionally trifid ;
inner peristome reduced to a narrow inconspicuous membrane.

We have three species, only one of which, L. scfuroides, is
European. There is considerable difference of opinion as to what
other genera of mosses should be grouped with Leucodon. More
careful study of its development and structure is needed to de-
termine whether its natural relationship is with the Necker-
acez or the Hypnacez.

L. jgunaceus (Hedw.) Sulliv. the Southern Leuco-
don. This species is typically southern, extending north to
Southern New England and corresponding latitudes of the East-
ern United States. The secondary stems are typically shorter
than in the other two species, the branches very round and
julaceous when dry; the leaves closely appressed and imbricate,
not at all secund, ovate-elliptical, abruptly short acuminate, very
concave and scarcely plicate. Capsule long exserted as in L.
sciuroides; teeth bifid at apex.

142 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Easily recognized by its perfectly round stems and smaller,
scarcely plicate, abruptly acuminate leaves.

L. scruroirs (L.) Schwaegr. Forming tufts or mats
of brownish green, lighter green at the tips of the secondary
stems, which are terete and julaceous, more or less drooping and
curved upwards at the ends, rarely 2 inches long, usually not over
I inch, frequently producing such a great number of fagelliform
small-leaved branches as to cause the plant to appear deformed.
Leaves of branches slightly secund, ovate-lanceolate, some-
what decurrent, very long and slenderly acuminate, entire, pli-
cate with several folds. Seta about 4 inch long; capsule ex-
serted; teeth entire or split toward the base. Very rarely fruit-
ing.

Ficure 72. a, Plant of Leucodon brachypus X 1. b, Leaf
of Leucodon brachypus X 20. c, Sporophyte of Leucodon
brachypus X_ 10. d, Leaf of Leucodon julaceus X 20. e,
Sporophyte of Leucodon julaceus X 10. f, Capsule of Leucodon
julaceus X 10.

This is distinguished from L. julaceus by the differ-
ent shape of its leaves. It fruits so rarely that it has to be
differentiated from L. brachypus, which it closely resembles, by

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 143

its leaf apices and flagelliform branches. The secondary stems
are also much shorter than those of well developed L. brachypus.
Probably common in Northeastern United States and Eastern
Canada, but not often collected or else confused with L. brachy-
pus. Collectors should be on the lookout for it.

L. sracnypus Brid., the Northern Leucodon. The
branches average longer and larger than in the preceding species,
less frequently branched. Leaves more strongly secund, plicate,
but with fewer folds than in L. sciuroides; the apex is not nearly
so slender and pointed as in L. sciuroides. The seta is } inch
long, wrapped up in the perichetial leaves, which over-top the
emergent capsule; teeth bifid at apex. The spores mature in winter.

This has about the same range as the last, but extends far-
ther south. Abundant and frequently fruiting in the mountain
regions of Northeastern United States. It extends to Georgia
along the mountains, but is rare south of New York.

FAMILY 20. NECKERACEAE. The Neckera Family.
NECKERA.

N. pennata (L.) Hedw.,* the Feathery Neckera, is found
almost exclusively on the trunks of deciduous trees in cool

fi |

Figure 73. Neckera pennata X 1; leaves X 10; capsules, with and with-
out perichetial leaves X Io.

*The only species likely to be met with in our range.

144 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

moist woods, rarely on ledges or cliffs in similar situations,
Neckera rarely grows near the base of a tree, nearly always
growing well above that portion of the trunk occupied by Ano-
modon or Leskea, and extending upwards to a height of from
twenty-five to fifty feet, according to the size of the trees and
the density of the wood. Neckera is clearly characterized by its
flattened branches, having wavy leaves, and its immersed capsules
pendent from the lower side of the branches. The branches
usually extend out from the tree trunk at an angle of from 45 to
75 degrees. The capsules are produced on the older portions of
the plant, often in great numbers. They mature in summer.

HOMALIA.

HomALIA TRICHOMANOIDES (Schreb.) B. & S. var. JAMESIL
(Scimp.) Holz. Homalia is a very pretty moss frequent on
moist rocks in the mountains. I do not find it fruiting freely,
but it is easily recognized by its flattened branches which look like
a Fissidens or an hepatic. A close examination readily shows
that it is neither, as the leaves are not double at base, and the
midrib is well developed. A favorite place of Homalia is the
underside of overhanging rocks at the base of ledges in cool
mosit ravines, where it often grows in single strands, the pendent
and flattened branches producing a very pretty effect.

FAMILY 21. FONTINALACEAE. Water Moss Family.

LTHOUGH mosses belonging to several other families
are aquatic, the mosses of this family are most
emphatically entitled to the name of Water Mosses.
By some the scientific name is translated more exactly,
and they are called the Fountain Mosses. The mem-

bers of the family are either submerged all the time or attached

to objects that are submerged at some seasons of the year. They
are very dark and usually slender. The midrib is present in

Dichelyma, but lacking in Fontinalis. The seta is usually.short

and wrapped up in the perichetial leaves. The peristome is

double, the inner forming a regular net through the meshes of
which the spores gradually escape.

Pirate XXXVII. Homalia trihomano/des (From Bry. Eur.). 1. Plants nat-
ural size.

Pirate XXXVII. Iixplanation on preceding page.

Prate NNNVIII. Explanation on the next page.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 147

DICHELYMA.

D. capintacktum (Dill.) B. & S. is usually found attached
to the stems of bushes that grow in swamps and on the edges
of ponds. The stems of Cephalanthus are favorite attachments.
The plants are not so long as in Fontinalis, and the branches
are usually curved at the ends as shown in figure 4 of the

Ficure 84. Branch of Fon-
tinalis dalecarlica.

plate. The leaves are very long
and narrow and the costa stout
and excurrent. The capsules are
much like those in Fontinalis.
The spores mature in late summer.

FONTINALIS. The Water
Mosses.

In the genus Fontinalis all
the species are aquatic and sub-
merged. Some grow attached to
stones and sticks in swift brooks.
Others are found attached to
objects in ponds and_ sluggish
streams. Rarely, if ever, are they
found in stagnant water. The
Water Mosses are so. distinct
from all others in their long
slender floating stems and branches
that no one can fail to recognize
them. The species are, however,
very difficult to determine, with
two or three exceptions.

FoNTINALIS GIGANTEA Sulliv.,
the Giant Water Moss, is common
in cool brooks and is most dis-
tinct by reason of its large turgid
three-cornered stems and branches.
The branch shown in the plate is
a very short one; the branches are

Prate XXXVIII. Dichelyma capillaceum (From Bry. Eur.). 1-4. Plants
natural size.

148 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

sometimes a foot or more long. The Giant Water Moss rarely
fruits.

FonTINALIS DALECARLICA B. & S., the Common Water Moss,
is everywhere abundant and usually fruits freely, the capsules
maturing in summer. As will be seen from the plate, the cap-
sules are almost entirely covered by the perichetium and are
borne on the older portions of the plant from which the leaves
have fallen. One must not be too sure that he has found this
species until he has studied it with a compound microscope, as
there are several other common species that are not readily
distinguished from it.

This last statement has particular force from the fact that the
branch figured in b, plate XXXIX, is not F. dalecarlica as was
stated in the First Eprrion, but

F. NovaE-ANGLIAE Sulliv., which was collected from the same
brook and almost intermingled with F. dalecarlica which was
figured natural size in the same plate. The figure-of a branch of
F. dalecarlica from the Bryologia Europea will enable one to dis-
tinguish the two species in most cases.

Pirate XXXIX. a, Fontinalis dalecarlica X Y%. b, Branch X 5 of F.
Novae-angliae. c, Portion of plant bearing capsules xX 5. d, A_ short
branch of F. gigantea.

eK FSF

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS I5l

HEPATICAE. Hepatics,

HERE has been a considerable demand for a simple bool<
on the hepatics. To meet this demand I have prepared
this treatment of the subject. With the Queen 14-inch
achromatic triplet I am able to make out the more
minute structures mentioned in the keys. Many of

them, especially leaf structure, can not be made out satisfactorily

unless the objects be mounted in water on a slide in the same
manner as for a compound microscope.

In working up the key I have been surprised to find that
sterile hepatics are, as a rule, much easier to identify than sterile
mosses. Many of the species maturing their spores in early
spring have the spores and capsules pretty fully developed in the
preceding autumn so that some of the sporophyte characters
are nearly always accessible. Hepatics shrivel more than mosses
in drying and are best studied while fresh, especially the thalloid
forms.

A few of the rare genera are omitted and some of the minute
or difficult species are not included.

The Germans call the true mosses Laubmoose, meaning leafy
mosses, and the hepatics, Lebermoose, or liver mosses. The
name Liverwort was originally applied to Marchantia because of
its fancied resemblance to the liver. Because of this resemblance
it was supposed to be a specific for all liver troubles according
to the old doctrine of signatures. From this came the Latin
name Hepaticae and the German Lebermoose. “Thus does the
language of ignorant superstition become the adopted language
of science.”

The chief distinctions between mosses and hepatics have been
noted in the introduction, but a few additional notes here may
prove helpful.

The hepatics may be leafy stemmed and appear much like
mosses, or they may consist of a broad, flat and rather thin
plant body (thallus) which is usually closely applied to the
substratum. These thalloid hepatics might be mistaken for some
of the foliaceous lichens, but the hepatics are always much
greener and produce spores in a very different manner. Hepatics
generally grow in moist situations on soil, roots of trees, and
decaying wood.

In the leafy-stemmed hepatics, often called Scale Mosses, the

152 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

leaves are without midrib and are nearly always in two ranks and
usually flattened so as to lie in one plane, but in the great
majority of cases there is a third rudimentary row on the under
side which are called underleaves, or amphigastria by those de-
voted to technical names. The pedicel which corresponds to the
seta of the mosses does not, as a rule, grow much until the spores
are nearly ripe, when it elongates very rapidly. The pedicels
and capsules are of a much more delicate structure than in the
mosses so that they disappear soon after the spores have escaped,
but the peculiar and characteristic scales or bracts around the
base of the pedicel often remain much longer and help greatly
in identifying species.. Immediately surrounding the base of the
pedicel is a tubular, somewhat three-sided organ called the inner
involucre or perianth, surrounding this is the outer involucre,
called simply involucre by many authors. This latter may be either
tubular or composed of separate leaf-like divisions of varied
shapes, called involucral leaves or bracts, or perichaetial leaves or
bracts, or simply bracts. Either one, or even both, of these
involucres may be lacking in some species.

So far as possible gametophyte characters have been used in
the keys and descriptions and in the great majority of cases
identification is easy from this part of the plant alone.

Owing to the difficulty of getting authentic material in condi-
tion suitable for use in making drawings, many drawings have
been borrowed from various sources to illustrate plants that
would otherwise have been illustrated with original work.

KEY TO FAMILIES.

Plants leafy, mosslike in appearance except for the two-ranked leaves
with midrib entirely lacking........ Scale Mosses (Jungermanniaceae).
Plants consisting of a flattened green thallus, sometimes nearly
circular but usually elongated and branching. (See illustrations
of Riccia, Marchantia, Anthoceros, etc.)...-.......0ceeeeeeee scase's whe

1. Capsules, if present, immersed in the tissue of the plant. Plants
floating on the surface of still water or growing on the mud along

the banks. ee te a ee ee ee Riccias (Ricciaceae in part).
Capsules raised well above the thallus. Plants often growing
in mud, but never floating, 24.4 sesciss s cpesonie san ieee eemisiae Hales e a

«. Stomata (in our genera) present, easily discernible with a lens
as small pores on the upper surface of the rather thick thallus;
capsule borne on a special stalked receptacle as in Mar-

Chantia 2.0.06. cece cece eee ence renee Liverworts (Marchantiaceae).
Stomata not present on the thinner thallus; capsules never
borne on a special stalked receptacle.......... 0.0... cee eee cece 3-

3. Capsules usually very long and slender, splitting into two valves

when ripe after the manner of a mustard pod, the slender hairlike
columella remaining in the center.Horned Liverworts (Anthocerotaceae).

Capsules globular or ovoid, splitting into four valves; columella
JaChiN Ss e-sicsirsnerad ays aaiande ne Thalloid Scale Mosses (Metzgeriaceae).

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 153

RICCIA.

Two of our Riccias included here are readily recognized by
reason of their floating habit, in spite of the fact that the
capsules are rarely observed.

R. ruurrans L,., the Slender Riccia, consists of a very thin
slender floating thallus, repeatedly forking (dichotomous) and
often intertangled so as to form small mats. The thallus is very
narrow, x; to + inch in width and from % to 2 inches long.
Floating, it has no roothairs but it frequently is left on muddy
banks where it sends out numerous roothairs into the soil.
Rather rare.

Ficure 75. MRiccia fuitans (After Bischoff.) P. Plants natural size.
Q. Portion of the thallus with fruit seen from above. R. The same seen
from below. S. Cross section of frond through imbedded capsule.

Ricctocarpus NATANS (L.) Corda, the Purple-fringed Riccia,
is a very different looking plant with its branches obcordate or
wedge-shaped, %4 to % inch long and nearly as broad. There is a
strongly marked furrow along the middle of each branch and an
abundance of slender purplish scales underneath. The stomata
are large and easily seen with a hand-lens. Frequent in stagnant
ponds.

154 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

ANTHOCEROTACEAE. The Horned Liverworts.
It will be difficult for the
beginner to recognize the Horned
Liverworts without capsules, but
with a compound microscope they are
easily known by the single large
chlorophyll grain in each cell.

This character is very plainly
seen with the high power hand-lens,
the whole tissue of the thallus ap-
pearing filled with large green balls,
quite unlike the diffused green of
other plants. In fruit, the peculiar
capsule, which is responsible for the
common name, is unmistakable. It
splits into two halves like a mustard
pod and the columella remaining in
the center increases the similarity.

ANTHOCEROS.

We have two species that are
fairly common on moist soil and are

Ficure 76. Recctocarpus often found growing together.
a’ piints natural size. @ =CA.sLanis, «Lhe Yellow
The same enlarged. Spored Anthoceros, is known by its
brownish or yellowish capsules and yellow spores.

A. punctatus L., the Black Spored Anthoceros, has both
capsules and spores black. The spores of both species mature

in autumn (Sept.-Oct.).

NOTOTHYLAS.

N.orBicuLaris (Schwein.) Sulliv.,
which might be called the Short-
horned Liverwort,is like Anthoceros
except for the very short capsules
which are exserted only a little way
and split only half way down. The
Ficure 77, a, Sterile thallus is 1% to 34 of an inch in

and b, fertile thallus of An- : i *
thoceros punctatus X 2 & 1. diameter; capsules #; to 4 inch

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 155

in length; spores light yellowish-brown,
maturing in autumn. Widely distributed
but apparently not abundant.

The Horned Liverworts are the highest
of the Bryophyta and by many are consid-
ered as the ancestors of the Ferns, but they
are put here for convenience, as they are
sure to be sought with the other thalloid
hepatics.

MARCHANTIACEAE,
The True Liverworts.

Ficurt 78. No- The plants of this family consist of a
tothylas orbicurlaris thallus of medium to large size, one-half to
(After Sullivant.) six inches in length, usually branching

dichotomously but sometimes with more
than two branches at a fork. They are attached to the substratum
by numerous roothairs and are thickened in the middle to form
a midrib. This in some cases is not very apparent above but
shows plainly underneath. The upper surface is covered with
small pores (stomata) which are very apparent with a lens,
except in Reboulia. The capsules are spherical or ovoid and
open irregularly by imperfect valves or by a portion of the top
coming off after the manner of a lid. In this family the capsules
and usually the antheridia are borne on special long-stalked
receptacles well illustrated by the familiar Marchantia.

KEY TO THE GENERA,

1. Sterile stems bearing abundant gemmz in shallow open receptacles...2

Sterile stems without gemmx .......... cece ccc cece ewer ee enee 3
z. Found only in and around greenhouses; gemmez in crescent-
shaped receptacles; never fruiting in our region 3b Be fa owe isha Lunularia.

Growing abundantly everywhere; gemme in cup-shaped re-
ceptacles; capsule-bearing receptacles with 7 to 11 conspicuous

BAYS* - a aleigon isis pausensyar enter ss scaeengheyn ttleusia We ayauerasnely seopaiare abeusi cpa Marchantia.
3. Thallus large; 2 to 6 inches long and % ‘inch or more wide, dis-
tinctly areolate as in Marchantia, but areole larger and hex-

agonal: << amas t9 tame'y sdgte ao 2aisiee peau weieueacs Deus Hote Conocephalum.
Thallus less than two inches in length and much less than %
inchs, “in: WA Eh go Seb Be eee ge aarh te apheicrS leroy otoasie osu tes tate ener ebPao- tones 4

4. Pores (stomata) scarcely distinguishable; antheridia’ in sessile
receptacles which might be mistaken for gemme-bearing cups;
thallus purple on the margins; midrib strong underneath but not
CONSPICUOUS. AbOVE. cai ss pica domes es swes wo aE WH ede KOE BE Reboulia.
Pores conspicuous, white; antheridia in peduncled disk-like re-

ceptacles; thallus with numerous dark purple scales under-

TCAth cases ds RARER ed Keds vate asaya eee yest e oe Preissia.
Pores conspicuous; antheridia immersed in the thallus; thallus

purple underneath, at least along the margins................. 5

150 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

5. Perianth conspicuous, split into 8 to 16 fringe-like lobes; peduncle
not chaffy; plants with a noticeable odor...............--. Asterella.
Perianth lacking; peduncle chaffy at top and bottom...... Grimaldia.
(The Reboulia of this key is the Asterella of Gray’s Manual and the
Asterella is the Fimbriaria of that work.)

Ficure 79. Marchantia polymorpha. 1. Sterile thallus with gemmae. 2.
Male plant a little reduced, showing antheridial receptacles. 3. Longitudinal
section of antheridial receptacle magnified. 4. Female plant reduced showing
the stalked receptacles which characterize this family. These receptacles vary
in the family from the shape shown in this figure to almost perfectly conical
and entire. 5. Section of a part of a female receptacle magnified, showing
two sporogonia. The seta of one has elongated, pushing the capsule out
from the outer fringe (involucre) and the inner fringe (perianth). At the
base of the seta_is a little collar representing the base of the broken
calyptra. (From Bryotocist, 4734-35, 1901.)

? ?
CONOCEPHALUM AND MARCHANTIA.

C. contcum (L.) Dum. and M. porymorpHa L. are the
only two species of this family common enough to be often
collected by amateurs. They are both large, 2-5 inches or more
in length, grow on moist banks, and are somewhat similar in

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 157

appearance, but the surface of
Marchantia is marked off into
diamond shaped areas, called areo-
lae, with a stoma in the center of
each, while in Conocephalum the
areolae are larger, and hexagonal
in the center of the thallus to
oblong-hexagonal on the margin,
with the stoma so large as to
be visible to the naked eye. Re-
J ceptacles which bear the capsules

Ficure 80. Conocephalum are very different also as is shown
conicum (After Bischoff.) by the figures. The capsules of
Conocephalum mature in April, those of Marchantia in June and
July. The stalked receptacles may assume their characteristic
form much earlier.

LUNULARIA.

L. cructata (L.) Dum. Any
one who has ever had to do with
green houses must have noted the
beautiful green thalli of this plant.
Small plants are sometimes mistaken
for large fern prothallia, but the
crescent shaped receptacles filled
with gemmae are abundant on all the
larger plants and render them easy
of recognition. This plant is in-
troduced from Europe and has but
once been reported as fruiting in

Ficure 81. _Ewularia this country. (Bryologist, Sept.
cruciata (After Bischoff.) 1902.)

ASTERELLA.

A. TENELLA (L.) P. de Beauv. (Fimbriaria tenella Nees.) is
fairly common on damp earth. The sterile fronds are often
dichotomously branched and reach nearly an inch in length. The
thallus is purple on the margins and has purple scales under-

158 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

neath. In fruit the fringed perianth is unmistakable. The spores
mature in April and May.

Ficure 82. Asterella tenella (After Bischoff.) A. Group of fruiting
plants natural size. E. Section through the fruiting receptacle. The other
figures are self explanatory. The drawing at the right shows underside of
thallus x 2. ax

PREISSIA.

P. guaprRAta (Scop.) Nees. (P. commutata of authors). The

: Ficure 83. Preissia commutata (After Bischoff.) A.
Antheridial plants natural size. B. Underside of anthe-
ridial receptacle.’ D & .E. Fruiting receptacles.’ G. Peri-
anth open; a, perianth; b, calyptra; c, capsule.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 159

thallus varies from 1-3 inches in length and also has purple
margins and purple scales underneath. There are abundant
raised pores all over the surface. The perianth is inconspicuous
and on the upper surface of the female receptacles are ribs alter-
nating with the lobes (four or less). The peduncle is at first
covered with hairs which mostly disappear except at base and
apex. The spores are mature in early spring. This species is
perhaps most likely to be mistaken for Marchantia because of its
large size and stalked male discs.

GRIMALDIA.

G. Fracrans (Balb.) Corda (G.
sessilis Sulliv.) is distinguished by
the peduncle, hairy at base and apex;
female receptacle without alternating
ribs, and antheridia in a disk im-
mersed in the apex of the thallus. The
thallus also has purple margins and
purple scales. Its spores mature in
May, but in the autumn the spots from
which the female stalk and receptacle
develop are densely covered with
Finns (eee Biches slender white Scales. forming a
part of male and female Whitish spot visible for several feet.
plants; section of male disk; In Reboulia the scales are much
female receptacle, etc. fewer and are more like hairs. ©

Ficure 84. Grimaldia

i)
’
REBOULIA. “ ¢ ..

R. HEMISPHAERICA (L.) Raddi.
This species resembles Preissia in
size and appearance, but is distin-
guished by its very small stomata,
two toothed purple scales, and sessile
dusky purple male receptacles. The
spores mature in late autumn.

; Like Grimaldia the thallus of
Ficurg 85. Reboulia Rehoulia bears a number of white
hemisphaerica (After Bis- 5
choft.) slender scales in autumn around the

nts

160 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

place from which the female receptacle will develop, but the scales
are much fewer in number and are like hairs, while in Grimaldia
they are x of an inch or more wide.

METZGERIACEAE. The Thalloid Scale Mosses.

The spore bearing portion of plants of this family is like
that of the Scale Mosses, but the green part of the plant is a
thallus instead of a leafy stem in nearly all cases. There are,
however, some intermediate forms in the family in which the
thallus is divided into leaflike lobes. The thallus is much less
highly differentiated than in the Liverworts and Riccias; there
are no areole or pores (stomata), and the thallus is much thin-
ner than in the Liverworts, in some species consisting of only
a single layer of cells except at the midrib. The capsules are
borne singly on sete arising directly from the thallus. They are
spherical to elongated-ovoid and remain enclosed in the calyptra
until mature, when the sete rapidly elongate and break open the
calyptra which is left at the base of the seta. The capsules open
by four valves as in many of the Scale Mosses. A careful
search of wet bare earth in shaded or springy places will
nearly always yield one or more species of this family.

KEY TO THE GENERA.

a, Dhallus with <a. distinct midst... 5 jcoi9w pees cette ed sleeve a elenaves oi Z
Thallus without a distinct Md ribs 6 coc s.e scsia es 3 bares w aeedia a Bareand 4

2. Thallus ys to js inch wide, dichotomously branched, ciliate
alone the: Margins ass viais sven s MR a eta Same hoes Metzgeria.

3. Thallus simple or only once forked, 1 to 4 inches long, pros-
trate; margins sinuate to entire; capsule ovoid-cylindric. ..Pallavicinia.
Thallus dichotomously branched 3% to 1% inches long, often

densely clustered and ascending, margins lobed; capsules
spherical without perianth, appearing buried in the midrib

for some time before the ripening of spores (Fig. 88)...... Blasia.
4. Thallus pinnately or palmately branched, 2 to js inch wide
CEXCEPE Rs PIN SUlS) sashes eed 2 see bye 2M eee Sh Sadie gies Same ede hoe Riccardia.

Thallus subsimple or dichotomously branched, % to % inch in
Width: \CPig!. 00): + srersiowcmaay eaeaten antes 2 Hes aeees Sais e Pellia.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 161

METZGERIA.

M. conysucata Lindb.
is the only Metzgeria likely
to be found. It is appar-
ently not common but will
be easily recognized by its
narrow (3's inch) thallus
dichotomously branched,
with very distinct midrib.
The capsules arise from
the underside of the thallus.
and when open bear a tuft
of hairlike “elater bearers ”

Ficurr 86. Plants (male, female and on the tip of each of the

gemme-bearing) of Mcetzgeria furcata four valves. The perianths
(After Hooker.) ©The smallest plants af ith :

are rather larger than natural size. So @T€ hispid, with a tiny two-
far as the drawings go they represent our |obed bract at the base
M. conjugata equally well except the plant 2 3 .
eed gemini: sane eyane by Miss The spores ripen in sum-

ayer at the right shows the gemme
along the sides oe the thallus ae mM, mer. The plants grow “On.

conjugata X 5. bases of trees and on rocks
in damp cool places, most frequently in elevated regions.

PALLAVICINIA.

P. Lyewur S. F. Gray (Steetzia
of authors) has a flat creeping thallus,
4 to nearly %4 inch wide, sometimes
reaching four inches in length, with
margin somewhat sinuate, but not
lobed. The thallus is very thin, almost
transparent when dry, with a very con-
spicuous midrib and is simple, or not
more than twice branched in the larg-
est plants. The capsules are cylindric

Ficure 87. Pallavicinia with a fringed perianth surrounded
Lyellii (After —Sullivant.) .
Plant; part of thallus with by short involucral bracts. The
oe bf spores are ripe in April. It is widely
away to show young calyp- distributed east of the Rocky Moun-
on ural, cieeen 4 ee tains, but is probably more abundant
in a leaf; elater and spores. southwards; growing among mosses

in swampy places and on moist rocks and soil.

162 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

BLASIA.

B. pusizA L. is one of the most common of the Thalloid
Scale Mosses having a distinct midrib; the midrib is not,
however, quite so conspicuous as some of the books indicate. It
grows flat on the ground when the plants are few and scattered,
but when crowded they become ascending and grow in thick
curly tufts like miniature lettuce. The plants are dark green,
or even purple, with very distinct almost leaflike lobes along
the sides, occupying from %4-'%4 the entire width of the thallus.
If the plants be held up to the light two dark dots will usually
be seen at the base of each lobe. These are peculiar structures
known as “leaf-auricles.. The spores mature in early spring,
but in July and August the young capsules can be seen inclosed
in the end of the midrib in the female shoots. When ripe the
capsule is elevated on a seta 14-1 inch in height. There is no
perianth except the broken tissue of the thallus. A fluffy mass
consisting of spores and elaters often remains for some time
in the center of the capsule. Flask-shaped bodies like those
shown in the illustration are usually abundant on sterile stems;
these bear large numbers of gemmae. Pellia often grows mixed
with Blasia and as its midrib is frequently as plain as that of
Blasia it may be confused with
it, but the margins of Pellia are
sinuate and less plainly lobed
and the roothairs are brown
while in Blasia they are white.
The dark dots at the base of
the lobes distinguish Blasia

Heusd 8). Blsia dustin 4: from Pellia and from all other
Fertile plant in August natural plants likely to be confused

size, showing capsule in position. : : : :
‘At the side is shown the capsule with it. Moist springy road-

removed from the thallus. b. sides are favorable places
Sterile plant with flask-shaped a
bodies which produce gemme. for Blasia.
,
PELLIA.

P. gprpHytia (L.) Corda., the Common Pellia, is one of
the commonest objects on moist banks. It should be sought for
early in May when the slender delicate sete bearing the open
four-valved capsules are striking objects to one who is looking

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 163

for small things. Besides the ordinary elaters, which are so small
as to be scarcely recognized, there are a large number of con-
spicuous “fixed elaters”’ that remain attached to the center of
the open capsule, appearing like a tuft
of brownish hairs. The dark or pur-
plish-green thalli frequently cover the
ground for several inches. The thallus
may reach an inch in legnth by % Hidurd 862. Pelia’ ep
inch in width at apex, but is usually phyla. Thallus natural
: : : size showing involucre and
smaller. It is simple or dichotomously position of capsule as it ap-
branched, with margins sinuate to Pears in August.
irregularly lobed and is nearly always notched at the end. In
summer if one looks just back of this notch he will see a little
flap covering a little hole into the thallus. In August the young
capsule will be found in this hole as a
little round dark globule, although the
spores are not ripe until the next
spring. This little flap is the involucre.
There is no perianth, but the calyptra
is so large when mature that it might
be mistaken for one. Along the center
of the thallus may be seen little pim-
ples which are the places where the
antheridia are produced. These are
well illustrated in Fig. go.
P. ENDIVIAEFOLIA (Dicks.) Dum. and
Ficure 90... Peitia ebb P. Nersiana (Gottsche) Limpr. are
phylla (After Hooker) plant; found within our range. Both are
calyptra with lower part o ae
pedicel; an later: two dioicous and have none of the pimple-
spores; and two antheridia. Ji1¢ antheridial dots on the plants bear-
ing involucres. In both, the involucres are tubular as shown in

Fig. ot. In P. Neesiana the involucres are about 7 inch in
1

height and in P. endiviacfolia about twice as long. In fruit P.
endiviacfolia is distinguished by the fluffy mass of fixed elaters
remaining at the bottom of the capsule; they are nearly 4 inch

long, two or three times as long as in the other two species.

a
RICCARDIA (Aneura Dumort).
RiccaArRpia (ANEURA Dumort) differs from other members of
the family in its pinnate or palmate branching. There is almost
no apparent costa, the root hairs are comparatively few, and the

164 MOSSES

WITH A HAND-LENS

open capsules bear a tuft of ‘elater-bearers” at the end of the

valves as in Metzgeria:

into two groups, the first with thallus narrow, about

Ficure ot. Thallus of
P. Neesiana and portion of
thallus viewed from _ the
side, showing the tubular
involucre. The middle
figure shows the capsule of
P. epiphylla in position with
involucre removed. This is
the condition in August. In

Necstana the capsules
have not developed at this
season.

Riccardia

Ficure
multifida, twice natural size.

92.

lon’ in the

For convenience they may be divided
sz to
ts inch wide, and the second with
thallus } to $ an inch wide. There
is little danger of confusing the plants
of the first group with other plants,
except perhaps. Metzgeria or Riccia
fluitans, in which the branching is dis-
tinctly dichotomous and the thallus
costate, and in Riccia the plants are
floating-aquatic.

R. vatirrons Lindb. Thallus
palmately divided something like the
horns of a stag, about an inch long,

end branches 7s to 4% inch long,
about ss inch wide. The spores ripen
in April and May (Warnstorf). This

species nearly always grows on de-
cayed wood and the next on soil. Both
favor cool moist situations.

R. muntiria (L.) Dum. is one
two inches long, bipinnately
branched, often much more’ regu-
larly and evenly so than indicated
figure; branches rather
narrower than in the preced-
ing; spores ripening about the
same time. Usually growing on
moist banks.

There are three other species
within our range, but they are
scarcely to be distinguished with
a hand-lens.

R. pincuis (L.) 8. F. Gray of the second group is found

throughout our range on wet humus.

of Gray’s Manual.
Howe states that the

It includes the R. sessilis

larger forms when sterile may be mis-

taken for sterile forms of Pellia and that the “ Distinguishing
marks are the pinnate instead of dichotomous branching, apices
rounded rather than emarginate, texture more rigid when dry

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 165

and a lustre as if saturated with some oleaginous compound.”
The thallus is 1-2 inches long and } to } inch in width. It
is slightly lobed or sinuate. Spores in spring.

JUNGERMANNIACEAE. The Scale Mosses.

The reproductive part of the
Scale Mosses, including the ripened
capsule and its connected parts, per-
ianth, involucre, etc., is essentially as
in the Thalloid Scale Mosses, but the
vegetative part strongly resembles the
true mosses in general appearance.
The leaves, however, are apparently
flattened out into two rows, one on
either side of the stem. They are en-
tirely without midrib and are fre-
quently two-cleft or lobed. One of the
lobes is often smaller and folded under . ,

fi FIcuRE 93. Riccardia
the other, making the leaves “com- pinguis (After Sullivant).
plicate-bilobed,” in the language Portions of male and female

eee i plants; vertical section of
of the books; this is shown in the the fleshy calyptra; male re-

illustrations of Radula and Por- ee ae eee
ella. This can best be made out °@Psule, spores, and later.
by holding a single stem up to the light and examining with a
lens, when the under lobe will show plainly as a deep shadow.
In Scapania, the under lobe is the larger and the plants look as
if there were four rows of leaves. The lower lobe is often called
the lobule and the upper simply the lobe. Very many species
have a third row of leaves on the under side of the stem called
technically “amphigastria’’ or under leaves; these vary in size
from one-third the size of the ordinary leaves to so minute
that high powers of the compound microscope are needed
to see them clearly. The upper margin of the leaves
may overlap the lower margins of the leaves next
above as in Porella, or the upper margin of a leaf may lie
under the lower margin of the leaf next above as in Plagiochila.
In the former case the leaves are said to be incubous, in the latter
succubous. As this distinction is in most cases easy to observe,
it is given a prominent part in the key. Occasionally the leaves
are so far apart that it is hard to determine the leaf arrangement,

166 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

but a careful search will usually discover some plants in which
this character can be seen. In plants with incubous leaves the
bud is turned downward; whea the leaves are succubous the ter-
minal bud is turned up. So far as possible the key has been based
upon the leafy or vegetative portions of the plants, but in some
few cases the characters connected with the reproductive organs
and capsules are necessary to accurately determine a plant. In
most cases the characters used can be determined without mount-
ing; if, however, they can not be readily made out the parts
should be mounted as for the compound microscope. If one has
access to a compound microscope it will often prove a very great
help, although not necessary to make out the characters men-
tioned. Mnium and Fissidens are sure to be mistaken for
Hepatics by the beginner unless the midrib or the leaves is
noted.

KEY TO THE GENERA:

1. Leaves entirely or in large part composed of hair-like divi-
sions (easily observed if held up towards a strong light).......... 2
Waves! NO’ AS iADOVE wi 4% suesnsitse oy are ro Alig tola,nsiisayeriao Sdaenn 420 Mapeaueied 18:8 Vesa GSU ae 3.
z Plants grayish green, growing over the ground amid mosses
in cool bogs, at least twice pinnate and somewhat resem-
bling the Fern Mosses; leaves divided to base into hair-like
IOBES. 3. af ae cen etdais eu Gama e HomlG.b AeA TALC ARMS eee Trichocolea.
Plants dark green, much smaller, growing chiefly on rotten
wood, but also found on humus-covered stones and _ soil;
leaves with a considerable undivided POTHOM 6 ces ye: sesmarers Ptilidium.
Plants exceedingly minute, looking like a small green alga or
moss protonema; common on decayed wood, moist soil,
CEO oie Sees 6 Serena e Heeainls Saat ae edn Gas wad As are ateaee Blepharostoma.
Bs Weave! Te ubOUs: sxe siave-s scasusse-w seo ene eee we do rcigagys Siem agacuene th sae A
eae Chiloscyphus, and Cephalozia forms may ,be sought
here

Leaves suceubeus scsiesvacegonecsa Lg as Sie aed e saeee ehh AMES SP B.
ak

1. Leaves complicate-bilobed, upper lobes entire or nearly so
(except Jubula). See figures and description of Porella........ 2.
Leaves sometimes lobed or cleft but not complicate-bilobed........ 5.

z. Plants blackish- or brownish-green, minute, ay stems ds
inch or less wide, lobule like an inflated sac (Fig. 94.)....Frullania.

Plants often dark olive-green, but not often Maekicke oe
inch in width, lobule not saclike........... ccc eee eeeee eee 3.

3. Under leaves lacking; perianth strongly flattened crosswise
EI EMOG erat, Bo iGcl ise: oe Puy a Welles Gah ees tle os Mendevtene > t So opiemsver neers Mh Radula.

Underleaves conspicuous
4. Lobule with its longer edge attached to lower margin of
lobe (See Fig. 98); plants small; branches arising below
A VEAE: sed vas ieyse vad 2 aaclna cl 8 Mbt A alah eh iteal Sag ce thar bee cscs orice Lejeunea.
Lobule with its shorter margin attached to the lower edge of
lobe Fig. 096), plants large; i- tri-pinnate; branches
axillary...

Porella.

5. Leaves mostly entire . Kantia.

Leaves strongly toothed, wotched, or cleft at epeks. ssa escwss size 6.

6. Leafy stems i than #5 inch in width; leaves” deeply cleft. Lepidozia.
Leafy stems jg to } inch in width, with downward growing

stolons (Fig. TO7)3 IEAVES tOGHEDy eiic.0.3 so g's aiden watwna sexe Bazzania.

13;

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 167

Leaves complicate-bilobed, lobes nearly equal or the tower
larger giving the appearance of four rows of leaves of
which the two upper are incubous and the two lower suc-

CUDGUS:. 5 %- 2- weaces ey Lee KER pees Te Ae ee Dae peahania,
Leaves not complicate- bilobed, in some cases toothed or divided.... 2.
Leaves entire or slightly emarginate......... 0... cece ee eee eee 3:
Some or usually all of the leaves strongly toothed or lobed......... 8.

Leafy stems about } inch wide, leaves oblong, plainly over-
lapping; on ground and over mosses
Plants about } inch wide, many leaves not overlapping, floating-

AC LAGI CSs sc sa cage ageestaisnawn aptnlenent i ory Chiloscyphus polyauthos var. rivularis.
Leafy stems jj, inch wide or less; leaves more nearly circular...... 6.
Plants ascending, growing on stones and very wei soii near

brooks. dark green; leaves round-obovate.............. Plagiochila.
Plants closely applied to substratum of rotten wood, humus,

or soil, sometimes creeping over other hepatics and mosses;

light-green; sometimes turning dark when dried; leaves

oblome: to) woblompsowat Oi acavsr-sse:stace.al ievevecn seis wt daw wr adshiernie, dab yur a lalate oi ened he.
Perianth pear-shaped to tubular, abruptly narrqwed to the

MINUtE “OPENING sc 3 sesuier os crcags seria esau Jiungermannia lanceolata.
Perianth three-angled, plainly lobed at the top..... ....Chiloscyphus.
Leaves plainly oun apices curved upwards toward €ach——__

Other When Ey pis pada a ninmen-o dues wo guy as 14.948 YLATRE bags Gm O79,

Leaves not margined, | apices reflexed when dry ........ Fanieowielia.
Leaves not margined, apices curved upwards (incurved),
When, dty s 2scecsuceuee a vasie wees ¢ Redes SARS Odontoschisma-

Leaves obliquely attached to the stem, bordered by a single

row of very large square cells which are easily seen with

high: ower IenSiocccdinpae sccsmisecie sigene sitneomne sun ioe Nardia crenulata.
Leaves attached to the stem almost parallel with its jong

axis, bordered by several rows of denser cells with thicker

walls: ga 5 os her accies wet ats a heeg or gees lees oatios - Odontoschisma.
Upper leaves with a strongly many toothed margin. Plagiochila.
LGAVES 3925; CLEP Baseteie a: eat sntng oaalantincrvstedare io Serenaiaranenéonts -Lophozia barbata-
Leaves two-toothed or cleft ‘ 9-
Plants minute, leafy stems less than inch wide; underleaves

absent or so small as to be invisible with a lens; leaves
round-ovate to obovate, cleft for at least 14 their length. .Cephalozia.
(Some _ small species of Lophozia may be sought here,
but their leaves are less deeply cleft and the plants are a
much darker green).
Leafy stems at least 3!, inch wide; leaves two-toothed, but
scarcely cleft
Leaves ascending, varying from bidentate to retuse or even
entire near apex of stem; leafy stems jg inch or more

Wi Ge i longs Saerslimnincy wstnaninss (ote ia at atadeahsnlesera encise Lophocolea heterophylla.
Leaves all two-toothed or Cleft.......cssscseesseeeeseeeeeeee veel
Leaves little longer than broad, concave, ascending................ Ty
Leaves much longer than broad, oblong to subrectangular,

lying flat on the ground; leafy stems at least ys inch wide........ 13.
Leaves subquadrate, inserted crosswise of the stem and sub-

VASP ITVS ssnshecans an srravigacee drs cengcasa shape aurluar acruaiebne Sphenolobus Michawxti.

Leaves roundish-ovate, inserted obliquely, not clasping...Harpanthus.
Underleaves so large as to be made out with a lens; perianth
ascending from end of stem or branch................. Lophocolea.
Under leaves small and not discernible with a lens; perianth
buried in the substratum, attached to the side of the stem.Geocaly.r-

it 4 hy : 8

168 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

“LEAVES COMPLICATE-BILOBED.

FRULLANIA.

F. Ezoracensis Gottsche. Any one who has been in the
woods at all must have noticed the pretty designs in dark brown-
ish-green on the bark of beeches and birches like those in the
figure. So common and so striking is this little plant that almost
no further description is needed for its identification. Although
it is so tiny, its underleaves and lobules can be made out easily
with a hand-lens if a specimen be mounted in water on a micro-
scopic slide.

sl
I

Ses HAS W.

FicurE 94. Frullania. From Bryologist, 5: 1902. I. Plant of
Frullania Eboracensis, on the bark 7 Seceh. ir Underside of same
showing underleaves and the queer saclike inflated lobules which remind
one of the bladders of Utricularia. III. and IV. Under and upper side
of F, Asagrayana Mont. V. Involucre and perianth of F. Eboracensis.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 169

F. AsacravANa Mont. is another common species somewhat
resembling the preceding, but larger and usually growing on
rocks, occasionally on trees. The lobule is much more elongated
and there is a line of discolored cells in the middle of the leaf that
reminds one of a costa.

The lobule in Frullania is usually modified into a saclike
body of various shapes which serves for the temporary retention
of water. This saclike form of the lobule is scarcely apparent
with a lens, but under the compound microscope becomes a
beautiful and interesting object.

There are several other species found within our range, but
the compound microscope is needed for their determination.

JusuLa HurcuinsiA& is a plant likely to be confused with
Frullania. It grows on wet rocks, especially in mountains. It is
easily differentiated by its strongly lacerate-dentate leaves.

di
PORELLA.

The Porellas differ from the Frullanias in their larger size,
lighter color, larger and entire underleaves, and lobules not sac-
like, but lingulate to oblong. The lobules are plainly attached
by the narrow end to the lobe and extend forward parallel
with the stem.

B « oe
Fic. 95. Fic 96.

FicurE 95. Porella platyphylla. From Bryologist, 5: 35, 1902.
B. Upper side of stem showing perianth and emerging capsule.
Also showing clearly incubous arrangement of leaves. C. Underside of
stem, the leaves shown too far apart. D. Longitudinal section of peri-
anth. E. Capsule. F. Leaf. G. Part of plant showing male
branches.

Ficure 96. Porella pinnata. From the Bryologist, 5: 34, 1902.
A. Underside of stem showing narrow underleaves and narrow lobules at-
tached by their shorter edge to lobe. B. Single leaf showing lobe and
lobule.

170 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

The plants are green to brownish-green, rather regularly
pinnate and of a comparatively large size as shown by the cuts.

P. phatypHYLLA (L.) Lindb., the Common Porella, is found
abundantly everywhere and is almost certain to be one of the
first half-dozen hepatics to be collected by the beginner. The
plants are most commonly collected on the bark of trees, but may
be found on logs, rocks, or soil. They are from one to three
inches long, I-3 pinnate with obtuse branches which are closely
appressed to the substratum. The perianth is ovoid, narrowed
above, denticulate around the mouth. The spores mature in
May or June.

P. prnnata L,, the Pinnate Porella, is also common, but
much less frequent than the preceding. It is easily distinguished
from the Common Porella by the much narrower and more
elongated lobule. It grows on rocks and logs subject to inunda-
elongated lobule. It grows on rocks and logs subject to
inundation.

LEJEUNEA.

The Lejeuneas are tiny plants, our two species being about
gs of an inch wide. They are likely to be mistaken for the
Frullanias, but their lobules are not saclike and show plainly that
each is the lower part of the leaf turned under, as each is at-
tached to the lobe by its longer edge. The underleaves are
unusually large and conspicuous. The Lejeuneas are so much
smaller than the Porellas that there is little danger of confusion,
but aside from this the difference in lobules noted in the key is
very clear and easily made out. The color of the plants is
usually lighter than in Frullania or
Porella.

L. cavirourA (Ehrh.) Lindb. is
found throughout our: range on trees
and rocks. The lobules are inflated so
that in dry specimens mounted in water
a bubble of air nearly always
remains inside. The keel formed at
the junction of lobe and lobule is
strongly curved and the outline of the
Ficurt 97. Lejeunea cav- leaf is indented at the outer end of

ifolia. ti £ lant
mets eee Mderside sc 6. the lobule. The underleaves are about

MOSSES WITH. A HAND-LENS 171

the size of the lobule and rather
smaller than in the next. The spores
mature in midsummer; perianths may
be found in autumn and winter. The
perianth is about half exserted, ob-
long to oval-oblong from a narrower
base, rounded at the apex and con-
tracted into a short slender beak
resembling that shown in Jungerman-
nia lanceolata, sharply five keeled in
the upper part. The bifid underleaves
which distinguish this species micro-
scopically seem entire with a lens.

Ficure 98. _ Lejeunca L. cLypEata (Schwein.) Sulliv. isa

clypeata (After Sullivant).
Plant; portion ot as em rather larger plant found on rocks and
ith two i fe) eaves é
as Boni novel the same trees, from Connecticut southwards.
from below; portion of a : raight
Hae Gi gee of dees The. lobule forms an ae st gt
aan tale, brameny perianth keel and the lower (postical) margin
cer. *, .

Pe eer ae part of the leaf is much less incurved. The

ianth; elaters and spores. nderleaves are much larger than the
lobules. The perianth has a rather shortér and broader beak.

RADULA.

R. compranata (L.) Dum. is fully as common as the Com-
mon Porella, growing on stones, walls, and roots of trees in dark
green mats. The leaves are complicate-bilobed as in all the pre-
ceding members of the family, but there are no underleaves and
the root hairs are all attached to the lobules instead of to the
stem or underleaves as is usually the case. The lobule is attached
by the longer margin as in Lejeunea, but the plants are much
larger. The spores mature in early spring, but perianths can be
found on the plants at almost any season and they are so char-
acteristic as to render recognition easy. They are flattened at
the mouth (not well shown in the figures) as if someone had
taken them between the thumb and finger and squeezed the upper
portion flat. The mature capsules are only slightly exserted
from the mouth of the perianth. Besides the spores, the plants
often produce gemmez from the leaves as shown in the figures.

2 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

FicurE 99. Radula complanata. A. Plant natural size. B. Branch
with fruit showing clearly the seta and capsule, with the calyptra at base
of seta showing through the transparent tubular perianth, and at base of
the perianth, the involucre. This misrepresents the leaves, making them ap-
pear succubous. C. Leaf showing lobule with roothairs and larger lobe
with gemmz along the edge. This illustrates the simplest form of a ‘‘ com-
plicate-bilobed ” leaf. There are no underleaves. D. Calyptra. E.
Spores, highly magnified.

SCAPANIA.

The Scapanias are large hepatics with the leaves complicate-
bilobed, but the upper lobe the larger, so that there appears to
be four rows of leaves instead of two. The lower lobes are suc-
cubous while the upper sometimes appear incubous. The mar-
gins of the leaves are usually dentate or ciliate-dentate. ‘There
are no underleaves.

S. nemorosa (L.) Dum., the Common Scapania, grows
on rocks and moist banks. The lower lobes are dis-

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 173

tinctly longer than broad and are
strongly ciliate-dentate. The leaves
are stiff and only a little larger above.

The perianth mouth is ciliate-dentate.
The spores mature in spring.

S. unpuLata (L.) Dum., the Aquatic
Ficure 100. Scapania Scapania, is less common than the pre-
leat Sc. ie: Branch X 2 ceding and grows on stones in streams
or in very wet places. It is green, or
frequently red or dark brownish-red.
The leaves are flaccid and distant
below, increasing in size and density
above. The upper lobe increases pro-
portionately in size above and in some
cases the lobes become subequal; the
margins are never so strongly den-
tate as in the preceding, and the lower
are frequently nearly entire. The
lower lobes are as broad as long or
even broader. The spores mature
Freure 101. Scapania un- somewhat earlier than in the preceding.
gilatas Cates yeooker), The figure of the entire plant is too

small; plants are often found twice as large.

**LEAVES DIVIDED INTO HAIRLIKE DIVISIONS.

TRICHOCOLEA.

T. TomeNtELLA (Ehrh.) Dum., the
Woolly Hepatic, derives its name from
the fact that the leaves are divided into
very numerous hairlike divisions. It is
a large plant somewhat resembling the
Fern Mosses in its pinnate branching.
It is a beautiful gray-green color, twice
or more pinnate, and when held up to
the light the fine hairlike structure of
the leaves is easily apparent. There
: is no perianth and the involucral
Ficure 102. Trichocolea leaves coalesce into a hairy tube at-

tomentella a little enlarged
And feat-aiuch’ enlarged: tached to the calyptra. The spores

174 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

mature in early spring. Frequent in swamps on the ground and
over mosses. Although the plants are very distinct from every-
thing else it is very difficult to get a drawing that represents them
satisfactorily.

PTILIDIUM.

P. cintart (L.) Nees also has its leaves divided into hairlike
divisions, but a considerable portion of the base of the leaf is
undivided. The plants are small, about 2; of an inch wide,
dark green, with
leaves spreading when
moist, closely imbri-
cated when dry. The
perianth is obovate
with a fringed mouth.
The spores ripen in
early spring but the

Hats Renee ec ma be
Ficure 103. Ptilidiwm ciliare. a. Leaf X capsules y
37. b. Plant with perianth and young capsule found in autumn. The

x z. c. Portion of plant x 5- capsule in the illus-
tration was collected in August. Ptilidium is very common on
rotten wood and frequently occurs on humus and stones. It
fruits very freely and the slender white sete surmounted by the
black capsules are conspicuous objects to one who goes botaniz-
ing in early spring.

BLEPHAROSTOMA.

B. TRICHOPHYLLUM (L.) Dum. is a third species with leaves
divided into hair-like divisions. It is the tiniest of them all and
looks more like a beautiful green alga than an hepatic. With
the hand-lens the illustration will do more to help recognize it
than volumes of description. It is very common on moist earth,
stones and decaying wood and usually grows so far apart that
the stems appear separate instead of forming mats. The spores
mature in early spring, but the perianths are well formed in
August.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

ot
SENN
i 7

Ficure 104.
Plant natural size. B.
leaf. E. Perianth x 17.

Blepharostoma trichophyllum
The same X 8.

175

Schiffner). A.
D. Involucral

(After
Cc. Leaf 50.

*4* LEAVES NOT COMPLICATE-BILOBED OR FINELY DIVIDED,*

INCUBOUS.+

LEPIDOZIA :

Lepidozia
Hooker).

Ficure
reptans
Plant; portion of stem with
leaves and underieaves; an-

105.
cAfter

theridium in its leaf, and
free; perfanth with involu-
cre; capsule, elater, and

‘spores.

L. reprans (L.) Dum., the Common
Lepidozia, is about the size of Ptilid-
ium, but is much less frequent and is
in no danger of being confused with it,
for the 3 to 4 cleft leaves curved
downwards and looking like a half-
closed hand are easily made out
with a lens. The Common Lepidozia
sometimes grows in tufts or mats, but
at first it makes a delicate tracery over
the earth or rotten wood on which it
grows, unless it be obscured by other
plants. The underleaves are cleft much
like the others, but are so small as to

*Except Lepidozia species.
7Except Cephalozia.

176 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

be difficult of observation. The perichetial leaves are also cleft
like the others, but are much larger and proportionately longer.
The perianth is dentate. At first sight this species might be
mistaken for a Cephalozia, but a close examination of the leaves
will at once show the difference. Dr. Alexander Evans says:
“A peculiar habit of the plant is the way in which its prostrate
stems creep over tufts of mosses and other hepatics, the tufts thus
encroached upon are in time completely covered by the Lepidozia,
and, as their supply of light is cut off, they become feeble and
finally perish. It is among these crowded patches, and particu-
larly those which grow on rotten logs, that we must look for
fruiting specimens, the plants on shaded rocks being almost in-
variably feebly developed and sterile.”

L. sytvatica Evans (L. setacea of Gray’s Manual) is com-
mon but might be mistaken for Blepharostoma, but it grows in
dense tufts and the divisions of the leaves are shorter and are
two or three cells wide instead of one as in Blepharostoma.

CEPHALOZIA.

According to Dr. Evans we have eleven species of Cephalozia
in New England. The Cephalozias,
however, are so tiny that it is difficult
to recognize the species with a lens, al-
though the genus can readily be made
out by reason of the small size and
peculiar rounded two-lobed leaves which
in some species remind one of tiny
lobster claws. One or more of these
beautiful tiny plants can be collected on

Ficure 106. Branch of ¢Very trip if one takes the trouble to
Cephalozia bicuspidata x 2 look for them. They grow: on bare
at the left. At the right C. soil, decayed wood, over other mosses
it considerably mag- and hepatics, almost everywhere that

other hepatics will grow.

ee:

BAZZANIA.

B. rrinopata (L.) S. F. Gray, the Three-toothed Bazzania, is
one of the largest of the scale mosses. It is common on the

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 177

ground in cool moist ravines, swamps, and woods, but reaches its
perfect development in the deep mountain woods of New England
and similar regions elsewhere. Here it forms deep soft dark-
green carpets over earth, stones and debris. The erect ascending
stems are 2-5 inches long and § inch or more wide with the
leaves. The under sides of the stems bear numerous slender
flagella with tiny leaves; these the uninitiated are apt to consider
as roots. As its name indicates, the oblong-ovate truncate leaves
are three-toothed at the apex, but these teeth are not large enough
properly to be called lobes. The leaves are plainly incubous as
shown in the figures, and somewhat deflexed, i. e., bent toward the
ground. The underleaves are easily seen. The spores mature
in August and September. The Three-lobed Bazzania is quite
variable in size and in unfavorable localities is so small that
the beginner may call it the next unless he has seen both and
remembers that B. triangularis is subalpine.

B. tRIANGULARIS (Schleich.) Lindb. (B. deflcera Underw.) is
a subalpine species growing on rocks. The leafy stems are about
gz inch wide; the downward growing flagella are present and
most of the leaves are 2 to 3 toothed, although some may be entire.
The plants vary a'great deal in color from dark to light green. I
have seen specimens as dark as the Frullanias.

Ficuré 107. Baszania trilobata. From Bryologist, 4: 68, 1901.
A. Plant slightly magnified showing flagella springing from under-
side. B. (1) Portion of female plant with capsule. (2.) | Capsule
open. C. Involucre, perianth and base of seta enlarged. The involucre
consists of the small leaves at the bottom of the figure. D. Male plant
seen from below, showing antheridial branch, minute underleaves and in-
cubous arrangement of leaves. E. & F. illustrate spiral elaters, spores,
and cell structure of leaf, which cannot be seen clearly with a hand-lens.

178 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

KANTIA.

K. rricHomanis (L.) S. F. Gray, the Common Kantia, is a
very common hepatic forming a light green network or mat on
moist peaty banks and rotten logs in the woods. It is medium
sized, the leafy stems being 7s inch or more wide, often
attenuate and ascending with minute
leaves at base and ending in a cluster
of gemme. It may be recognized by
the following characters: leaves in-
cubous, not complicate-bilobed, entire,
roundish-ovate, lying flat in two op-
posite rows in one plane, underleaves
present but small, bifid at apex; in-
volucre subcylindric, hairy, buried in
the substratum and attached to the
stem by one side of its mouth; cap-
' sule cylindric, the valves spirally

Ficure 108. Kantia tri- twisted. The spores mature in May
chomanis. and June. ;

All the other species of a similar appearance have leaves
lobed or toothed, or succubous.

tiLEAVES SUCCUBOUS TOOTHED OR LOBED.

PLAGIOCHILA.

P. asprENowes (L.) Dum., the Spleenwort Hepatic, is so
called because its stem is so dark as to remind one of some of
the darker spleenworts like the Ebony Spleenwort, for instance.
The plants are among the largest of the scale mosses, the stems
being 1-4 inches long and } to #; of an inch wide with the
leaves ascending, not closely attached to substratum, rather loose
and straggling. Specimens have been found ten inches long.
The leaves are succubous, somewhat irregular in shape, but
obovate in general outline, not lobed or cleft, but some or all of
the leaves strongly ciliate-dentate. They are very oblique on the
stem, subclasping and somewhat decurrent. There are no under-
leaves, and as the upper portion of the stem is free from rhizoids,
this fact is easily made out. The spores mature in May and June,

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

FIGURE 109. Plagiochila
asplenoides. End of branch
slightly magnified and por-
tion of underside of branch
x 4

before the student gets to

179

but perianths can be found in autumn.
The “perianth is oblong, narrowed at
base, flattened.” Common on moist
soil and stones in woods, particularly
near brooks, strongly resembling some
of the creeping stems of some species
of Mnium.

There is a form of this species
rather common in drier places that has
the leaves nearly entire and has passed
as a different species under the name
of P. porelloides. This is now con-
sidered but a form of P. asplenoides,
which_varies greatly and will be col-
lected for something else several times
know it thoroughly.

GEO CALYX.

G. GRAVEoLENS (Schrad.) Nees. is our only species. It gets
its specific name from the fact that it has an underground in-
volucre much like that of Kantia, which it somewhat resembles
in habit and gross appearance, but its leaves are subrectangular

Ficurg 110. Geocalyx
graveolens: plant — natural
size; two pairs of leaves
with under leaves; part of

stem with an underleaf; sec-
tion of involucre showing
calyptra and base of pedicel;
dehiscent capsule, elaters and
spores. (After Sullivant.)

and very deeply two-toothed at the
ends as shown in the figure. The
underleaves are present, but so small
as to be made out with difficulty with
a lens. The spores are ripe in May,
but the perianths are present in sum-
mer,

LOPHOCOLEA.

The Lophocoleas are very similar
in habit and size to Geocalyx, but
their underleaves are larger and the
perianths are borne on the end of
a stem or primary branch. The leafy
stems in the species treated are
about yz of an inch wide in both
genera.

180 MOSSES WITH \ HAND-LENS

L. HETEROPHYLLA (Schrad.) Dum.,

the Variable Lophocolea,

is a very common plant, bright green in shaded places, yellow-

ish-green when exposed to the sunlight.

Like Kantia and Geo-

calyx it is found on rotten logs and on soil, but its ovate to

tae

FIGURE III. Lophocolea
heterophylla: plant natural
size; portion of stem with
leaves and perianth; two
portions of stem with leaves
fe underleaves, one show-

an antheridium, — etc.
‘(After Sullivant.)

i. Ry

FicurE 112. Lophocolea
minor. Portion of stem X
2; another portion X 4; a
portion viewed from the
underside X 16, and a leaf
bearing gemme.

places to collect these two species.

oblong-ovate leaves are not all alike;
many of the leaves, especially on
young and tender stems, are as
deeply two-toothed as in Geocalyx,
but with a more rounded notch. On
other parts of the same stem some
of the leaves are only slightly notched
or are entire. This variation of the
leaf shapes is so constant as to afford
a good means of recognizing the
species. The leaves are usually some-
what ascending. The under leaves

_are deeply cleft, but are too small to

study readily with the lens. The
perianth is deeply three-lobed and
each lobe again lobed and toothed.
The capsules are a little longer
than broad and mature in May.
It is more frequent in the lowlands
than at higher altitudes.

L. mrnor Nees. is more fre-
quent. southwards. It is almost
sure to be mistaken for Geocalyx
when sterile. The underleaves are
larger, $ as long as the leaves are
wide, and the edges of the leaves
frequently bear minute gemmz which
make the margin look darker and less
distinct. The perianths are situated
on the ends of the stems and
branches. Another species, L. Aus-
tint Lindb. occurs with this, but
cannot be distinguished with a lens.
Bases of trees in woods and moist
limestone rocks are said to be good
The perianths are present

in November and the spores probably mature in spring.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 181

Harpantuus scutatus (Web. & Mhor.) Spruce is a third
not infrequent species likely to be confused with the preceding,
but the plants are so much smaller (scarcely gs of an inch in
width), that one who has seen all four will have no difficulty.
The leaves are short-ovate, more ascending. The spores mature
in May and June. The favorite habitat is old logs in damp places.

SpHENoLoBpus MicHauxu (Web.) Steph. is about the size of
the preceding, but is a plant of mountainous regions with a much
darker color; the leaves are inserted nearly crosswise of the stem
and are almost sheathing at base; when dry they are more or less
folded together. The perianth is cylindrical. On rotten wood.

This plant was formerly put in the genus Jungermannia and
there are several plants of that genus as treated in Gray’s Manual
that may be sought here. They are, however, for the-most part
plants of smaller size and less frequent occurrence. Many of them
are confined to mountainous regions and many can not be well
determined with a lens.

LOPHOZIA (Jungermannia in part).

This genus which has usually been treated as a subgenus of
Jungermannia consists of numerous species of creeping forms
with succubous leaves which are nét much longer than broad and
are markedly toothed or cleft at the apex. Many are alpine or
subalpine.

L. BARBATA (Schreb.) Dum. is common in the mountains of
New England and New York on damp shaded rocks, some-
times on rotten logs or banks. It is rare or entirely lacking
in the southern portion of our range. The leafy stems are an
inch or more long and about jy inch wide. It usually grows
in flat tufts closely applied to the substratum, but occasionally the
stems are ascending or erect. The shade of green of the
plants depends upon the amount of light they receive; in
full sunlight they have a yellowish-brown tinge. The leaves
are more or less quadrate in outline and are divided at the apex
into three or four teeth or lobes; there are no other teeth or
marginal markings. The plants are dioicous and the antheridial
plants are slightly different from the spore-producing or female
plants as is shown in the figures.

L. ncisA (Schrad.) Dum. In this plant the leaves are 2-6
lobed, but two of the lobes are larger and the leaf has a

182 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

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Ficure 113. Lophozia barbata (After Evans). 1. Plants natural size.
3. Female plant from above. 4. Underside of a portion of sterile stem.
The figure at the right is an antheridial stem from above.

tendency to assume the folded form as in Scapania so that many
consider the leaves two-lobed with the lobes toothed. The
plants are smaller than in barbata and usually grow on de-
caying wood.

Our other species of this genus (except some very rare or
alpine forms) have two-lobed or two-toothed leaves and are
more likely to be confused with Sphenolobus.

ttt LEAVES SUCCUBOUS, ENTIRE, SCARCELY LONGER THAN
BROAD.

ODONTOSCHISMA.

Leafy stems zg inch or less wide, creeping and interwoven,
green, to red-brown with a trace of green; branches usually rising
from the underside of stem; leaves entire, rarely emarginate or
bilobed, often bordered. Underleaves invisible with a lens. ‘The
perianth is on a short lateral branch which distinguishes all the
species from Jamsoniella.

O. prostratum (Swartz) Travis (O. Sphagni of American
authors). The plants of this delicate and pretty hepatic grow
mostly in swamps over and among mosses and other bog plants,
rarely on rotten wood. The stems are creeping with ascending
tips; leaves distant to closely imbricate, not growing minute at
base and apex of branches, attached very obliquely, not flat-
tened out but ascending and forming a channel “between the two

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 183

rows, outer ends (apices) folding inwards towards each other
when dry, nearly circular to oblong, plainly margined and margin
clearly to be seen with high power lens. Gemme lacking. This.
species is found in Massachusetts and southwards.

O. penupatum (Mart.) Dum. grows principally on rotten
wood or peaty banks throughout eastern North America. The
leaves are not margined and diminish in size towards both ends
of the stem or branch; they are more concave than in the pre-
ceding, but take the same position when dry. Gemmiparous
branches with much diminished leaves are fiequent.

Ficure 114. (After Evans). Upper, under, and side view of stem
.of Odontoschisma prostratum and perichaetial bracts all X 18..

184 MOSSES WITH \ HAND-LENS

JAMSONIELLA.

JAMSONIELLA AUTUMNALIS (DC.) Steph. (Jungermannia
Schradcri Mart.) is a common species often confused with
Odontoschisma prostratum. It appears to be a plant of more
elevated and cooler regions than Odontoschisma, as I find it
abundantly in the hills of southern Vermont, but not a trace of it
near New York City. It most frequently
grows on decaying wood, but may be
found on soil, trunks of trees, ete. It is
sometimes plain green, but usually dark
green to brownish in the older portions.
The leaves are nearly circular to short-
oblong, not margined, with the ends re-
flexed when dry as shown in the figures.
Flagella and gemme wanting. The per-
ianth is terminal on a leading branch,

which distinguishes it from all forms of

FicurE 115. One : ? 5

moist and two dry Odontoschisma when fertile. The posi-

branches of Jamsoniella tion of the leaves when dry easily dis-
autumnalis X 5. tinguishes sterile specimens.

NARDIA.

There are several species of this genus within our range,
but they:are hardly to be made out with a lens except perhaps

N. cRENULATA (Smith) Lindb. It
is a smaller plant than the other
round-leaved hepatics and grows on
soil throughout our range. Mounted
and examined with a high power lens
it will at once be recognized by the
margin, made up of a single row of
very large square cells as shown in
the figures. The margin is more dis-
tinct than in Odontoschisma and after

Ficurr 116. Side and Mounting shows much more clearly.
top view of a stem of Nardia In that genus the margin is made up
crenulata by about 20, and of two or three rows of much less
Portion of leaf X roo. strongly differentiated cells.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 185

ttHt LEAVES SUCCUBOUS, ENTIRE, MARKEDLY LONGER THAN
BROAD.

JUNGERMANNIA.

J. uancroiata L. (Lioch-
lacna lanceolata of many au-
thors) is a common species
-on rotten logs and banks. The

/ leaves are recurved at apex
when dry as in Jamsoniella,
but the plants are fully twice
as wide and the leaves are
much longer than broad.

: Sterile it may be confused
Ficurt 117. Jungermannia lanceolata; ps
portion of sterile stem X 214; and two with other forms, but with
perianths: 4. the pretty puckered perianths
present, looking like a full bag tied with a string, there can be no
danger of confusing it with anything. ‘The perianths are present
and well developed in August; the spores mature in spring.

CHILOSCYPHUS.

C. PpoLYANTHOS
(L.) Corda is our
only common spe-
cies. It is very
SEO large, the stems
BOO CLS FTI sometimes reaching
a foot in length
and, with the leaves,
being about 7; of an
inch wide. This species grows on rocks and soil in wet places
and occasionally in slowly flowing water. The color is a deep
green, sometimes becoming blackish; when of this color it some-
what resembles Plagiochila asplenoides, but the leaves are very
entire and at the end of the shoots the underleaves can usually be
made out clearly, as the plant tissues are quite transparent. The
underleaves are rather small and are deeply bifid with very nar-
row slender segments. Spores in April and May. Var., rivularis
a floating form with leaves scarcely overlapping, often more
distant than those shown in the figure.

Ficure 118. Portion of a stem of Chilo-
scyphus polyanthos rivularis natural size.

186 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

ILLUSTRATED GLOSSARY OF BRYOLOGICAL
TERMS.*

HIS is not intended to be an exhaustive glossary of
botanical terms, but mainly a glossary of those terms
which are either confined to bryological works or are
used in a somewhat different meaning when applied to
mosses. Thus the common terms descriptive of leaves

are omitted, except acumen and a few others that are used in a

peculiar or unusual way by some authors. Very few terms are

here defined that are sufficiently well explained in the common
phanerogamic botanies like Gray, Wood, or Britton and Brown.

Braithwaite’s ‘ British Moss Flora,” Lesquereux and James’
“Manual,” and Dixon and Jameson’s “Handbook of British
Mosses” have been largely consulted, and an attempt has been
made to determine the meaning of each term according to the
usage of all the authors accessible.

For most of the cuts we are indebted to the kindness of Mr.
H. N. Dixon, Mr. Jameson, and their publishers, who have very
kindly allowed us the use of the cuts in their “ Handbook of

British Mosses,’ a work which should be

‘ye in the hands of every moss student
(Xx whether English or American. Figs. 43
and 46 are from Mrs. Britton’s “ Ob-
server” article, by consent. ‘Terms whose
meaning can be made sufficiently clear
by definition are not illustrated as a rule.

Acicular, needle-shaped. Applied to
the beak of the operculum.

Acrocarpous, having the sporophyte
terminal on a stem or ordinary branch.
Acrocarpous mosses can usually be easily
distinguished by the erect habit, as shown
in the figure. (Fig.1.) The old sporo-
phyte often seems lateral in acrocarpous.
mosses, because the stem grows on the
next year from a point just below the
base of the sporophyte.

*The figures of the Glossary are numbered independently of the rest
of the book.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 187

Acumen, the gradually tapering narrow
point of an acuminate leaf. (Fig. 2, b.) ty
Acuminate, a term usually applied to
leaves that gradually taper to a narrow
point. A few recent writers use the term as
applying. only to those leaves that are not
uniformly narrow and limit the term acu-
men to that part of the apex beyond the
point where the narrowing begins to be less
abrupt. According to those authors a leaf
uniformly narrowed would not be acumi- a
nate, no matter how slender the apex. The Fic. z.
author has followed this usage to some extent in previous writ-
ings, but general usage does not seem to sanction this restriction
of the term.
Acumination, See acumen and acuminate.
Acute, with a sharp point, shorter than acuminate.
Aggregate, clustered; usually applied to two or more sporo-
phytes from one perichetium.
Alar cells, the cells at basal angles of the leaf, commonly dif-
ferent from cells of the main part of the leaf, being shorter and
alunite iy often nearly square, or inflated and hyaline, and
-al | 07 often highly colored. (Fig. 3.)
i (8E05 0, Amphigastria, the third row of leaves

iliegees found on the under side of the stems of the
i EOS Hepaticae.
ae \\ Angular cells. See Alar cells.
Ws fi Oe Antical, applied to that surface of the
elses, stems of hepatics which is uppermost when
Fic. 3. the stems are prostrate.

Antheridium, the male reproductive organ con-
taining the antherozoids. (Fig. 4.)

Antherozoid, the small flagellate male cell which
escapes from the antheridium, and in wet weather
swims to the archegonium and down its neck to the
egg-cell in the bottom.

Apical cells, the cells composing the apex of the
leaf. They are often broader and shorter than the
cells of the middle of the leaf. Bice

Apophysis. See hypophysis, the more correct term accord-
ing to Braithwaite.

188 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Archegonium, the flask-shaped female reproductive
organ. (Fig. 5.) See, also, autherosoid.

Arcuate (capsule), bent in a curve like a bow.
(Fig. 6.)

wtreolation, the net work formed by the outlines of
the cells of a leaf.

Astomous (capsule), without a mouth. Used of
capsules which have no regularly dehiscent lid.
-luricles, small lobes at the basal angles of the leaf,
usually consisting of cells differing from those
of the main part of the leaf in size or shape or
both. (Fig. 3 and Fig. 2,a.) Properly used only

< when there is an outward curve in the outline
of the leaf at the base, as in the figures, but often used
loosely to denote the basal angles of
widely decurrent leaves.

Autoicous or autoecious, having male
and female organs on the same plant.
According to Braithwaite, there are
Fic. 6. three forms.

1. Cladautoicous, with the male
organs on a special proper branch.

2. Gonioautoicous, with the male organs in
a bud-like cluster, and axillary on a female branch.

3. Rhizautoicous, male branch very short and cohering to
the female by the rhizoids.

Axil, the angle at the base of a leaf between it and the stem.

Basal or basilar cells, cells at the base or in-
sertion of the leaf, often of different shape and
} color from those of the main part of the leaf.

Z Beak, prolonged narrow tip of the operculum.

/ The opercula in Figs. 6 and 8 are strongly beaked.

j Bicostatc, having a double costa, which is usually
much shorter than in leaves having a single costa.

Bifarious, growing in two ranks.

Bifid, cleft into two divisions like the amphigastria of
Chiloscyphus or the teeth of Dicranum.

Bi-sexual, synoicous.

Bordered, having a margin different from the rest of the
leaf. In Mnium and Bryum (which see), the border consists of
a few rows of greatly elongated cells, often in two or more layers.

Fre. 8:

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 189

In some species of Fissidens the border is of a different color,
but with little difference in cell structure.

Bracts, a term applied to the leaves surrounding the repro-
ductive organs. Those surrounding the antheridia are called per-
igonial bracts or leaves, and those surrounding the archegonia
and base of seta are called pericheetial.

Brood bodies. See propagula.

Bulbil, a minute bulb or bulb-shaped body, usually
produced for asexual reproduction,

Caespitose, forming matted tufts or cushions; e. g.,
Leucobryum.

Calyptra, the thin veil or hood covering the mouth
of the capsule. (Figs. 9 and 22.)

In the Hepatics the capsule breaks through the
top of the calyptra, leaving it at the base of the seta instead of
on top of the capsule. (See Marchantia.)

Campanulate, bell-shaped.

Canaliculate, channeled. Applied to leaves with margins in-
curved, so as to give them a channel-like form; e. g., the upper
part of the leaves of Dicranuim fuscescens. A more complete in-
rolling until the margins meet would make the leaf tubulose.

Canescent, rather hoary.

Capitului, a rounded head.

Capsule, the Syne distal end of the sporophyte; it con-
tains the spores, and is some-
times known as the sporan-
gium. (Figs. 6, 8, to and 17.)

Carinatc, keeled like a boat ;
e. g., segments of inner peris-
tome in Fig. 27.

eo: : Cernuous (capsule), droop-
|: ing or nodding, somewhat in-
clined as opposed to erect. (Fig. 10.)

Chlorophyll, the green coloring matter in plants.

Cilia, hair-like threads of the endostome, alter-
nating with the segments. (Fig. 11 c, and 27 d.)

Circinate, curved into a circle, resembling
Fig. 2, but still more incurved, so that the apex >
is nearly or quite bent around to the leaf base;
e.g, leaves of Hypnum uncinatum.

Fic. 9.

190 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Cirrate or cirrhate, applied to leaves which curl up in drying.
Cirrate leaves are more regularly curled than crispate leaves.

Cirrhose, having a wavy hair point.

Cladocarpous, having the sporophyte terminating a short
special fertile branch; somewhat like half-way between acrocarp-
ous and pleurocarpous; e. g., Fontinalis.

Cleistocarpous, capsule opening irregularly, not by a lid or
valves.

Cochleariform, rounded and concave like a spoon or ladle.

Collum, the neck or tapering base of the capsule. (See
Fig. 21.)

Columella, the central axis of the capsule; around
it and between it and the outer wall of the capsule are
4xis borne the spores. Sometimes the lid adheres to it
and is raised upon it, as in Fig. 12.

Coma, Comal tuft, a tuft of leaves at the tip of
a stem or branch.

Complanate (of leaves or branches), flattened out
more or less in one plane.

Complicate, folded together.

Complicate-bilobed, two lobed with one lobe folded under and
against the other as in Radula. No mosses have leaves with this
structure.

Confervoid, formed of fine threads.

Constricted, used of capsules that become
narrowed under the mouth when dry.

Fic. 12.

Cordate, heart-shaped.
Costa, the nerve or midrib of a moss leaf.
Costate, having a costa.
Crispate or crisped, frizzled, curled and
twisted in various ways. (Fig. 13.)
d Cucullate, hood-shaped, the apex curv-
Fre. 13. ed in like a slipper. (Apex of leaf in
Fig. 14.)
Cucullate calyptra, a calyptra that is hood-shaped and split
on one side only. (Fig. 9.)
Cultriform, curved like a short, wide scimitar; e. g., the
leaves of Homalia trichomanoides Jamesii.
Cygneous (seta), curved suddenly downward, like a swan’s neck.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS Igt

Cymbiform, boat-shaped (used by Dixon as a
synonym of cucullate); e. g., leaves of Sphagnum
cymbifolium. (The whole leaf in Fig. 14.)

Deoperculate, applied to a capsule after its lid
has fallen off.

Dichotomous, branching by forking repeatedly
into two branches.

Dimidiate, split on one side.

Dioicous or dioecious, having the male and
female organs on separate plants.

Distichous (of leaves), in two opposite rows on the stem.

Dorsal, belonging to or on the back; i. e., the face of a leaf
remote from the stem.

Ecostate, lacking a costa.

Emarginate, having a small notch at the end of apex as in the
figure of the leaves of Lophocolea heterophylla.

Emergent or emersed, half uncovered; of the capsule, when
the perichztial leaves reach but do not overtop it.

Endostome. See under peristome.

Epiphragm, a membrane covering the mouth of the deoper- -
culate capsule; in Polytrichum and its allies it consists of the
dilated top of the columella. (Fig. 10, a.)

Erecto-patent, midway between erect and patent.

Excurrent costa, a costa running out beyond the
lamina of a leaf. (Fig. 15.)

Exostoie. See under peristome.

Exserted, elevated above the surrounding parts;
of the capsule, when the perichetial leaves do not reach

Fic. 15. so high as its base.

Falcate, curved like a sickle. (Fig. 2.)

Fascicle, a bunch or cluster of leaves or branches.

Fasciculate, arranged in bunches.

Fastigiate, of branches, all reaching an equal height. (Fig. 1.)

Flagella, fine string-like branches; e. g., Dicranum flagellare.

Flexuose, bent backward and forward, or wavy.

Flowers, often applied to the reproductive organs.

Fruit, often applied to the sporophyte.

Fuscous, dull brown.

Gametophyte or gametophore, that part of the plant which
bears the gametes or sexual cells. In mosses and hepatics, all
the plant except the “fruit,” or seta and capsule.

Fir. 14.

192 MOSSES WITH | HAND-LENS

Gemmace, bud-like bodies, cap-
able of reproducing the plant.
Sometimes borne in special heads,
sometimes on the surface of the
leaves. (Fig. 16.)

Gemimiferous or gemimiparous,
bearing gemme.

Gibbous (capsule), more
tumid or swollen on one side than
on the other. (Fig. 17.)

Glaucous, originally applied
to plants covered with a bluish
white bloom, but also applied to
mosses that have that color.

Gregarious, growing near to-
gether or clustered, but not in
close tufts or mats.

Gyimnostomous, without a peristome.

Habitat, the place in which a plant
grows; often used in a general way to
designate the kind of place usually oc-
cupied by a plant.

Hamate or hamulose, curved like a hook; more
sharply and abruptly curved than in falcate and

circinate.

Heteronallous (leaves or branches), turned in different
directions.

Homomallous, turned in the same direction.

HAygroscopic, readily absorbing water and there-
by altered in form or direction. MHygrometric is
sometimes used with a similar meaning.

Hypophysis, a swelling of the seta immediately
-under the capsule. (Fig. 10.)

Imbricated, closely overlapping each other like
the tiles of a roof. (Fig. 18.)

Immersed, covered up; of the capsule when the
perichetial leaves project beyond it.

Incubous, of the leaves of Hepatics, having
the upper margin overlapping the lower margin
of the leaf next above. (See Porella and Radula.)

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 193

Inflated, applied to the alar cells of leaves when enlarged
much beyond the size of the neighboring cells. (Fig. 19.)

Involucre, the circle of single or united bracts surrounding

Ut the perianth in the Hepatics. (See Marchantia.)

Inflorescence, often applied to the clusters of
reproductive organs.

Julaceous, smooth, slender and cylindric; like
a catkin or a worm.

Lamellae, thin sheets or plates of tissue; e. g.,
the plates arising from the costa of the hair-caps
and their allies. (Fig. 20.)

Lamellate, having lamelle.

Lamina, the blade or expanded part of the
leaf as distinct from the costa.

Lanceolate, long and narrow, but widest at base like the head
of a lance. (Fig. 30.)

Fic. 19.

Leptodermous, thin-coated; applied to
capsules when soft and pliable.

Lid. See operculum.

Limb, the upper part of a leaf as dis-
tinct from the leaf base.

Linear, long and very narrow and of
the same width at both ends, like a line.

Lingulate, tongue-shaped; e. g., the
leaves of Rhacomitrium aciculare.

Lobe, the upper and usually larger lobe
of the complicate-bilobed leaves of Hepatics.

Lobule, the under and usually smaller lobe of the com-
plicate-bilobed leaves of Hepatics. (See Radula.)

Mamillate or mammillar (lid of the capsule),
convex with a short projection in the center.
(Fig. 21.)

Margined. See bordered.

Mitriform (calyptra), cleft on two or more sides,
and symmetrical. (See figure of Bruchia p. 36.)

Monoicous or monoecious, having male and
female organs on the same plant.

Muticous, not pointed.

Neck (of the capsule), the lowest part just
above the point where it joins the seta. See,
Fic, 21. also, collumt.

Fic 20.

194 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

Nerve. See costa.

Oblong, broad, of the same width at both ends and longer
than broad.

Ochrea, a thin sheath around the base of the seta, terminat-
ing the vaginula.

Odésphere, the egg-cell or ovum found in the base of the arche-
gonium. (Fig. 5.) After fertilization, by union with the anthero-
zoid, it develops into the sporophyte.

Operculum, the lid which closes the capsule and, falling, per-
mits the spores to escape. (Figs. 8, 12, and 21.)

Ovate, shaped like lengthwise section of an
egg, always broadest a little above the base.

Pachydermous, thick-skinned; applied to
the walls of capsules or to cells when firm
and resisting.

Papillae, minute rounded or acute protu-
berances.

Papillose, rough with papille. (Seta),
rough with small rounded or acute protuber-

ances. (Fig 23.)

Paraphyllia, minute leaf-like or much-branched
organs among the leaves. (Fig. 24. E. g., Thuid-
1m.

Paroicous, having its male and female organs in
the same cluster, but not mixed, the antheridia be-
ing in the axils of the perichztial bracts below the
archegonia. (Fig. 26.)

Patent, spreading at an angle of
. 26°-45° (Braithwaite); spreading
at an angle of 45° or more (Dixon).
; Patulous, more widely spreading
fais. than patent.
Pedicel. See seta.
Fic. 25. Fic. 26. Pendulous, somewhat hanging or
drooping; more so than in cernuous.

(Fig. 21.)

Percurrent costa, reaching to the apex of the leaf, but not
beyond.

Perianth, the inner, usually saclike structure surrounding
the base of the seta in Hepatics. (See Marchantia.)

Perichaetial. See bracts.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 195

Perigonial. See bracts.
Peristome, the fringe surrounding the mouth of the capsule
upon removing the lid. This
fringe may consist of a single
row of processes, known as teeth,
as in Fig. 7, or of a double row as
in Fig. 27. In the latter case the
entire fringe is still the peristome,
but the term is also applied in a
particular sense to the outer row;
the outer row is often spoken of
as the exostome (b), and the
inner as the endostome (c). The
inner row consists of as many
projections as the outer, but al-
ternating with them; these are
known as processes or segments
(c). Between the segments there
are often one or more slender
hair-like processes known as
cilia. (Fig. 27, d; Fig. 11, c.)

Moss peristomes, viewed with a
compound microscope, are among the most beautiful of natural
objects. They are not composed of cells (except in the Polytri-

chaceee and a few other small fam-

ce ilies), but of thickened cell-walls.

Pinnate, having numerous equi-
distant spreading branches on each
side like a feather. (Fig. 28.)

Pleurocarpous, having the sporo-
phyte lateral on a short lateral special
branch. (Fig. 29.) Pleurocarpous
mosses can usually be recognized by
the creeping habit.

2 Plicate, folded in pleats or furrows; e. g.,
leaves of Camptothecium. (Fig. 30.)

Plicae, folds of a plicate leaf.

Plumose, feathery.

Pluriseriate, many ranked; i. c., as applied to leaves arranged
in several rows along the stem.

Polygamous, with antheridia and archegonia disposed in

196 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

various ways on the same plant.

Postical, used as the opposite of antical
for that surface of the stems of hepatics to
which the underleaves are attached, the under
or posterior surface.

Processes. See under peristome.

Proliferous, bearing young shoots from
Si the antheridial or archegonial cluster of leaves.

Propagula. According to Dr. Best, Fig.
16 illustrates brood bodies or propagula rather
than gemme.

These distinctions are not made in
all works.

Protonema, the green, branched,
alga-like threads produced from the
spore and often persistent during the lifetime of the
plant produced from it. Protonema and radicles
differ chiefly in the presence or absence of chloro-
phyll, and either may develop the other. (Fig. 31.)

Pseudopodium, a leafless branch resembling a
seta and often bearing gemma. (Fig. 16.) Of
sphagnum, the stalk (false seta) bearing the capsule.

Pulvinate, like a cushion.

Pyriform, pear-shaped.

Radicles, rootlets springing from the sides and
base of the stem. See also protonema.

Ramuli, minute branchlets.

Rhizoid. See radicles.

Fic. 30. Rostellate (operculum), with a short beak.

Rostrate (operculum), with a
long beak. (Figs. 6 and 8.)

Rosulate, in the form of a
rosette,

Rough. Same as papillose.

Rugose, wrinkled, in the case
of leaves it is usually applied to
transverse wrinkles; e. g., leaves
of Hypnum rugosum.

Fic. 31. . Scab 8 ‘lo
cabrous. Same as papillose.

Secund, twisted or turned to one side. (Fif. 32); e. g., leaves
of many Hypnums.

sieve

Ra Mb WARSANAE G

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 197

Sessile, without any stalk, like the leaves
of all the mosses or the capsules of Webera.

Segments. See under peristome.

Seta, the stalk on which the capsule is
borne. (Figs. 6 and to.)

Sigmoid, curved like the letter S.

Spermatozoid. See antherozoid.

Sporangium, often applied to the capsule,
but by some authors restricted to the spore
sac, or inner sac of the capsule containing the spores.

Spores, small round bodies contained in the capsule, serving
the purpose of seeds, but in no way homologous with them.
(Fig. 27.)

Sporephyte or sporophore, the spore-bearing part or genera-
tion. In mosses it consists of the seta and capsule and constitutes
the so-called fruit.

Sporogonium, the sporophyte or spore-bearing part of the
moss.

Squarrose, spreading at right angles from the stem.

Stegocarpous, having the capsule operculate.

Stipitate, having a short stem. Applied to antheridia and
archegonia.

Stoloniferous stem, a slender creeping stem with minute
leaves.

Stomata, pores in the surface of the thallus of the True
Liverworts.

Striate, marked with strie or slight furrows.

Struma, a goiter-like swelling on one side at the base of the
capsule. (Fig. 8.)

Strumose, having a struma.

Subsiratum, the material upon which the plant grows.

Succubous, with the upper margin of one leaf lying under the
leaf next above. (See Plagiochila.)

Sulcate, deeply furrowed with longitudinal channels. As
applied to leaves, both striate and sulcate really refer to the fold
whose concave surface is on the inner or ventral surface of the
leaf. Of the capsule, deeply furrowed. (Fig. 17.)

Synoicous or synoecious, having the male and the female
organs mixed together in the same cluster. (Fig. 25.)

Terete, circular in cross-section.

Thallus, a broad, flattened plant form taking the place of

Fig: 32:

198 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS ,

both stem and leaves on many of the lower plants. (See Mar-
chantia.)

Tomentose, covered with a thick felt of vadicles.

Tooth. See under peristome.

Tubulose. See canaliculate.

Tumid, turgid, appearing as if swollen from pressure within.

Turbinate, top-shaped; e. g., capsule of Brywm turbinatum.

Twisted (seta). The seta of many mosses twists strongly
in drying. If the twist is such as would be made by seizing
the capsule and twisting it to the right, it is said to be twisted to
the right. It is possible that this twisting of the seta aids in
scattering the spores.

Umbonate, round with a projecting point in’ the
center.

Uncinatec, hooked, curved back at point. (Fig.
32.)

Undulate, with an alternately concave and con-
vex margin, wavy; e. g., leaves of Dicranum undula-
; tune,

Fic. 33- Urceolate, shaped like an urn or pitcher.
Veil, the calyptra.
Ventral surface, the surface of a leaf next the stem.
Ventricose, bulging on one side. (Fig. 33.)
Vesicular, inflated like a bladder.
Wavy. See undulate.

ERRATA.

P. 39. Accent Oncophorus as on p. 200.

P. 64. Insert as the fourth line of description of Gymnos-
tomum rupestre “ deshiscent operculum. Very much less frequent
than G. cur-”

P. 108. Read “ Family 18” instead of “ Family 8.”

P. 157. Accent Lunularia as on p. 205.

P. 159. Accent Reboulia as on p. 205.

The accents are omitted from several of the generic names
due to a change of type and an oversight in replacing the accents
when the type was changed.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 199

A NUMBERED LIST OF THE MOSSES DESCRIBED
IN THE PRECEDING PAGES SYSTEMATICALLY
ARRANGED.*

(Where the name used in the Lesquereux and James Manual
is different from that employed in this work the L. & J. name is
usually indicated in italics immediately following the accepted
name.)

PAGE.
SPHAGNACEAE. we domSue GEageaceba dt aeed ates II
1 Sphagnum acutifolium Ehrh.................-....008. 14
2 S. cymbifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw...............0.0 00005 14
2 S-sqiiarrostim:; Pers «+ sinensis nics gone Saat ay aes 14
ANDREAEACEAE. . 2.00 eee ee eee cence eee 15
4 Andreea petréphila Ehrh.................. 000000005 15
GAs ROH Wi -SEM. os.cacnGaatacane es: sit onaeaw eros 15
(A, rupestris).
GEORGIACHAB. o20 a — silov facdane daacantaneulee 17
*6 Georgia Brownii (Dicks.) C. M......... 0.0... cee ee 18
(Tetradontium repandum).
7G: pellucida (Ly): Rabenhs :cccessicgies ears orsladinden's 17
(Tetraphis pellucida).
POLY TRIGHACEAR. : 24 eeesueessseeeesuenscceses 28
8 Catharinea angustata Brid.................. 0. cee eee 27
(Atrichum angustatum).
OCs Ciispa- Jalle sian nasun san ae ota euinuad Bascnnienie neha ws 27
(A. crispum).
10. Cotindulata ((L.) Wi Mises cc2t sacaatnamesinealoy are 26
(A. undulatum).
11 Pogonatum alpinum (L.) Roehl...............-...... 25
*12 P. brachyphyllum (Mx.) Beauv..................46. 25
13: P. bréevieaule (Brids)) Beauv 2 sscaca ces ead ie eens 23
*t4 P. eapillare, (Mx.) Brides: c02cagc053 aemeeen reer exces 25
ig: P, twnigerint- ((1.): Béauviess. cease eeyesesenavece es 25
16 Polvtrichiim commune Dy. iis cae as iecawcsed greet ee 20
#7 -P., Stacie DihkSacaniaiss cyausw ak ndnd aiurrnaes MEabeek 22
18 P. junipérinum: Willd. vec acc e a eee aes eee 22
19:.Ps Ohioénse: Ry & Crs sclouaetanwie ethan Veet 20
20--P; “piliferum, Schtébw.s-cccececs cag cangacceredectaaee 22
¥or PB. strictiim: BankSssciaiag es ccen cos snwnensawd Seats 23

*Species marked * are not illustrated.

200 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

PAGE.
BUXBAUMIACEAE. .. wih) Jada aa dainc seas 28
29; Buxbaumia Apwylla Les ies<ia eid anenem de eek 9 alyeaier 28
*o3r Bi imdusiata. Bridy aicactesichnteaaeepesiaes Kei anes 29
24 Weébera séssilis (Schmid.) Lindb..................0-. 29
(Diphysciuim foliosum).
FISSIDENTACEAE . ime ugeeeepieecieamee 730
25 Fissidens adiantoides (L..) Hedw, Bibs Leciuliptuasa sade tee oe 32
#26) Fy, eristatus: Walst..« «sade vases aresemasnad saareae need 32
(F. decipiens).
ag Fs Julianus. (Savi. Schimp,c2snc: on ascends oes 34
(Conomitriuin Julianum).
28 F. osmundioides (Swtz.) Hedw..............0.20000 32
20) FP. taxitolive (bb. Hedwiicccsecdaea nateanuaasccees ss 32
DICRANACEA BE ings x0askdiereenguianemgacecesca 34
30 Bruchia: Sullivantw AuStionsss.gc0scsan ceates eee eewes 36
31 Ceradtodon purptreus (L.) Brid..................000. 39
32 Dicranélla cerviculata (Hedw.) Schimp.............. 43
33 1). heteromalla, Cl.) Schimp.issceccccscaceas taasagas 41
34 D. heteromalla Fitzgeraldii (R. & C.) Grout.......... 43
35 D. ruféscens (Dicks.) Schimp...............0.0.000- 44
36:.D.. vatia Chedw:) Schimpiiccie unnas vac deawd earnest 44
*37 Dicranodéntium longiréstre.......... 0... eee eee 48
38 Dicranum Drummondii C. M..................000. 46
30. D, flagellare Hedwecscsstacrareyers saa ees eee eonts 48
AO: WD. firlwitrmn. ERGO. joo. 5:2 fsa lecdeants tes dieses dat oealbubiwe ed oases 48
41 DD, TuSGescens: Tutii.. 2s ssaneiosesaad pad soeaneaee eae 46
42 D. longifolium Ehrh...... 2... ee eee 48
43 D.-scoparium. CL.) Hedwieiscisce cacaect asa chan yauen 45
44 Dy undulatuim THhthy.. 2. 25 qesaveue cerns oe WORE Ss ee ew eS 46
45 Ditrichum pallidum (Schreb.) Hampe................ 38
(Leptotrichum pallidum).
46 D. tortile (Schrad.) Hampe............ 00.0.0 cee n eee 37
(L. tortile).
a7 D. yasinans((Sulliv;) Hampeiivs ss 4sec02 stearives peas 37
(L. vaginans).
48 Leucobryum glatcum (L.) Schimp................. 50
49 Oncdphorus Wahlenbérgii Brid.............0....0.... 39
(Cynodontium virens var. Wahlenbergii).
50 Pleuridium subulatum (L.) Rabenh................... 35

*Species marked * are not illustrated.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

51 Trematodon ambiguus (Hedw.) Hornsch............
63) TL; JOHSICOLIS Mik, os andimedtxcren can ae Aina Wore das
GRIMMIACEAE. Sie Mevka@hedoetesdeaanraes
53 Grimmia apocarpa (L.) Hedw..........0.......0200--
64 Ge Olney iS tlllivencs auteiaatinens cv svae eaoaaacar andaieutitn Mee
55 G. Pennsylvanica Schwaegr.........-..e eee eee eee eee
56 Hedwigia albicans (Web.) Lindb...................
(H. ciliata).
57 Ptychomitrium inctrvum (Schwaegr.) Sulliv........
58 Rhacomitrium aciculare (L.) Brid....................
59 R. fasciculare (Schrad.) Brid.................. 00008
60 R. microcarpum (Schrad.) Brid.................00008
TORTULACEAE. . Bic dattectent
or Astomum. Sullivantir Schimpyss 2s. ces eee 945 03 s08
62 Barbula convolita Hedw............. eee eee ee eee
‘63 B. unguiculata (Huds.) Hedw...............0-.00005
*64 Desmatodon plinthobius Sulliv. & Lesq..............
*65 Didymodon rubéllus (Hoffm.) B. & S...............
66 Gymnéstomum curviréstre (Ehrh.) Hedw............
*67 G, rupéstve Schleich: .accscicusiedewe ss ate nacaeag foals
68 Péttia truncatula, (L.): Lindbvscssss crea csennys as sneee
(P. truncata).
*69 Tortélla caespitosa (Schwaegr.) Limpr..............
(Barbula caespitosa).
70. ‘I. tortudsa: Gy.) MPP: ssscscdweln ea adie eis aoe weal
(B. tortuosa).
7t Tértula muralis (L.) Hedw............ cece eee eee
(Barbula muralis).
72 Te muralis: Ol.) Horii sie ntaseaigtidien We deadsasek b Gomes
(B. ruralis).
¥73°"T. rutaliforimis: (Besch,) DixOtiiesias eiodaa ga n4 saad
74 Weisia viridula (L.) Hedw.............. 0... ce eee eee
BNCATY. PR PACHA oo ce aaana hodaad Yadchg gunn vad meonudees
75 Encalypta ciliata (Hedw.) Hoffm....................
76 EE. Streptocanpd: Hed We nca.cee ckackad ann peenee ehaeny oe at
ORTHO TRICEEA CHE cig. isso. 92 oy deatlnd Se deoneennd
99 Drummondia. clavellatia, Hooke v6.5 0.6 cavers x acaoninerais
78 Orthdétrichum andmalum Hedw............... 0.0 eee ee
¥7o-Ox ObEUsIfOlitim: ‘Schradycsiweies ware gseeeaey oe Ramee

*Species marked * are not illustrated.

201

PAGE.

202 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

PAGE.
86°Q. Ohioénsé S. & Liccascsaceswarescses pewewrna ved es § 82
81 ©. sordidtm Sy & Toes oii kageseieavcen s 344 Sees eee ena s 83
83: OL Speciostini: NGESi 2c vaaieeia scx ains matress te DEERE SH 82
83 O. stranguldtum Sulliv. is csicse ee eeececenwemae ene eee 86
*84 Ulota Americana (Beauv.) Lindb.................-.. 80
(U. Hutchinsiac).
85 WU. erispal Brids sssccdgs seweue xe ravens so noone el aca ges 79
86. Uy Tatidwigit Brid: oo .c.ccksc8e 254 ees eee ye vere ceed 79
SCHISTOSTEGACEAE. oa giwssedwinwnea tetieas 86
87 Schistéstega osmundacea (Dicks.) Mohr.............. 86
SPLACHNACEAE: 3. 2 Ga seacetageannseueiawees 88
88 Splachnum ampullaceum L......... 0.00. eee eee eee 88
PUNARTACEA Fag ay (st aud beer sar danilouie’ Weare 89
#80 Funaria. flavicans MSs... accu coesececeseesaaresesace 90
90 F. hygrométrica (L.) Sibth..............0- eee ee eee 89
gt Physcomitrium turbinatum (Mx.) Brid.............. 90
(P. pyriforme).
AULACOMNIACEAE. Sab, wasnetomnadesnctabae 92
92 Aulacémnium heterdéstichum (Hedw.) B. & S........ 04
O03 Av palustre Scliwaeet siic.gaie es cewek daaha taken eae 92
BARTRAMIACKAE. ccca a5 ee dees tenaenme ee nes 94
94 Bartramia Cé'deri (Cunn.) Swartz................00. 05
95 B. pomiformis (L.) Hedw................. 0... eee 04
96 Philonotis fontana (L.) Brid................0.-00-- 95
BRYACBEAR. asia Baesebaseed te edees are? 96
o7 Bryum. arcéntetin, Dpcvicnciaassaciauseneae eeee vee dan 97
#98. B.. bimuih, Schreby. on. c.5 ewes cota ees enaadce dees sete 100
OOrBs CACSPItICHUM: Wis cae < ne-suma drain ealeadaaballien veoease 98
100: Ba Duyali “Vioitt.22-428 aaea ena weg Gaewin cee wean 100
tor B. roseum (Weis.) Schreb............... 0c eee eee 97
102 Leptobryum pyriforme (L.) Wils.............0-..00. 102
103 Mnium affine Bland............ 0... ccc c cece eee eee 104
*104 M. cinclidioides (Blytt.) Hueben.................0... 108
*1o5 M. Drummondii B. & S...... eee cece eee eee 104
106. Me horhiiin Lice Aaeck aenuugienian saben po Le ea ede 106
£67: Me -punctatiiria La. ciacnsaneke eve eaes 44a Haw Re Beacons 106
*108 M. rostratum Schrad........... cee cece cece ee ees 106
og M. spinulosum B. & S...... cece cece eee 104
Tro. M..stellare sReiehi.:: «ac. ccajuaniiGn vam ncaa Raton aaa eles a eens 108

*Species marked * are not illustrated.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

*t1r M. sylvaticum Lindb................ 00.00.0000 ee cee
112: Pohl. élongata Hed Ws. gsac.j cee bend aagucesasedvaasan
113 P. nutans (Schreb.) Lindb

PLEUROCARPI

LESKEACEAE.
114 Anoémodon apiculatus B. & $......... eee ee eee
115 A. attenuatus (Schreb.) Hueben............... cin
*116 A. minor (P. Beauv.) Fuern

(A. obtusifolius).

ti7 A. fostrattis (Hedw.) Schimp..i.scccecks ceeeeaee te
*118 Thélia asprélla (Schimp.) Sulliv.................0...
Tro: T.. hirtélla CHedw.): Sulliv..sisss casein ccs ciane ian oo
*120 T. Lescurii Sulliv

124 T. scitum (Beauv.) Aust.......... 00.0... e cece eee ee

HYPNACEAE. . den tei dhs eeluatea AGED ea ated tyne
*t25 Amblystégium adnatum (Hedw.) J. & S.............
*126 A. irriguum (Hook. & Wils.) BL. & S.............0..
127 vA. serpens-(Gk.) Ba & Sica eres cmebarnns goncttis sae

128 Brachythécium acuminatum (Hedw.) Kindb........
*129 B. oxycladon (Brid.) J. & S
(Hypnum laetum).
130 B. plumdsum (Sw.) B. & SS... eee eee
131 B. poptleum (Hedw.) B. & S
132. By rivularé. By i8e Succ gacmacsea vis se caacan nat ecladions
133 Cirriphyllum Boscii (Brid.) Grout
134 Climacium Americanum Brid................ 0.00 e ee
135 C. dendroides (L.) Web. & Mohr
136 C. Kindbérgii (R. & C.) Grout...... 0.0.0... .0. eee
137 Entodon cladorrhizans (Hedw.) C. Muell
(Cylindrothecium).
138 E. sedictrix (Hedw.) C. Muell.................0085
139 Eurhynchium hians (Hedw.) J. & S

140 E. strigodsum robustum Roell.................0.0. 00
(Hypnuim strigosum in part).
141 Hylocdmium proliferum (L.) Lindb................

(Hypnum splendems).

*Species marked * are not illustrated.

204 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

PAGE.
iq2 HH. rugésum ‘(Ehrh.) DeNot? sca couee ey cae cwamnw mies 122
143 Hi, triquétrum, (is) Bi 8 Sys scarasiquwicryecews cone 123
144 Hypnum chrysophyllum Brid......... 0.0... ccc ee eee 123
145 A. erista-castrensis. Wncsvce secur eed ee shee eats 116
146 He ctrvitolitnt HedWin wi. ccc ne ewes Hee ee 117
147 He dilatattd WalSeaicaqes yna3 4.04 oe at ielg eles ba.qudnedet astound 129
743-EL,, Haldanianini ‘Grevaw.sa cca cess noonaeoiiteaseawae 11g
140 H. imponens! Hed Wess seine cage gstalieane wats eis enigeadlng 117
y50 H:. patientiae Lindh: scocess: ceases caneeae wee ceredias TLy
T5r H.. reptile’ Mix. uct. cangesganeaaces ea adbeae Rene eees Se 119
152... Selrebery WHINE a seacccaunidd qwavecyansnclaua nance emen Gk e 12I
159-H. wireinatam: Fed Wicens< cass cu era vile eteaiub ind sa 126
154 Plagiothécium denticulatum (L.) B.& §.............. 136
155 .P. sttiatéllum, (Brid.) Lindby oases ia nxeee eps cee en de ae 125
156 P. sylvaticum (Huds.) B. & S$... 1 eee eee 136
157 Pylaisia. Schimpeén RK. 82 Coc gnida nad ein ds 3aeeemees 136

158 Raphidostégium recirvans (Mx.) J. & S............ 127
159 Rhynchostégium rusciforme (Neck.) B.& S.......... 128

160 R. serrulatum (Hedw.) J. & S... ee eee ee 134
161 Leticodon brachypus Brid.............. 0. cee eee ee 143
162 L. julaceus (Hedw.) Sullivis. o.cccsesstuceerdeesctes 142
*63, Ln. sciuroidés Cl.) Schwaegt.. ccc. cc sneuacne de eee 142
NECKERACBAR. . nc.0. a6 walintaciar nasa cgectan se 49

164 Homialia trichomanoides Jamesii (Schimp.) Holz...... 144
165 Néckera pennata (L.) Hedw.......... 2. cece ee eee eee 143
PONTINALACEAE, ..00 cau eee snevaveuedaneeeus 144

166 Dichelyma capillaceum (Dill.) B. & S......... 0... . 147
167 Fontinalis dalecarlica B. & GS... ek. eee eee 148
168 F. gigantea Sulliv........ cece cece ene nena 147

(F. antipyretica gigantea).
169 F. Novae-Angliae Sulliv........0 00... cece ce eee eee 148

*Species marked * are not illustrated.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 205

HEPA TICAE,
(Names in parenthesis are from Gray’s Manual.)
PAGE.
RICCIACHAR. . a e¢havateremiiseeia gece tend 153
t Ricca: fuitans is cance te ata e mney etna Caan Ses 153
2 Ricciocarpus natans (L.) Corda................0. 000s 153
MARCH AN TTA GEAR iin sm sus gues canes ss eaceyace LSS
3 Asterélla. tenélla. (L.) Beauvs .:sci¢5 oeceenyanctatecas 157
(Fimbriaria tenella Nees.).
4 Conocéphalum conicum (L.) Dum................0.04 156
5 Grimaldia fragrans (Balb.) Corda................... 159
(G. barbifrons).
6 Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum............. 0.00. eee ee 157
7 Marchantia polymorpha Li. iscavisceascadiaie pearance 156
8 Preissia quadrata (Scop.) Nees............-.0008 cae 158
(P. commutata).
9 Rebotlia hemisphaérica (L.) Raddi................... 159
; (Asterella hemisphacrica).
METZGERIACHAE 2 4) (sited chaléGuintaiaberwseneas 160
10 Blasia pusilla, Day casi tigas saa eeneneeuesne aaa deere 162
rr Metzgéria conjugata Lindbi.s ccs cu. ecniia cieaenaeees 161
12 Pallavicinia Lyélii (Hook.) S. F. Gray................ 161
13 Péllia epiphylla (L.) Corda. cccavcacyesssecareaaw saa’ 162
14 P. Neesiana (Gottsche) Limpr....................05- 163
*r5, P. endiviaefolia. CDicks:) Duttsiss'ss cyanea van gen sag sees 163
“16 Riecardia, latirrons Tindbi:. avenvecas bareeanweuny Ses BEALE 164
(Aneura latifrons Lindb.).
17° R, multinda, CL.) S.-B.(Graycces. ok cour eessa s 3 eed 165
(A. multiida Dum.).
18 R. pings CL.) SP VGeay as aves desea oie ed Bias sans 164
(A. pinguis Dum.).
JUNGERMANNIACEAE. 6. eee ee eee 165
19 Bazzania triangularis (Schleich.) Lindb............... 177
(B. deflexa).
20-8. trilobata (Lay Sse Gtayieuaicg ka esa tonirwntnam gape 176
21 Blepharéstoma trichophyllum (L.) Dum.............. 174
23 Cephalozia. SpeCieSs dsacsenne po suse yews dog raw dae pees 176
23 Chiloscyphus polyanthos (L.) Corda...............005 185

*Species marked * are not illustrated.

206 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

PAGE.
24 Frullania Asagrayana Mont........... 00. cece eee eee 168
25 F. Eboracénsis. Gottsché. wiacnccies sees aviue seaeeek cas 167
26 Gedcalyx gravéolens (Schrad.) Nees............004 179
27 Harpanthus scutatus (Web. & Mohr.) Spruce.......... 180
28 Jamsoniélla autumnalis (DC.) Steph...............-.. 184
(Jungermannia Schraderi).
*29 Jibula Hutchin8iae (Hook.) Dum................005 168
30 Jungermannia lanceolata L.......... 0. eee ee eee 185
(Liochlaena lanceolata).
31 Kantia Trichémanis (L.) S. F. Grays....... eee eee eee 178
32 Lejetinea cavifolia (Ehrh.) Lindb.................00. 170
33 L. clypeata (Schwein.) Sulliv.................. ee eeee 171
34 Lepidozia réptans (L.) Dum............ eee eee eee 175
#ac Ni. sylvatica i vanSucan manawangrendawas eee BEL eeee ee oe 176
36 Lophocélea heterophylla (Schrad.) Dum.............. 179
7° Len. amminOT: N@CSii 2-44.05 aenucaain Sh aohad memos de aueie eee 180
38 Lophozia barbata (Schreb.) Dum.................00 181
(Jungermannia barbata).
30) Ls incisa, CSchrad.) Dumicuss acces revaneeees aces axes 181
(J. incisa).
4o Nardia crenulata (Smith) Lindb.................... 184
41 Odontoschisma denudatum (Mart.) Dum............. 183
42 O. prostratum (Swartz) Trevis............cceee cece ee 182
(O. sphagni, of American authors only.)
43 Plagiochila asplenoides (L.) Dum.................005 178
44. Porélla: pinnata, Liss dcuwee'siaccesacisandena nnndean te seine 168
45\ P. platyphylla, Ch.) Lind bg gc iendg anicetue panes bah enaen 168
46 Ptilidium ciliare (L.) Nees..... pledede Oui si beh aac wean 174
47 Radula complanata (L.) Dum..................000 00s 171
48 Scapania nemordsa (L.) Dum........ cece cece eee 172
AQ: Sy-undulata: -CL.): (Dumuaseiaix pesos cesecn ee hoagie s eens 173
50 Sphendlobus Michauxii (Web.) Steph................ 181
(Jungermannia Michauxit). :
51 Trichocolea tomentélla (Ehrh.) Dum................. 173
ANTHOCEROTACEAE, 2.0. ceecccceeceeeeeeuaes 154
bo Anthoceros: laéyist [ys asaeus ies gaipanwaw argon aatas amision 154
63..A. punctatus o.oo av onueaeeeenesusn Maem aey alas mba 154
54 Notothylas orbicularis (Schwein.) Sulliv.............. 154

*Species marked * are not illustrated.

MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 207
INDEX.

PAGE PAGE.
INCCENESs ye ge Re RS 4 Didymodon. 38
Amblystegium. . . 119, 126, 130 Diphyscium. 29
Andrezaceae. . . 15 Ditrichum. 2 BF
Andreaea. a . . 15 Drummondia. 78, 81
Anomodon. . 108 Encalyptaceae. 76
Anthocerotaceae. . .. 154 Encalypta. . 76
Anthoceros. . . . . . 154 Entodon. IT4, 137
Apple Mosses. . : 04 Errata. ; 198
Asterella,. .. .) . 157. Eurhynchium. II4, 133
Astomum. : Extinguisher Mosses. 76
Atrichum. See Catharinea. Fern Mosses. . . III
Aulacomniaceae. . “ g2 _ Fissidentaceae. 30
Aulacomnium. . . .. g2 Fissidens. 30, II4
Barbula. . . . 6, 67, 70 ~+Fontinalaceae. 146
Bartramiaceae. . .. 94. Fontinalis. ‘ Io, 146
Bartramia. 37, 63, 94. Fountain Moss. . 147
Bazzania. 176 ~=Frullania. 168
Beaked Mosses. . . 133, 135 Funariaceae. 89
Blastan ay sow 48s ... 62 Funaria. 89
Blepharostoma. 174 Geocalyx. 179
Bog Moss. . . 92 Georgiaceae. 17
Brachythecium. ee Georgia. 6, 17
. . . . FI4, 121, 130, 139 © Glossary. 186
Broom Moss. . 45 Grimaldia. Ld 159
Bruchia. ses Shee 36, 37 Grimmiaceae. . 51, 78, 136
Bryaceae. or .. 96 Grimmia. ae 15, 17, 55
Bryum. 2... 96, 103 Gymnocybe. . 92
“ Long-necked. 102 Gymnostomum. 63
Buxbaumiaceae. . . 28 Hair-cap Mosses. 19
Buxbaumia. .. 28 Harpanthus. 181
Catharinea. . , 6,25 Harpidium. . . 125
Cephalozia. 52 176 ~=Hedwigia. 52
Ceratodon. . 8, 37, 39, 70, 92 Hepaticae. . I, 151
Chiloscyphus. . 185 Homalia. ..... 144
Cirriphyllum. TTA, 135 Hooked Mosses. 125
Climacium. . . 4 139 ©. Hygrohypnum. Loree . 130
Conocephalum. 3 156 Hylocomium. . . 113, 122, 123
Cord Moss. . 89 Hypnaceae. 114

Cylindrothecium. See Entodon Hypnum. :
Cynodontium. . 39 8, I, 115, 123. 124, 130
Desmatodon. . 74 Hypnum, Water-loving. 128
Dichelyma. 146 Jamsoniella. . 184
Dicranaceae. ‘ 34. = Jubula. ‘ 168
Dicranella. . ae, 41 Jungermanniaceae. 165
Dicranodontium. . 48 Jungermannia. 185
Dicranum. ..... Kantia. 178
8, 11, 17, 30, 41. 45 Labels. 4

208 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS

PACE.
Lejetmeaie: a. ee ¢ . 170
Lepidozia.. . .... %I75
Leptobryum. . . . 02
Leptotrichum. . .. 37
Leskeaceae. ... 108
Teskead aa. went hg ay as 109
Leucobryum. . . 50
Leucodon. : : . I41
Lichen$ sg ace ak I
Life History. . a 5
Liverworts. ....... I
Liverworts, Horned. . 154
Long-necked Moss. . 102
Lophocolea. .... .. 179
Lophozia.. ..... 181
Luminous Moss. 86
Lunularia.. .... . 187
Marchantia. . . .. 156
Metzgeriaceae. . . . 160
Metzgeria. . : , . 161
Mnium. 27, 9?, 97, 103
Mosses... .. ... IL
Nasdiae cscs. rseae une 184
Neckera. 143
Notothylas. 154
Odontoschisma. .. . 182
Oncophorus. . 30
Orthotrichaceae. . 78

Orthotrichum 10, 15, We 79, be
Pallavicinia.

Peat Mosses. 5, 11, yes
Pellia. .. 162
Philonotis. 95
Physcomitrium. 90
Plagiochila. . .. 178
Plagiothecium. .....

oo: II4, 124, 135, 137
Pleuridium. 35, 37, 63
Plume Moss. . vn TI6
Pogonatum. : 3) 23
Pohlia. .. 2... 97, 100, 103
Polytrichaceae. 18
Polytrichum. . 6, 19
Porella. . 108, 169
Pottia. 63, 90, OI
Preissia. 158

Ptilidium. 174

PAGE.
Ptychomitrium. 51, 53
Pylatsia; a ee a IT4, 136
Pylaisiella. oo. .... 137
Readies o2> boca! dv Gervanwies ees 171
Raphidostegium. II4, 127
Reboulia, . 2 2 «© aa «4 159
Reindeer Moss... ... I
Rhacomitrium. . - 55, 59

Rhynchostegiumr 174, 129, 134

Riccatdia.. 5b wae 163
Ricciaceae. BD) Gece . 153
Riécias-. ak ae Swe 153
Ricciocarpus. .... < 353
Scale Mosses....... 165
Scale Mosses, Thalloid. . 160
Scapania sis sed i ete 172
Schistostegaceae. .. . 8&6
Schistostega. ..... 86
Shaggy Moss. .. . 123
Slides... . ae 2
Sphagnaceae. ..... II
Sphagnum. ..... 14
Sphenolobus. z $81
Splachnaceae. 88
Splachnum. ; 88
Spoon-leaved Moss. 135
Tetraphis. ... ....
Tetrodontium. 18
Thelia. ‘ 3, 10
Thuidium. 55 ro8, Iti
Tortella. . ak a GO
Tortulaceae. 37, 78. 63, OF
Tortula. 72, 76
Tree Mosses. 139
Trematodon. . . 40
Trichocolea. ae 173
Twisted Mosses..... 72
UIGtais e5 4s 52, 55, 79, 81
Urn Moss. 90
Water-loving Hypnums. 128
Water Mosses... ... 146
Water Moss, Beaked. & ©3129
Webera. . . 5, 20, 97
Weisia. 37, 64, 70
Weissia. ......2.0. 79
White Moss. sage 50

MOSSES
WITH A HAND.-LENS.

Price, $1.50 on all orders received before April 1st. After
that, $1.75. A limited signed edition of 25 copies with actual
specimens of 200 species mounted on interleaved blank pages is
in preparation. Price $15.00.

Mosses with Hand-Lens and Microscope, a quarto work
issued in paper parts of about 80 pages, is on the same plan as
the other but is more advanced and complete. It is printed by
McFarland on the finest coated paper made and is a work of art
as well as of science. A supplement will be issued, making it a
complete manual of all the mosses of the region.

Prof. Charles R. Barnes of the University of Chicago says
in the Botanical Gazette (June, 1904) published by the same
institution : ;

“The second part of Grout’s Mosses with Hand-lens and
Microscope well sustains the promise of its predessor. * * * * *
All in all, the work is admirable both in conception and in ex-
ecution. It is difficult to understand how it can be sold at the
very low price asked.”

Part I and II now ready, $1.00 per part. Upon the issue
of part V all new orders will be $1.25 per part.

For the convenience of moss students I have arranged to
furnish a Queen coddington lens of about 10 diameters magnifying
power for $1.50, and an excellent high power aplanatic triplet,
one-quarter inch focus and about 40 diameters magnifying power,
for $5.00. A discount of 10 per cent. will be allowed purchasers
of either of my books, also to subscribers to the Bryologist. I
can also furnish any extant work on mosses subject to the usual
restrictions in the case of books that are rare or out of print.

All moss students should subscribe to the Bryologist, a 16-20
page bimonthly devoted to the study of mosses, hepatics, and
lichens. Fully illustrated. One dollar per year.

A. J. GROUT,
360 Lenox Road,
Brooklyn, N. Y.

nce
ea

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Full text of "Mosses with a hand-lens; a non-technical handbook of the more common and more easily recognized mosses of the north-eastern United States"

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