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BERNARD MARTOF
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HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
HOW
TO KNOW THE MOSSES
A POPULAR GUIDE TO THE MOSSES
OF THE
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
Containing keys to eighty genera
and short descriptions of over one hundred and
Jifty species with special reference to tJie
disti}2gnishing characteristics tJiat are
apparent zvithout tJie aid of a le?is
BY
ELIZABETH MARIE DUNHAM
MEMBER OF THE SULLIVANT MOSS SOCIETY
With Illustrations by
the Author
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, I916, BY ELIZABETH MARIE DUNHAM
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE
THIS BOOK OR PARTS THEREOF IN ANY FORM
Published May iqib
TO
MY HUSBAND
Meek creatures! the first mercy of the earth, veiling with
hushed softness the dintlcss rocks; creatures full of pity, cover-
ing with strange and tender honor the scarred disgrace of ruin,
— laying quiet fingers on the trembling stones to teach them
rest. ... No words that I know of will say what these mosses
are. None are dehcate enough, none perfect enough, none rich
enough. How is one to tell of rounded bosses of furred and beam-
ing green, — the starred divisions of rubied bloom, fine filmed
as if the Rock Spirits could spin porphyry as we do glass, — the
tracery of intricate silver, and fringes of amber, lustrous, ar-
borescent, burnished through every fiber into fitful brightness
and glossy traverses of silken change, yet all subdued and pen-
sive, and framed for simplest, sweetest offices of grace. They
will not be gathered, like the flowers, for chaplet or love-token,
but of these the wild bird will make its nest, and the wearied
child his pillow.
John Ruskin, Modern Painters,
PREFACE
The object of this book is to present mosses in a
simple, non-technical way, so that the student may
recognize at least their genera and in some cases their
species without depending upon the use of a lens. The
books on mosses that have been published up to the
present time have required the use of a hand-lens or
microscope in order to follow either the Keys or the
descriptions. Wonderful and interesting detail in
structure is revealed by this higher method of study,
but mosses would remain unknown to many if no
simpler and quicker way of learning them was pre-
sented.
When urged to undertake the work of thus simplify-
ing the study of mosses, the author, together with most
moss students, held the idea that microscopic examina-
tion was necessary in order to know mosses. It was
pointed out that, while a thorough knowledge of the
different species must be obtained from microscopic
study and technical books, the people who are content
to recognize violets, asters, and goldenrods, without
knowing the specific names, would be equally inter-
ested to know the generic names of mosses. A Key only
to the genera of mosses, therefore, seemed perfectly
feasible, as in nearly every case there is some family or
X PREFACE
generic character that is recognizable in the field with-
out the aid of a lens. In the descriptions of a few gen-
era some additional characteristics visible with a hand-
lens are given. These are not necessar}^ for the use of
the Keys, but are of interest in bringing out some
special points.
In arranging the Keys it seemed best not to carry
them out under many headings to a single genus, but
to keep them as simple as possible and group even
several genera under one head. This plan requires the
student to refer constantly to the illustrations and
descriptions and in this way to become familiar with
the names and appearances of the different mosses.
The Keys have been tested satisfactorily by several
people. When they did not work out correctly, it was
usually found that the trouble lay in failure either to
read the explanatory chapters, to follow the Keys care-
fully, or to study the descriptions thoroughly.
The mosses included in the Keys are those that are
commonly or occasionally collected in the northeastern
part of the United States. But the Keys really cover a
much larger field, many of the mosses being widely
distributed, as will be seen by reading the range given
with each genus or species.
Four full pages of illustrations of terms used in de-
scribing mosses accompany the chapters on ''Habit
and Manner of Growth," "Leaves," and ''Capsules."
Other illustrations occurring throughout the text, with
the exception of a few in the Introduction, are drawn
PREFACE xi
natural size with an occasional enlarged plant, leaf,
or capsule. Average specimens were selected for the
illustrations, but allowances must be made for varia-
tions in size and branching.
The nomenclature given is that used by Dr. Bro-
therus in Engler and Prantl's Die Natiirlichen
Pflanzenfamilien, Teil i, Abteilung iii. As the Latin
name of mosses in some cases is still a matter of dis-
pute, synonyms are given in italics where the name
has recently been changed. English names are usually
lacking, but in most cases the Latin names are no
longer than geranium or rhododendron, and when
one becomes familiar with them they will seem no
harder. The generic and specific names have been
accented and the former divided into syllables. The
grave accent C) indicates the long English sound of
the vowel, the acute accent (0 shows the shortened
sound. It is the custom in EngHsh-speaking countries
to pronounce the botanical names according to the
EngKsh method of pronouncing Latin.
In the preparation of this book, the following books
have been used for reference : Mosses with a Hand-Lens
and Microscope, A. J. Grout; Mosses of Western Penn-
sylvania, 0. E. Jennings; The Bryophytes of Connecticut,
Evans and Nichols; Handbook of British Mosses,
Dixon and Jameson; British Moss Flora, Braithwaite;
and various other sources for derivations of generic
names and explanation of abbreviations of author's
names not found in the books mentioned.
xii PREFACE
I wish to take this opportunity to express my appre-
ciation to the many friends who have assisted in the
preparation of this book. Grateful acknowledgment is
due to Mr. Hey ward Scudder for the suggestion of
making a Key to the genera of mosses to be used with-
out a lens, for testing the Keys, for much advice in
writing the preliminary chapters, for reading and cor-
recting the manuscript, and for many valuable sugges-
tions. Mrs. Frank E. Lowe, Mr. H. Donald Kemp,
and my sister, Miss Ethel A. Pennell, have read the
preliminary chapters, tested the Keys, and given help-
ful advice. I am indebted to Mrs. Lowe for collecting
fresh mosses for study and comparison. Among others
who have also patiently tried the Keys are Miss
Georgia H. Emery, Miss Jane M. Furber, Miss Marie
R. Felix, Miss Elizabeth A. Dike, Mrs. Frank C.
Smith, Mrs. John L. Wright, and Miss Margaret
Kemp. I am indebted to Mrs. Elizabeth G. Britton
and Mr. Edward B. Chamberlain for answering many
questions regarding nomenclature, authorities, and
synonyms. Dr. A. J. Grout kindly gave me the deri-
vation of Cirriphyllum and Miss Furber and Mr.
Chamberlain assisted in looking up some of the other
derivations. I am indebted to my husband, Mr.
Horace C. Dunham, for helpful suggestions in drawing
the illustrations.
While recognizing its limitations and imperfections,
I trust the book will accomplish much toward introduc-
ing the mosses to those who have not known them, and
PREFACE xlli
in this way partly repay Mr. Charles J. Maynard and
Mr. Walter Gerritson for their kind instruction when
I began to study mosses, and all other friends for
their assistance, interest, and encouragement while
the work was in progress.
CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS OF NA]\IES OF AUTHORS . . xxiii
INTRODUCTION i
HABIT AND MANNER OF GROWTH 12
LEAVES 15
CAPSULES 20
THE KEYS EXPLAINED 23
HOW TO USE THE KEYS 26
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS 32
KEY TO DISTINGUISH MOSSES FROM COMIMON
HEPATICS AND LICHENS 39
LEAF KEY TO GENERA 41
CAPSULE KEY TO GENERA 53
LIST OF GENERA 70
Class BRYOPHYTES — Sub-Class MUSCI
Order I. SPHAGNALES
Family SPHAGNACEAE 73
Order IL ANDREAEALES
Family ANDREAEACEAE 75
Order III. BRYALES
ACROCARPI
Family DICRANACEAE 77
Family LEUCOBRYACEAE 95
Family FISSIDENTACEAE 97
xvi CONTENTS
Family POTTIACEAE loo
Family GRIMMIACEAE iii
Family ORTHOTRICHACEAE ii6
Family FUNARIACEAE 122
Family BRYACEAE 126
Family MNIACEAE 134
Family AULACOMNIACEAE 139
Family BARTRAMIACEAE 143
Family TIMMIACEAE 148
Family WEBERACEAE 150
Family BUXBAUMIACEAE 152
Family GEORGIACEAE 154
Family POLYTRICHACEAE 156
PLEUROCARPI
Family HEDWIGIACEAE 172
Family FONTINALACEAE 175
Family CLIMACIACEAE 179
Family LEUCODONTACEAE 182
Family NECKERACEAE 185
Family ENTODONTACEAE 189
Family LESKEACEAE 195
Family HYPNACEAE 208
Family BRACHYTHECIACEAE 243
APPENDIX
Helps to Identification of the Most Common and Con-
spicuous Mosses 261
GLOSSARY 269
INDEX .275
ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATES
Plate I. Illustrations of Terms .... facing 12
Plate II. Illustrations of Terms .... facing 14
Plate III. Illustrations of Terms .... facing 18
Plate IV. Illustrations of Terms .... facing 22
Plate V. Dicranum facing 88
Plate VI. Mnium facing 134
Plate VII. Polytrichum facing 162
FIGURES IN THE TEXT
Reindeer Moss (Cladonia rangiferina) 4
Red-tipped Moss (Cladonia cristatella) 4
Beard Moss (Usnea barbata) 4
Lycopodium lucidulum 5
Lycopodium obscurum 5
Long Moss (Tillandsia) 6
Flowering Moss (Pyxidanthera) 6
Liverwort (Marchantia) 7
Scale Moss (Bazzania) 7
Ceratodon purpureus 26
Sphagnum cymbifolium 73
Andreaea petrophlla 75
Trematodon ambiguus 77
Ditrichum tortile 79
Ditrichum pallidum 80
xviii ILLUSTRATIONS
Saelania glaucescens 8i
Ceratodon purpureus 82
DlSTICHlUM CAPILLACEUM 84
Dicranella heteromalla 8.5
Oncophorus Wahlenbergii 86
Leucobryum glaucum 95
FlSSmENS ADIANTOIDES 97
Weisia viridula 100
Hymenostylium CURVIROSTRE lOI
tortella tortuosa io3
tortella caespitosa i03
didymodon rubellus . i04
Barbula unguiculata 105
pottia truncatula i06
tortula muralis i08
tortula papillosa i08
Encalypta ciliata 109
GRIMMIA APOCARPA 112
Rhacomitrium aciculare 114
Drummondia clavellata 116
Orthotrichum sordidum 118
Orthotrichum anomalum 118
Orthotrichum Braunii ii8
Ulota ulophylla 120
PhYSCOMITRIUM TURBINATUM 122
FUNARIA HYGROMETRICA 1 24
Leptobryum pyreforme 126
Pohlia nutans 128
Bryum caespiticium 129
ILLUSTRATIONS xix
Bryum argenteum 130
Rhodobryum ontariense 132
aulacomnium heterosticiium i40
aulacomnium palustre 141
Plagiopus Oederi 143
Bartramia pomiformis 144
Philonotis fontana 146
TiMMIA CUCULLATA I48
Webera sessilis 150
Buxbaumia apiiylla 152
Georgia pellucida 154
Catharinaea undulata 157
Catharinaea angustata 158
POGONATUM BREVICAULE l6l
Pogonatum capillare 162
Hedwigia albicans 173
FONTINALIS antipyretic A VAR. GIGANTEA 1 75
Fontinalis novae-angliae 175
DiCHELYMA CAPILLACEUM I77
Climacium dendroides 179
Leucodon julaceus 183
Leucodon brachypus 183
Neckera pennata 185
Homalia Jamesii 186
Thamnium alleghaniense 188
Entodon cladorrhizans 190
Entodon seductrix 190
Platygyrium repens 192
Pylaisia Sciiimperi 193
XX ILLUSTRATIONS
Thelia HIRTELLA IQS
Myurella gracilis 197
Anomodon rostratus 199
Anomodon minor 199
Anomodon attenuatus 200
Leskea polycarpa 201
Thuidium abietinum 202
Thuidium delicatulum 202
Helodium lanatum 206
Helodium paludosum 206
Amblystegium serpens 208
Amblystegium riparium 209
HoMOM ALLIUM ADNATUM 2IO
HyGRO amblystegium IRRIGUUM 212
HyGRO AMBLYSTEGIUM FLUVIATILE 212
Drepanocladus uncinatus . , , 214
Drepanocladus fluitans 215
Calliergon cordifolium 216
Acrocladium cuspid atum 218
Hygrohypnum dilatatum 219
Hygrohypnum eugyrium var. Mackayi 219
CtENIDIUM MOLLUSCUM 222
Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus 223
Hylocomium proliferum 225
Hylocomium umbratum 227
Hypnum Schreberi 229
Ptilium crista-castrensis 230
Stereodon reptilis .233
Stereodon imponens 234
ILLUSTR.\TIONS xxi
Stereodon arcuatus 236
Stereodon Haldanianus 237
isopterygium turfaceum 238
Plagiotiiecium denticulatum 240
Plagiothecium striatellum 242
Camptothecium nitens 243
Brachythecium salebrosum 244
Brachythecium rivulare 247
cirriphyllum boscii 250
oxyrhynchium rusciforme 25 1
eurhynchium strigosum var. robustum 253
Bryhnia novae-angliae 254
Rhynchostegium serrulatum 256
ABBREVIATIONS OF NAMES
OF AUTHORS
Note. The abbreviations, or in a few cases the full names, given after the
generic or specific names of the mosses refer to the botanists who named the
plants. When the same botanical name was used earlier by another author in
a different connection, the name of the earlier author is given in parentheses.
Aust. Austin, Coe F.
Banks Banks, George
Bcauv. (= Palis.) Beauvois, A. M. F. J., Palisot de
Bland. Blandow, Otto C.
Blytt Blytt, Matthias N.
Brid. Bridel, Samuel E.
Broth. Brotherus, Dr. V. F.
Bruch Bruch, Philipp
Bryol. Eur. Bryologia Europaea. A publication by Bruch &
Schimper.
C. Miill. Mulltr. C.
De Not. De Notaris
Dicks. Dickson, James
Dill. Dillenius, Johann J.
E. G. B. Britton, Elizabeth G.
Ehrh. Ehrhart, Friedrich
Funck Funck, Heinrich C.
Fiirnr. Fiirnrohr
Grev. Greville, Robert K.
Grout Grout, Dr. A. J.
Gunn. Gunnerus, Johann E.
Hall. Haller, Albert von
Hammar Hammar, Olof
Hamp. Hampe, Ernst
Hedw. Hedwig, Johann
Hoffm. Hoffmann, George F.
Hook. Hooker, William J.
Hook. & Tayl. Hooker, W. J., & Taylor, Thomas
XXIV ABBREVIATIONS
Hornsch. Hornschuch, Christian F.
Hiiben. Hiibener, J. W. P.
Huds. Hudson
Jaeg. & Sauerb. Jaeger & Sauerbeck
James James, Thomas P.
Kaur. Kaurin
Lesq. Lesquereux, Leo
Leyss. Leysser, Friedrich W. von
L. Linnaeus, Carolus
Limpr. Limpricht
Lindb. Lindberg, Sextus O.
Loesk. Loeske
Menz. Menzies, Archibald
Michx. Michaux. Andre
Milde Milde, Julius
Mitt. Mitten, William
Mohr Mohr, Daniel M. H.
Mull. MuUer, C.
Myr. Myrin, Claes G.
Neck. Necker, Noel Joseph de
Nichols Nichols, George E.
Palis. (= Beauv.) Palisot de Beauvois, A. M. F. J,
Paris Paris, E. G.
Rabenh. Rabenhorst, Ludwig
Ren. & Card. Renauld & Cardot
Rich. Richard, Louis C. M.
Roell Roell
Rohl Rohl, E. von
Roth Roth, Georg
Schimp. Schimper, W. P.
Schmid. Schmidel, Casimir C.
Schreb. Schreber, Johann D. C. von
Schrad. Schrader, Heinrich A.
Schwaegr. Schwaegrichen, Christian F,
Sibth. Sibthorp, John
Sm. Smith, John
Stark. Starke
Stroem Stroem, Hans
Sull. SuUivant, WiUiam S.
ABBREVIATIONS xxv
Sull. & Lesq. SuUivant & Lcsqucreux
Sw. Swartz, Olaf
Timm Timm, Joachim C.
Turn. Turner, Dawson
Vill. Villars, Dominique
Wahl. Wahlcnbcrg, Gcorg
VVarnst. Warnstorf, C.
Web. Weber, Friedrich
Web. & Mohr Weber, Friedrich, & Mohr, Daniel M. H.
Weinm. Weinmann, J. A.
Weis Weis, Ludwig
Willd. Willdenow, Carl L.
Wils. Wilson, William
HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
INTRODUCTION
If it were not for the mosses, it is difficult to say how
barren the woods would be or how much beauty would
be lost to nature. Wherever mosses occur there is an
added bit of color. The eye is attracted by the green,
velvety clumps of the upright plants, the delicate
texture of the prostrate ones, or by the brighter color
of the slender fruit-stalks.
Mosses are relatively small plants, but they often
form a conspicuous part of the vegetation, owing to the
extensive branching and the prolonged growth of the
stems and their rapid multiplication. (See illustrations
throughout the book; also parts of a moss, Plate I.)
The plants are always some shade of green, often
brightened by touches of red, orange, or yellow in
the fruit and fruit-stalk. They consist of a stem and
leaves, although either of these may be greatly re-
duced. The stems are erect, prostrate or ascending,
branched or unbranched, reaching several inches in
length in the largest species, while others are so
short that there is only a tiny tuft of leaves, and the
fruit and fruit-stalk are the conspicuous parts of the
plants. (See chapter on ''Habit and Manner of
Growth," p. 12.) The leaves vary in size, the longest
2 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
measuring fully one-half inch, while many others are
too small or too closely folded to be seen easily. The
beginner will mistake branches for leaves at first,
especially when the leaves are small and the branches
numerous. (See chapter on "Leaves," p. 15.) A Httle
experience in examining different kinds of mosses will
best enable one to know what are branches and what
are leaves. Mosses branch much as other plants do, and
the leaves usually grow all around both the stem and
the branches, sometimes thickly covering them and so
closely overlapping that the outline of the leaf cannot
be seen. The leaves are better seen when moist, as they
usually spread then more than when dry. If the plants
are held to the light, at least the tips of even the small
leaves generally can be seen standing out around the
stems and branches. The leaves are thin and flat,
while the branches are usually cylindrical in general
outline, especially when the leaves are small and
closely folded.
The appearance of most mosses changes according
to the amount of moisture in the leaves. When moist,
the leaves are well expanded and usually spreading;
when dry, they either becomie more erect and fold
against the stem, closely overlapping, or else they are
twisted and curled (crisped). Unlike dried flowering
plants, mosses when dried are not past reviving, but
can be restored to fresh conditions by being placed in
water. This is due to difference in the structure and
function of parts of the plants. Plants of the higher
INTRODUCTION 3
orders are dependent upon roots for absorbing most of
their food and moisture and this is carried up through
the stem and distributed to all parts of the plant by
means of conducting cells. The leaves, as well as other
parts of the plant, are entirely surrounded with a
special layer of cells the outer walls of which contain a
substance called ^'cutin," which renders this coating
practically water- and gas-proof. This waterproof
coating prevents excessive evaporation and also ab-
sorption of water. Mosses, on the other hand, are not
dependent upon roots for absorbing water, and the
leaves and other parts of the plant are not provided
with a waterproof coating. This structure not only
causes mosses to dry easily, but also enables them to
absorb water quickly through the entire surface of the
leaves and all parts of the plant and so resume the
appearance of fresh plants when dried specimens are
placed in water.
Mosses are widely distributed, and are found in all
sorts of places except in salt water. They grow on
moist and on dry ground ; on bare rocks and ledges and
on those that are covered with soil; on trees; on decay-
ing wood, such as old logs and stumps; on old roofs;
and even in streams and ponds and in places that are
sometimes submerged. They are especially abundant
in cool, moist woods and luxuriant swamps where old
logs are rotting, but many may be found in drier and
more open places, such as old fields and meadows,
and even along the roadside.
HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
The name ''moss " is commonly applied to a number
of plants that do not belong to the true mosses. Only a
few of these plants, especially some of the hepatics,
resemble the mosses in general appearance; the others
are very different in structure, growth, or color; and
two belong to the flowering plants.
Lichens are often called mosses by those unfamiliar
with the lower forms of plant-life; but the absence of
Reindeer Moss
Cladonia rangijerina
Red-tipped Moss
Cladonia cristatella
LICHENS
Beard Moss
Usnea barbata
anything like leaves arranged around a stem, and of
the bright green of foHage or grass, at once separates
them from the mosses and other higher plants. A
lichen is composed of an alga and a fungus living to-
gether in a state of mutual benefit. Although the alga
supplies a little chlorophyll, or green matter, the gen-
eral color of lichens, especially when dry, is usually
some shade of gray or very pale green, or, if green
when moist, becoming gray when dry. Some species
are orange or brown. The plant-body is called a thai-
INTRODUCTION
Ills, which means without a true stem and leaves, in
the sense that these terms are used in connection with
the higher plants. Some lichens are flat, more or less
disk-shaped; some are erect and have a hollow, stem-
like structure which is often branched; while others are
thread-like and hang from trees.
The stiff, shrubby growth called *' reindeer moss," the
winter food of the reindeer; the ''red- tipped moss" with
bright-red fruit-caps; and the "beard moss" which
hangs like a gray beard from old trees, are all lichens.
Sea mosses (Algae) belong, with the lichens and
fungi, to a lower order than the land mosses. Although
the true mosses grow on cliffs by the sea, they nev«r
grow in salt water as the algae do. Irish moss used in
cooking is an alga.
The so-called "club mosses" (Lycopodiaceae) are
Lycopodium luciduliim
Reduced
Lycopodium obscurum
Reduced
CLUB MOSSES
6 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
larger, coarser, more robust plants than the mosses and
belong to a higher order. They have woody stems and
stiff, evergreen leaves. "Stag's horn moss" is a popular
name for some species of Lycopodium, differently used
in different locahties.
Long Moss (Tillandsia) Flowering Moss (Pyxidanthera)
Reduced Reduced
FLOWERING PLANTS
The "long moss" which hangs in long tufts from
branches of trees in the South, and the "flowering
moss" which grows prostrate in the pine barrens of
New Jersey and southward, belong to the flowering
plants, and will not be confused with the mosses except
in name. " Florida moss " is the long moss.
The hepatics or liverworts, especially the leafy liver-
worts sometimes called "scale mosses" (Jungermanni-
ales) , somewhat resemble certain mosses, and one needs
to know something of their appearance in order to
recognize them. They are a rather dark green, and are
INTRODUCTION 7
found in moist woods on rocks, trees, old logs, etc., not
infrequently growing with mosses.
The true liverworts {Marchantiales) do not have a
true stem or leaves, but are broad and flat, and cling
closely to the substratum. They are less frequently
Liverwort (Marchanlia) Scale Moss i^azzania)
HEPATICS
confused with mosses. It is in regard to the leafy liver-
worts, or ''scale mosses" (Jungermanniales) , that one
particularly needs a word of warning.
The scale mosses have leafy stems and are pros-
trate, ascending, or erect. The leaves are usually
rounded, lobed, or cleft, often curved under at the tips,
and never have a midrib. There are two rows of leaves,
one on each side of the stem, with a third row of modi-
fied leaves underneath; so that the plants are not only
flattened, but have also two distinct surfaces. This
flattened appearance of the stems and the peculiar
shape of the leaves are good distinguishing character-
istics that separate these hepatics from the mosses.
The leaves of mosses are never lobed or cleft, and are
usually arranged all around the stem, so that the
8 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
plants do not show a distinct upper and lower surface.
A midrib may or may not be present. In many species
it can be seen when the plants are held to the light. In
the genus Fissidens (p. 97) the leaves are in only two
rows and mHomalia (p. 186) nearly in two rows, but
they do not curl under at the tips as the leaves of he-
patics so often do. In some other mosses the leaves
appear to be in two rows, as they turn in two opposite
directions and are somewhat flattened, but in these
cases the shape of the leaves or the presence of the fruit
helps to distinguish the plants. The mosses are more
numerous than the hepatics.
On account of the importance of distinguishing
certain hepatics, the following table may be helpful : —
Leafy Hepatics Mosses
{Jungermanniales)
Plants Always flattened, with Not always flattened, usually
two distinct surfaces; the without a lower or back surface,
lower or back surface to-
ward which the leaves
curl sometimes bearing
what appear to be root-
lets.
Leaves Arranged in two oppo- Usually arranged equally
site rows; rounded, lobed around stem; never lobed or cleft
or cleft, often curved un- and when rounded not curved
der at tips. under at tips.
Midrib Absent. Present or absent.
Classification and Life History
The mosses, or Musci, and the liverworts, or He-
paticae, are the two divisions of the Bryophytes, a Class
coming between the fungi and the ferns. The mosses
INTRODUCTION 9
are more numerous than the liverworts and are divided
into three Orders: I. Sphagnales, or peat mosses;
II. Andreaeales; III. Bryales, or true mosses. The first
two Orders are described in separate chapters, as they
differ in structure from the true mosses. See Sphag-
nales (p. 73) and Andreaeales (p. 75).
The reproduction of mosses is accomplished in two
general ways, sexually and asexually. In the asexual
or vegetative reproduction, that is, multiplication by
other means than by the sexually formed s pores, either
small organisms, known as ''gemmae," produced
among the leaves or at the end of slender branches,
become separated from the parent plant and develop
new individuals, or parts of the plants, such as bits
of the stem, branches, or leaves, become detached and
grow into new plants. In the sexual reproduction,
mosses, like ferns, start from a spore, not from a seed.
The spore first produces a green thread-like growth
called protonema, and upon this a tiny bud develops
that grows into the leafy plant. The male and female
flowers occur at the apex or on the side of the stems
and branches, sometimes growing on the same plant
and sometimes on separate plants. The sexual organs
are microscopic, but the male buds are often conspicu-
ous and surrounded by a rosette of bract-like leaves
that are green, red, or orange. The sperms from the
male flowers swim in moisture, after rains or heavy
dews, to the egg-cell of the female flower. After fertili-
zation takes place, the fruit or capsule develops, en-
lo HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
closing the spores. The capsule is usually borne above
the plant on a stalk of varying length, called the seta.
When the seta is very short or lacking, the capsule is
almost hidden in the surrounding leaves. At the mouth
of the capsule are special parts that serve to protect the
spores until they are mature and ready to be scattered
to develop new plants under favorable conditions.
As special reference is made in the Keys to the char-
acter of the capsule, leaves, and stems, they are de-
scribed in chapters by themselves. (See "Habit and
Manner of Growth," p. 12, ''Leaves," p. 15, "Cap-
sules," p. 20.)
Some mosses are short-lived, but many are peren-
nial, and continue their growth annually at the tips of
the stems and branches, or develop new plants from
underground stems. There are no true roots, but the
plants are attached to their substratum by radicles, or
rootlets. Radicles are not only at the base of the stem,
but sometimes cover the greater part of it, forming a
brown or whitish, felt-like coating, called tomentum.
The simple structure of mosses enables them to ab-
sorb moisture easily, and where extensive growths
occur, they perform an important service to plant-life
by holding back much of the rainfall, allowing the
water to soak into the earth gradually instead of
running off the surface. They also add to the rich-
ness of the soil through their decay, and assist in the
disintegration of rocks. A few of the larger species
are used as a packing material. Sometimes they are
INTRODUCTION ' ii
dyed and used for decorative purposes, especially by
milliners.
Mosses may be collected and grown in the house if a
little care is taken to keep them moist. It is well to
collect enough of the substance upon which the plants
grow so as not to disturb the rootlets. A number of
different kinds may be placed together in a fern globe
or in an open dish. A Httle experience will show one
how much sun and how much moisture are required.
Too much sun will make the plants dry too quickly,
and too much moisture without enough sun will make
the plants mould. It is often of great interest to gather
plants with very young fruit and then watch the cap-
sules develop and the new shoots grow.
HABIT AND MANNER OF GROWTH
Mosses have certain ways of growing and of branch-
ing that are important generic characteristics and these
should be noticed when specimens are collected for
determination.
There are two chief types of growth by which all
mosses fall naturally into two main divisions. In one,
the acrocarpous mosses, which often form a deep,
thick growth, the stem is typically erect (Plate I,
Fig. i), not branched or with only a few branches, and
the fruit is borne at the tip of the stem, sometimes ap-
pearing lateral by the new growth of the plant. (Plate
I, Figs. 2, 3.) In the second type, the pleurocarpous
mosses, which often form thin, fiat, tangled mats, the
stem is generally prostrate (Plate I, Fig. 4), or ascend-
ing (Plate I, Fig. 5), erect in only a few cases, much
branched, and the fruit is borne on the side of the
stem.
The plants may be scattered singly or may grow
more or less crowded together. Deep mossy mats are
sometimes formed when plants with erect or ascending
stems grow close together and the new annual growth
is added to that of the previous year. Thin flat mats
occur when the plants are prostrate or creeping and
the stems and branches continue to spread and inter-
weave. In some genera, rounded cushions are formed
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I
Acrocarpous Mosses
Fig. I. Parts of a moss; stem erect, not branched; fruit at apex of
stem.
Fig. 2. Fruit appearing lateral by forking of stem.
Fig. 3. Fruit appearing lateral by new growth of plant.
Pleurocarpous Mosses
Fig. 4. Stem prostrate; fruit on a short lateral branch.
Fig. 5. Stem ascending; fruit on side of stem.
FRUIT --
FRUIT- STALK
stem;
•- OR CAPSULE
OR SETA
: LEAVES
RADICLES
^
w
^
r
t
Plate I. ILLUSTRATIONS OF TERMS
HABIT AND MANNER OF GROWTH 13
when a number of plants grow together in separated
tufts instead of spreading over any extent of surface.
The stems may be not branched at all or slightly
branched by forking (Plate II, Fig. i), or with numer-
ous lateral branches arranged pinnately (Plate II,
Fig. 2), bipinnately (Plate II, Fig. 3), tripinnately
(Plate II, Fig. 4), irregularly (Plate II, Fig. 6), in
clusters (Plate II, Fig. 7), or like the branches of a tree
(Plate II, Fig. 5).
Sometimes the primary stem is creeping and the
secondary stems erect or ascending, more or less
branched (Plate II, Fig. 8). In this case, care must be
taken to separate the plants and not to mistake a
pleurocarpous moss with prostrate stem and erect
branches (Plate II, Fig. 8) for an acrocarpous moss
with erect stem (Plate I, Fig. i).
The pleurocarpous mosses, usually creeping or pros-
trate, grow in tangled mats with interwoven stems
and branches so that no great length can be easily
separated, while individual plants of the acrocarpous
mosses, growing erect, are easily separated. Two or
more kinds of mosses are often found growing together.
When plants with erect stems (acrocarpous mosses) are
mixed, it is not difficult to separate them, especially if
the leaves of the different species are distinctly unlike;
but one prostrate species (a pleurocarpous moss) may
grow on top of another of similar growth quite con-
cealing it, or the stems and branches of both mosses
may grow together on the surface, sometimes so inter-
>v
14 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
woven that it is almost impossible to separate them.
Such mixed material is not good to study or to keep
for the herbarium. It is not unusual to collect an ap-
parently good fruited specimen and upon careful exam-
ination to find that the fruit of some moss quite hidden
from view has pushed up through the conspicuous
growth on the surface, giving a wrong idea of the cap-
sule that really belongs to the moss first noticed.
The color of a moss given in descriptions is that of
the leaves, as the leaves so thickly cover both the stem
and branches, but sometimes when the leafy part is
small, the color of the fruit-stalks is more conspicuous.
In a few cases when moist plants are held to the light,
the stems and branches of the new growth show con-
spicuously red through the leaves. (See Pohlia, p. 1 27 ;
Bryum, p. 129; Hylocomium, p. 225; Hypnum, p. 229.)
When this is the case it is mentioned in the descrip-
tions; otherwise color is given only under ^'Plants"
and repeated under *' Leaves." Sometimes the lower
part of the stem is covered with reddish-brown or
whitish radicles, forming a felt-like coating called
tomentum, which often mats the stems together. (See
Dicranum, p. 87. )
EXPLANATION OF PLATE II
Branching of Acrocarpous Mosses
{Lines represent stems and branches)
Fig. I. Stems forked. (The usual manner of branching; for exceptions
see Philonotis, p. 145, and Drummondia, p. 116.)
Branching of Pleurocarpous Mosses
Fig. 2. Stem pinnate. (Branches quite regularly arranged on opposite
sides of stem.)
Fig. 3. Stem bipinnate. (Some if not all of the pinnate branches
branched again.)
Fig. 4. Stem tripinnate. (Some if not all of the bipinnate branches
branched again.)
Fig. 5. Stem tree-like in branching. (Branches only toward the tip of
the stem, like the branches of a tree.)
Fig. 6. Stem irregularly branched. (Varying in many ways but not
regularly pinnate, bipinnate, tripinnate, or tree-like.)
Fig. 7. Stem with branches arranged in clusters.
Fig. 8. Primary stem creeping, secondary stems erect oi- ascending,
usually branched.
Plate II. ILLUSTRATIONS OF TERMS
LEAVES
The leaves of mosses vary in size, shape, arrange-
ment, position, and color, and it is necessary to train
the eye to notice these variations in order to recognize
the generic characteristics.
Care must be taken not to mistake branches for
leaves, when the leaves are very small and the branches
are more conspicuous.
Mosses branch much like other plants and the leaves
are much more numerous than the branches, some-
times thickly covering both the stem and the branches.
When the leaves are very small and closely folded, the
branches look cylindrical, but if the plants are held to
the light, at least the tips of the leaves can usually be
seen sticking out around the branches.
Unlike the leaves of other plants, the leaves of
mosses nearly always consist of only a single layer of
cells, except where the midrib occurs or at the margin
of the leaf when it is thickened. This simple structure
makes the leaves dry readily and also absorb moisture
readily, and adds a special interest to the study of
mosses, as dried specimens can be easily restored to
fresh conditions by being placed in water for a few
minutes. This has been tried with plants that had re-
mained dry for over one hundred years, and it was
found that the leaves still expanded quickly. In an-
i6 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
other instance, two different mosses were soaked and
dried fifty times without injury to the plants except
that the color of the leaves faded.
A midrib, called a costa, may or may not be present,
and it may be single, double, or forked. In some of the
largest leaves it can be seen if the plants are held to the
light. (See Mnium punctatum var. elatum, Plate VI,
Fig. 5.) It shows like a dark line through the center
of the leaf, and is usually slender, but in the Polytri-
chaceae (p. 156) it is much wider, sometimes occupying
the greater part of the leaf blade.
The leaves never have a stalk, but grow directly on
the stem and branch.
Leaves on the same plant may vary in size. Those
that are typical and that should be selected for study
are along the middle part of the stem or branch. The
leaves near the base of the stem, as well as those at the
tip, are often smaller or not well developed. Plants not
bearing fruit sometimes grow more luxuriantly than
fruited specimens and therefore have larger leaves.
When the plants are much branched (pleurocarpous
mosses), the leaves on the stem are often larger than
those on the branches. Many leaves are large enough
to be seen easily, the longest measuring fully one-half
inch; many that are smaller can be seen when the
plants are held to the Hght or against something white;
while still others are too small or too closely folded
against the stem or branch to be seen without a lens.
Leaves vary in shape from hair-like to nearly round,
LEAVES 17
but they are never compound, lobed, or deeply cut.
The leaves of the acrocarpous mosses, those coming
under Division A in the Keys, may be divided as rela-
tively long and narrow, or short and broad. Those that
are relatively long and narrow may be hair-like
throughout, or broader at the base and gradually nar-
rowed (Plate III, Fig. i), or about the same width
throughout and then end in a hair-like tip (Plate III,
Fig. 2). The leaves that are relatively short and broad
may be ovate (Plate III, Fig. 3), or ovate-oblong (Plate
III, Fig. 4), or elliptical (Plate III, Fig. 5), or nearly
round (Plate III, Fig. 6).
The leaves of most of the pleurocarpous mosses,
coming under Division B in the Keys, vary less in
shape and are less easily seen, as they are so small or
so closely folded. Although there are some similar to
those described above, the shape that is most common
is more or less ovate at the base ending in a straight tip
(Plate III, Fig. 7), or in a curved tip (Plate III, Fig. 8).
The edge of the leaf may be entire or serrate, but in
only a very few mosses are the serrations seen without
a lens. When the cells along the margin of the leaf
differ from those of the rest of the leaf, the leaf is said
to be bordered. In the large leaves of Mniuni punc-
tatum var. elatum (Plate VI, Fig. 5), the thickened
border can be seen like a fine, dark-green line around
the leaf.
Leaves are described as ''crisped" when they be-
come crinkled, curled, or twisted in drying.
1 8 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
The arrangement and position of the leaves are
important characteristics in determining mosses, and
ones that can be easily studied.
Leaves usually grow all around the stems and
branches (Plate III, Fig. 9), but in Fissidens (p. 97),
Distichium (p. 83), and in a few other genera not in-
cluded in this book, they are arranged in only two
rows on opposite sides of the stem and He flat like the
pinnae of a fern (Plate III, Fig. 10). They are called
''erect" when they He about parallel with the stem
(Plate III, Fig. 11); "wide-spreading," when they
stand out nearly at right angles to the stem (Plate III,
Fig. 12) ; '' erect-spreading," or '' not wide-spreading,"
when they are between erect and wide-spreading; and
''turned to one side" (secund), when they look as if
blown in one direction (Plate III, Fig. 13). In some of
the pleurocarpous mosses the leaves appear in two
rows when they are evenly parted and turned in two
opposite directions (Plate III, Fig. 14).
There is often a difference in the position of the
leaves when moist and when dry. For instance, leaves
that are wide-spreading when moist may become
closely folded when dry instead of becoming crisped;
in other cases they are not much changed in drying.
Many shades of green are found in the mosses. Some
are glaucous (whitish) or bluish, some golden or yel-
lowish, and some bright, olive, or dark green. There is
often a variation in color, even on the same plant, as
the oldest leaves turn brown or dark, while the young-
EXPLANATION OF PLATE III
Leaves of Acrocarpous Mosses
LEAVES relatively LONG AND NARROW
Fig. I. Broader than hair-like.
Fig. 2. Ending in a hair-like tip.
LEAVES RELATIVELY SHORT AND BROAD
Fig. 3. Ovate, or egg-shaped.
Fig. 4. Ovate-oblong.
Fig. 5. Elliptical.
Fig. 6. Nearly round.
LEAVES OF MOST PLEUROCARPOUS MOSSES
Fig. 7. Ovate at base, ending in a straight tip.
Fig. 8. Ovate at base, ending in a curved tip.
ARRANGEMENT OF LEAVES
Fig. Q. Leaves on stem and branches.
Fig. 10. Leaves in two opposite rows, giving the plants a flattened
appearance.
LEAVES ARRANGED EQUALLY AROUND STEM
Fig. II. Leaves erect. (Nearly parallel to stem.)
Fig. 12. Leaves wide-spreading. (More or less at right angles to
stem.)
Fig. 13. Leaves turned to one side. (Secund.)
Fig. 14. Leaves curved and turned in opposite directions, giving a
braided appearance along the stem and branches.
Plate III. ILLUSTRATIONS OF TERMS
LEAVES 19
est are usually very light; the leaves along the central
portion of the stem give the typical color of the plant.
Although the color is quite characteristic when the
plants are normal, it is rather unreliable, as it is often
affected by the various conditions under which the
plants may grow.
CAPSULES
The capsule of a moss is often spoken of as the
'* fruit." It is the swollen case containing the spores at
the end of a slender stalk called the seta, or partly hid-
den_by the surrounding leaves, and develops, like all
fruit, after the flower has been fertilized. (Plate IV,
Fig. I.)
Great care must be taken when studying the cap-
sule to be sure it is old enough to show the typical form
and position. A young capsule is nearly always pale
green and very slender, shrinking a good deal when
dry. A capsule is mature when the spores are ripe and
ready to be scattered, and it is then yellowish- or red-
dish-brown, well filled out, and does not wholly lose
its characteristic shape in drying. Sometimes a green
capsule is sufficiently developed to show the typical
form, but it must be at least filled out if not beginning
to change color. When the spores have all been scat-
tered, the capsule is spoken of as empty, but in many
cases it retains its characteristic shape for some time.
Often both old and young capsules may be found at
the same time. Extremes in either case should not be
used for study, as a very old capsule becomes dark and
decayed or broken, or, if at first erect, it may become
bent over. Most mosses mature their spores in the fall
or early winter, the rest do so in the spring or summer.
CAPSULES 21
The capsule is usually borne above the leafy plant on
a fruit-stalk, or seta (Plate IV, Fig. i) of varying length.
In some cases the capsule is partly hidden by the sur-
rounding leaves when the seta is very short. If the
seta comes from the apex of the stem or of a well-
developed branch, the fruit is spoken of as terminal "
and the moss is called "acrocarpous " ; if the seta comes
from the side of the stem or is on a very short lateral
branch, the fruit is spoken of as '' lateral " and the moss
is called ''pleurocarpous." The color of the seta is
usually yellowish or reddish.
An erect capsule is upright like the seta; when not
erect, it may be inclined, horizontal, or drooping. For
the various shapes of capsules and their characteristic
positions see Plate IV, Figs. 3-16.
There are interesting parts of the capsule — the
operculum and the peristome — that with the calyptra
serve as a protection while the fruit is immature. (See
Plate IV, Figs. 1,2.)
The calyptra is like a hood covering the young cap-
sule. It usually falls off before the spores are ripe, but
if it remains on until the capsule fills out, it is often
pushed upwards and finally covers only the beak of the
operculum. In a few cases the calyptra is covered with
hairs. (See Ulota, p. 119, and Polytrichum, p. 162.) It
may be hood-shaped (cucullate) (Plate IV, Fig. 17) or
like a beaked cap (mitrate) (Plate IV, Fig. 18).
Nearly all capsules open by means of a lid, or oper-
culum. It is the upper portion of the capsule that be-
22 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
comes detached and falls off when the spores are ripe.
It may be convex (Plate IV, Fig. 19), cone-shaped
(Plate IV, Fig. 20), short-beaked (Plate IV, Fig. 21),
or long-beaked (Plate IV, Fig. 22).
Underneath the operculum surrounding the mouth
of the capsule, there is usually a tiny fringe called the
peristome which may be single or double. The outer
peristome is composed of filaments called "teeth" that
are sensitive to moisture; they usually shade from red
to orange or yellow. The inner peristome is more
dehcate than the outer, and its divisions are called
"segments." In wet weather the teeth are tightly
closed together to prevent the spores from being
washed out in masses; when dry, they separate and
bend back allowing the spores to sift out. The number
of teeth, and their size, shape, and character are often
important points in determining species when studying
mosses with a microscope. (See Plate V, Fig. 6 ; Plate
VI, Fig. 2; Plate VII, Fig. 4.)
EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV
Capsules
Fig. I. Capsule with calyptra and operculum in their natural place.
Fig. 2. Calyptra and operculum removed to show peristome.
SHAPES AND POSITIONS OF CAPSULES
{Drawn without the operculum)
ERECT CAPSULES
Fig.
3. CyUndrical.
Fig.
4. Angular.
Fig.
5. Top-shaped.
Fig.
6. Urn-shaped.
Fig.
7. Elliptical.
Fig.
8. Oval, or egg-shaped.
Fig.
9. Pear-shaped.
Fig.
10.
Fig.
II.
Fig.
12.
Fig.
13-
Fig.
14.
Fig.
15-
Fig.
16.
CAPSULES NOT ERECT
Cylindrical, horizontal.
Cylindrical, much curved.
Cylindrical, hanging down.
Globular.
Pear-shaped with neck distinct.
Angular, horizontal.
Ovate, or egg-shaped, pointed.
SHAPES OF THE CALYPTRA
Fig. 17. Hood-shaped (cucullate).
Fig. 18. Like a beaked cap (mitrate).
SHAPES OF THE OPERCULUM
Fig. 19. Convex.
Fig. 20. Cone-shaped (conic).
Fig. 21. Short-beaked.
Fig. 22. Long-beaked.
•peristome:
9= ?.
10
12
15
lb
17 OUU 18
» A
ZO
21 C ) 22
Plate IV. ILLUSTRATIONS OF TERMS
THE KEYS EXPLAINED
The object of the Keys is to give the student a non-
technical guide to the genera and in some cases the
species of the mosses he is likely to notice, and to en-
able him to recognize them without the aid of a lens.
No preliminary knowledge of the mosses is necessary
except of their habitat; that is, the natural locality of
the plants, as ground, rocks, trees, etc. The numbers
in the Keys refer to the genera in ''List of Genera"
(p. 70). Illustrations of the descriptive terms used will
be found on Plates I, II, III, IV.
Two separate Keys are provided, each including all
the mosses described in the book. The Leaf Key is
based upon the character of the leaves with further
subdivisions, and the Capsule Key is based upon the
character of the capsules with further subdivisions. In
some cases the leaves alone or the capsules alone are
not sufficient to determine a moss, and for this reason
the Leaf Key is carried out with capsules and the Cap-
sule Key is carried out with leaves. Stem characteris-
tics are given when helpful in dividing the mosses into
groups. The length of the stem is measured from the
rootlets through the leafy portion; but does not include
the fruit-stalk. (See Plate I, Fig. i.)
In both Keys the mosses are first divided in the usual
way. Division A including the acrocarpous mosses with
24 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
the stems generally erect and not much branched, and
the fruit at the apex of the stem ; Division B including
the pleurocarpous mosses with the stems generally
prostrate and much branched and the fruit on the side
of the stem.
As is to be expected with any key based on general
characteristics, certain exceptions may be found and
certain difficulties encountered. The chief of these are
as follows : Mosses coming under Division A may not
be strictly erect and may be more or less branched, but
the fruit is terminal, although it may appear lateral by
the time it is mature on account of the new growth of
the stem, which is not so dark a green as the older part.
The fruit of Fissidens (p. 97) may be terminal or lat-
eral, but the stems are erect and little branched. The
stems of the Grimmiaceae (p. iii) and the Orthotricha-
ceae (p. 116) may be more or less prostrate with erect
branches, but the fruit is borne at the tip of the stem or
branch. There are a few erect mosses that come under
Division B, but the fruit is always lateral and the
stems are usually much branched.
If a moss has more than one habitat it is placed in
the Keys under more than one head; for instance, under
"Plants growing on the ground" and ''Plants growing
on rocks," etc.
Leaves of moist plants are described. In Division A,
when the leaves are so small that the relative shape
cannot be estimated, the mosses are classed under
''Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen." If the
THE KEYS EXPLAINED 25
leaves are large enough to show the entire outline when
the plants are held to the light, the mosses are placed
under the next corresponding head, ''Shape of leaves
when moist easily seen." In Division B the mosses are
divided a little differently, as the leaves vary less in
shape and in many cases the entire outline is not so
necessary in determining the genera. When the leaves
are large enough to show whether they are straight or
curved, the mosses are placed under ''Leaves when
moist easily seen " ; when the leaves are too small or too
closely folded to show this characteristic, the mosses
are placed under "Leaves when moist not easily seen."
In both the Leaf Key and the Capsule Key the posi-
tion and the shape of the capsule that are given are
always those of the fully developed fruit. In order to
recognize when the capsule is mature see chapter on
"Capsules " (p. 20).
f
HOW TO USE THE KEYS
Suppose we have collected in late spring or eariy
summer a moss growing on dry soil, abundantly fruit-
ing and conspicuous for the dark-red fruit-stalks and
capsules. After soaking a piece of the specimen in
water for a few minutes, keeping the re-
maining part dry, and separating some
of the moistened individual plants, we
find they look like these.
Let us use the Leaf Key first. We
find that there are two main divi-
sions, A and B. Under Division A we
read, ''Fruit at the apex of the stem or of a well-
developed branch, sometimes appearing lateral by
the new growth of the plant. Stems generally erect,
and often not branched; or, if slightly branched by
forking, usually with not more than two or three
branches." Under Division B we read, ''Fruit on the
side of the stem or on a very short lateral branch.
Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect, usually
much branched (with more than two or three
branches.)" We examine our plants and find that the
stems are erect with only one or two branches. The
fruit on one of the plants is terminal and on the other
two it appears lateral, but as the growth above the
point where the fruit-stalk is attached to the stem is
HOW TO USE THE KEYS 27
lighter green than that below, we decide that it must
be the new growth of the plant and that the fruit was
at first at the tip of the stem. We place our plant
under Division A because the erect stems only a Httle
branched, even without the fruit, bring it there. We
found the moss growing on the ground. Under ''Plants
growing on the ground" we find: "I. Shape of leaves
when moist not easily seen" and "II. Shape of leaves
when moist easily seen." The note states that the
leaves must be seen well enough to estimate their rela-
tive shape. By holding our moist specimens to the
light or laying them on something white, we note that
most of the leaves though small are easily seen to be
long and narrow. Our plant comes, then, under "II.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. a. Leaves long
and narrow." The next headings are, "Stems one-half
inch long or less" and "Stems more than one-half inch
long." The stems of our plant are not more than one-
half inch long, so we place it under the first of these
heads. The next divisions are, "Leaves hair-like
throughout" and "Leaves broader, sometimes ending
in a hair-like tip." The leaves of our plant look hair-like
throughout, so we read further under this head, " Cap-
sule erect" and "Capsule not erect." The capsules of
our plant are not erect, so we follow the second heading
to the right and come to the genus numbers i, 2, 4, 6,
7, 8, 26, 36. Turning to the "List of Genera" (p. 70),
we are referred to the page where each genus is de-
scribed and illustrated. Turning to number i. Trema-
28 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
todon, we see that two of the conspicuous character-
istics in italics are ''seta greenish-yellow" and ''cap-
sule with a long neck." As the seta of the plant we
are studying is not yellow and the illustration of the
capsule does not look like the capsule of our plant, we
pass to the next genus number and turn to the descrip-
tion. 2. Ditrichum, we read, has one species with hair-
like leaves, and a capsule that is sometimes incHned,
but the seta is again yellow and the leaves in the illus-
tration are much longer than those on our plant, so we
pass to the next description — 4-. Ceratodon. Here the
description and illustration correspond perfectly to our
specimen. However, to make sure, we glance at the
illustrations of the remaining numbers. 6. Dicranella
has leaves turned to one side, unHke the leaves of our
plant. 7. Oncophorus has leaves crisped when dry,
while the leaves of our dry specimen fold straight
against the stem. 8. Dicranum has leaves usually
turned to one side. The illustration of the capsule of
the two remaining genera, 26. Leptohryum and 36.
Webera, are so different from the capsule of the moss
we are studying that we feel reasonably sure that the
plant under consideration is number 4. Ceratodon.
Although in every instance it is safer to study
fruited specimens, about fifty per cent of the common
genera can be identified without the aid of the capsule
if sufficient care is taken. An illustration to show what
can be done with a sterile moss is here given.
HOW TO USE THE KEYS 29
The moss used in the foregoing illustration will serve
as an example. Going back to the beginning of the Key,
we find that the capsule did not come under consider-
ation until we had placed our specimen under *'IL
a.," and further, under ''Stems one-half inch long or
less," ''Leaves hair-like throughout." Now, suppose
we have no capsule to aid us and we cannot tell whether
the plant belongs under "Capsule erect" or "Capsule
not erect." We must look up all the genera coming
under both these heads, which are 1,2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11,
15, 26, 36, 38, and compare with our moss the illustra-
tions and descriptions, especially the characteristics in
italics, but omit all reference to seta and capsule, i.
Trematodon we throw out because the illustration
shows the leaves much longer than those of our plant,
and it grows on damp soil, whereas we found our plant
on dry soil. 2. Ditrichum in one case has leaves too
small to be seen easily and in the other species they are
again too long. 3. Saelania occurs especially in lime-
stone regions, and the leaves are bluish-green, while
those of our moss are a rather dark green. 4. Ccratodon
corresponds in both illustration and description to our
specimen, but to make sure that we are not mistaken
we look through the rest of the genera. 6. Dicranella
we discard because the leaves turn to one side. 7.
Oncophoriis we discard because the leaves are too long
and become crisped in drying, while those of our plant
fold straight against the stem when dry. 8. Dicranum
has leaves turned to one side. 1 1 . Wcisia has leaves too
30 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
long and the plants are too short. 15. Barhula is not
common and the leaves are crisped when dry. 26.
Leptohryum has leaves too long. 36. Wehera has stems
too short with longer leaves. 38. Georgia looks more
like our plant but in reading the descriptions we find
that it usually grows on decaying wood and less fre-
quently on the ground; and besides, scattered among
the plants are stems with larger leaves arranged in a
cup-like cluster at the tip. We find nothing of this kind
in our specimen, so this genus will be discarded, leaving
only 4. Ceratodon that agrees with our plant in every
way.
The following is an example of how to use the Cap-
sule Key. We will use the same moss that we used for
the Leaf Key. We have already decided that the plant
belongs in Division A, under "Plants growing on the
ground.'^ The next divisions are, "I. Capsule erect,''
and "n. Capsule not erect." Our capsule is not erect.
Under this head we find the various shapes of capsules
given. Turning to the "Illustrations of Terms" (Plate
IV) , we decide that our capsule is cylindrical. Under
*' Capsule cylindrical" we come to "Leaves long
and narrow" and "Leaves short and broad." In
using the Leaf Key we found that the leaves of
our plant were long and narrow, hair-like through-
out. Following this heading to the right we find
the genus numbers i, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8. Looking through
the illustrations and descriptions we find again that
HOW TO USE THE KEYS 31
4. Ceratodon is the only one that corresponds to our
specimen.
It will readily be seen that when one arrives at the
same genus number in the Capsule Key as in the Leal
Key the determination is verified.
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS
If in doubt what true mosses are, see Introduction
p. I, or use the Prehminary Key, p. 39.
When collecting mosses for determination it is neces-
sary to notice habitat, that is, the natural locahty of
the plants. They are found on the ground, on rocks, on
trees, on decaying wood, or in ponds and streams. In
spite of the fact that earth-covered rocks and rotting
logs in deep, moist woods offer practically the same
soil conditions as the ground, the mosses are divided
according to actual situation, for simplicity of arrange-
ment in the Keys. For instance, if a moss is found on
a rock that is covered with soil, it is placed under
^'Plants growing on rocks"; or if a moss is found on a
piece of an old log broken off and lying on the ground,
it is placed under '' Plants growing on decaying wood."
Notice the way the plants are growing; whether the single
plants are growing apart from each other, or crowded
together, with the stems erect, forming tufts, rounded
cushions, or deep mats by prolonging their growth at
the tips, or whether the stems are prostrate and inter-
woven, forming thin mats by continuing their growth
horizontally. See chapter on "Habit and Manner of
Growth," p. 12.
Care must be taken to gather whole plants and not
merely a part of the stems. To be sure the mosses are
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS 33
well developed, select the hest-looking growth for study,
the largest and greenest plants, and when possible
those that are hearing fruit. The fruit or capsule of a
moss is the swollen spore-case at the end of a slender
stem called the fruit-stalk or seta. The capsule is
usually borne above the leafy plant, but sometimes it
is partly hidden in the surrounding leaves. Gather
generously, at least what would be equal to two square
inches, so as to allow for breaking the plants when
separating them, to get the average characteristics
of several plants, and to have some plants moist and
others dry while studying them. Fold each specimen
in a paper wrapper by itself and on the outside write
habitat ''on ground" or "on rock," etc., and place and
date of collecting for possible future reference. If the
plants are placed in a tin box tightly covered, they will
keep their fresh condition for several days and it will
save moistening them for study, but care must be
taken to remember the habitat of each specimen.
When no fruit is found, the genus can still be deter-
mined in many cases by studying the character of the
growth and the leaves, and carefully reading the de-
scriptions of all the mosses that come under both
*' Capsule erect" and "Capsule not erect." There are
some mosses that cannot be definitely named without
the aid of the capsule. When this is the case, it will be
mentioned in the descriptions of the genera. When in
doubt where to place a sterile moss that is somewhat
branched, try it under both Division A and Division B.
34 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Carefully separate a few single plants in order to see
the length of the stems, the average character of the
leaves, and the manner of branching. It is not always
easy to do this without breaking the stems, especially
if one has no tweezers for the work. Fingers at best
are clumsy instruments in handling the smallest
mosses; possibly a wire hairpin would be of some as-
sistance. Sometimes two or more kinds of mosses will
be found growing together. If the leaves or the general
characters are plainly different, the student will readily
notice that he has collected more than one species.
But it sometimes happens that an apparently good
fruited specimen is one sterile moss growing on top of
another moss that is fruited, and that the fruit-stalks
are really attached to the moss growing underneath,
although they have pushed up through the conspicuous
growth on the surface. To avoid making a mistake in
such a case, always follow the fruit-stalk down to the
stem on which it is growing and carefully pull out as
long a piece of the stem as possible, and compare it
with the rest of the specimen. When stems with
numerous branches are closely interwoven, no very
great length can be separated and one must get the
average characteristics from several small pieces.
Examine moist plants. If mosses are collected in a dry
condition, they must be moistened for study, as other-
wise leaves that can be easily seen when the plants
are moist may be so closely folded against the stera
when dry that they will not be noticed. For instance,
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS 35
the leaves of Pogonatum hrevicaide (p. i6i) are long and
narrow, easily seen when moist, though few in num?jer,
but when dry they fold against the stem and one is
liable to overlook them and misplace the moss under
*' Leaves when moist not easily seen." Mosses may
remain dry for an indefinite period and then can be
restored to fresh conditions by being placed in water.
Quickest results can be obtained by using hot water.
This process of reviving dried mosses may be repeated
as often as required, without injury to the plants.
When the leaves have fully expanded, remove the
plants from the water and absorb the extra moisture
with soft linen. The leaves of a few species dry so
quickly that it may be necessary to replace the plants
in water two or three times while studying them. If
plants are allowed to remain in water for a number of
days, the leaves and capsules lose their natural color
and turn dark.
To dry mosses, separate the individual plants and
place them in sunKght or merely expose them to dry
air. In case they do not dry readily, a Httle artificial
heat may be used by taking the plants in a pair of
tweezers or between the ends of a wire hairpin, or by
placing them on a piece of paper and holding tliem
near a light or over some source of heat; but if too
much artificial heat is used, making the leaves dry too
quickly, they do not come into the characteristic dried
condition. Pressure should not be used for naturally
dried plants.
36 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
To see the shape of the leaves or the color of the stem,
hold the plants to the Hght or in strong light, or against
something white. The leaves that are best developed
are usually along the middle part of the stem. If the
leaves conceal the stem too much, strip them off by
drawing the stem from the tip toward the base through
the firmly pressed tips of thumb and finger. Red stems
usually show through the leaves.
Do not mistake branches for leaves. As the leaves of
mosses are so much smaller than those of other plants
and the branches are often more conspicuous than the
leaves, care must be taken to avoid this mistake.
When the plants are held to the light, in most cases
the leaves, or at least the leaf -tips, can be seen stick-
ing out around the stem and the branches. If the
leaves are too small to be seen, the cylindrical appear-
ance of the branches and their arrangement on the
stem should be sufficient to distinguish them from
leaves. (See Plates II, III.)
// in doubt about the length of the stem or the shape of
the leaves, try the moss under each head. The length
of the longest stems is given and the characteristics of
the largest leaves. To see these, examine several indi-
vidual plants.
When estimating the length of the stem, do not include
the fruit-stalk. The length that is given is measured
from the rootlets only through the leafy portion and
does not include the seta. (See ''Illustrations of
Terms," Plate I, Fig. i.)
/
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS 37
When considering the shape and position of the cap-
sule, do not include the operculum. (See "Illustrations
of Terms," Plate IV.) The operculum is the hd that
covers the mouth of the capsule. It drops off natu-
rally when the spores are mature, and sometimes be-
fore this takes place, it is loose enough to be easily
removed with tweezers or fingers.
Do not he alarmed at a long list of genus nujnhers.
A glance at the illustration of each genus will show
whether it is necessary to read the entire description.
Always carefully read it if there is any doubt about
the illustration being like the moss in question.
Every point in the Keys and in the descriptions is
important. Follow the Keys carefully and study the
descriptions thoroughly. A specimen must correspond
in every point to its description. Care must be taken
to gather normal plants. The beginner at times will
not do this. Puzzling variations may be found in
mosses as in other plants and also in animals. But one
ought not to think that every doubtful case is one of
these abnormal growths, for it may be due to some
imperfect use of the Keys or descriptions caused by
overlooking some detail. When a moss has no definite
character and the fruit is lacking, one may be in doubt
where to place it even after careful comparison with
the illustrations and descriptions. In this case, one
must sometimes wait until fruited plants are found, or
possibly a compound microscope and technical books
are necessary. A troublesome specimen can usually be
38 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
placed in its family if not in the exact genus. It is
well when possible to verify one's determinations by
comparing the specimens with authentic material,
which can generally be found in Museums of Natural
History.
KEY TO DISTINGUISH MOSSES FROM
COMMON HEPATICS AND LICHENS
Note. When one is in doubt what arc mosses, the following Key should be
used before trying the Leaf Key or Capsule Key, as hepatics and lichens are
sometimes collected for mosses. (See illustrations of lichens and hepatics,
pp. 4, 7; also illustrations of mosses throughout the book.)
Plants growing flat without stem or leaves ^
Plants usually dark green .... Hepatics (Marchantiales) ,
p. 7.
Plants usually some shade of gray, or if green when moist,
becoming gray when dry, sometimes brown or orange
.... Lichens, p. 4.
Plants erect, ascending, prostrate, or hanging from
trees; with a true stem or, in lichens,
apparently having a stem
Stems without leaves ; ^ usually some shade of gray, or if
green when moist, becoming gray when dry ....
Lichens, p. 4.
^ The plant-body of some hepatics belonging to the Marchantidcs is like a
broad, flat leaf, sometimes elongated, often with a midrib, and usually
branched by forking. A very young plant may resemble two or three leaves,
but no distinct stem will be found and the apparent leaves will not be ar-
ranged in two opposite rows or around a stem, as in the leafy hepatics {Junger'
mannialcs) or the mosses coming under the next head.
2 The short branches of certain lichens may be mistaken for leaves. The
leaves of the hepatics and mosses coming under the next head are flat and
thin, while the branches of lichens are round. When in doubt what are leaves,
the color of the plants is usually a safe guide. Lichens when ilry are more
gray than green and are very stitT and brittle. Hepatics and mosses are more
a foliage-green and do not dry gray or become as still and brittle.
40 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Stems with leaves always some shade of green, never gray.
Leaves arranged in two opposite rows, rounded, lobed, or
cleft, often curved under at tips, usually dark green;
midrib absent; under or back side of stem toward
which leaves curl sometimes bearing what appear to
be rootlets .... Hepatics {Jungermanniales or Scale
Mosses), p. 6.
Leaves usually arranged equally around stem (in only
two rows in Fissidens, p. 97), sometimes flattened on
two opposite sides of stem, never lobed or cleft and
when rounded not curved under at tips, varying from
light to dark green; midrib present or absent, rarely
seen without a lens.
Plants usually growing in bogs or very wet places;
stems erect, much branched (branches at tip of
stem forming a thick head) ; leaves usually light,
green or tinged with red .... Sphagnum or Peat
Moss, p. 73.
Plants growing on rocks in mountainous regions;
stems erect, short and inconspicuous; leaves very
dark, almost black .... Andre aea, p. 75.
Plants growing in all sorts of places, on wet or dry
ground, rocks, trees, decaying wood, and in
streams or ponds.
Stems generally erect, and often not branched;
or if slightly branched by forking, usually with
not more than two or three branches; fruit
at apex of stem or of well developed branch,
sometimes appearing lateral by new growth
of plant .... Acrocarpous Mosses, p. 77.
Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect,
usually much branched (with more than two
or three branches) ; fruit on side of stem or
on a very short lateral branch .... Pleuro-
CARPOus Mosses, p. 172.
LEAF KEY TO GENERA
A. Fruit at the apex of the stem or of a well-developed
branch, sometimes appearing lateral by the new growth
of the plant. Stems generally erect, and often not
branched; or, if slightly branched by forking, usually
with not more than two or three branches.^ Acrocar-
pous Mosses, p. 77.
B. Fruit on the side of the stem or on a very short lateral
branch. Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect,
usually much branched (with more than two or three
branches).^ Pleiirocarpous Mosses, p. 172.
Note. In many cases the genus can be determined without the aid of
the capsule. When in doubt where to place a sterile moss that is
somewhat branched, try it under both Division A and Division B.
A
{Fissidens, p. 97, with fruit both terminal and lateral may be found here)
Plants growing on the ground
I. SHAPE OF LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leaves too small or too closely folded to show if they are relatively long and
narrow or short and broad)
Stems one-half inch long or less.
Capsule erect . . . . 2, 15, 16, 38, 40.
Capsule not erect .... 25, 28, 34, 37.
^ For arrangement of branches sec " Illustrations of Terms," Plate II.
42 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Stems more than one-half inch long.
Capsule erect .... 38, 40.
Capsule not erect .... 34.
II. SHAPE OF LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(Leaves must be seen well enough to estimate their relative shape)
a. Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part)
Stems one-half inch long or less.
Leaves hair-like throughout.
Capsule erect .... 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 15, 36, 38.
Capsule not erect .... i, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 26, :i^6.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip.
Capsule erect .... 8, 13, 39, 40, 41.
Capsule not erect .... 8, 9, 27, 29, 39, 41.
Stems more than one-half inch long.
Leaves hair-like throughout.
Capsule erect .... 3, 6, 38.
Capsule not erect .... 4, 6, 7, 8, 26, 32, 33, 34.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip.
Capsule erect .... 8, 13, 39, 40, 41.
Capsule not erect 8, 9, 27, 28, 30, 31, 35, 39, 41.
h. Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer
than broadest part)
Stems one-half inch long or less.
Capsule erect .... 10, 16, 18, 24.
Capsule not erect .... 10, 25, 28, 30.
Stems more than one-half inch long.^
Capsule erect .... 10, 18.
Capsule not erect .... 10, 28, 29, 30, 31.
^ If No. 63 has been mistaken for an acrocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
LEAF KEY 43
Plants growing on rocks, bricks, mortar, etc.
I. SHAPE OF LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leave? too small or too closely folded to show if they are relatively long and
narrow or short and broad)
Stems one-half inch long or Icss.^
Capsule erect .... 2, 22, 23.
Capsule not erect .... 25, 28, 34.
Stems more than one-half inch long.^
Capsule erect .... 21, 22, 23.
Capsule not erect .... 28, 34.
IT. SHAPE OF LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(Leaves must be seen well enough to estimate their relative shape)
a. Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part)
Stems one-half inch long or less.
Leaves hair-like throughout.^
Capsule erect .... 3, 6, 8, 12, 14.
Capsule not erect .... 4, 6, 7, 8, 26, 34.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip.
Capsule partly concealed by leaves .... 19.
Capsule not concealed.
Capsule erect .... 8, 22, 23, 41.
Capsule not erect .... 8, 9, 27, 28, 30, 41.
Stems more than one-half inch long.
Leaves hair-like throughout.^
Capsule erect .... 3, 5, 6, 8, 12, 14.
Capsule not erect .... 4, 6, 7, 8, 26, 32, S3, 34-
^ See AnJrcaca, p. 75.
44 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip.
Capsule partly concealed by leaves .... 19.
Capsule not concealed.
Capsule erect .... 8, 13, 22, 23, 41.
Capsule not erect .... 8, 9, 27, 28, 30, 41.
b. Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer
than broadest part)
Stems one-half inch long or less.
Capsule erect .... 10, 15, 18, 21.
Capsule not erect .... 10, 25, 28.
Stems more than one-half inch long.
Capsule erect .... 10, 17, 18, 20.
Capsule not erect .... 28, 29, 30.
Plants growing on roots or trunks of trees
I. SHAPE OF LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leaves too small or too closely folded to show if they are relatively long and
narrow or short and broad)
Stems one-half inch long or less; capsule erect .... 22
Stems more than one-half inch long; capsule erect ....
21, 22.
II. SHAPE OF LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(Leaves must be seen well enough to estimate their relative shape)
a. Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part)
Stems one-half inch long or less; capsule erect ....
8, 13, 22, 23.
Stems more than one-half inch long; capsule erect ....
8, 22, 23.
LEAF KEY 45
b. Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer
than broadest part)
Stems one-half inch long or less.
Capsule erect .... 10, 17.
Capsule not erect .... 10, 30.
Stems more than one-half inch long.
Capsule erect .... 10, 21.
Capsule not erect . . . . 10, 30, 31.
Plants growing on decaying wood, as old logs, stumps, etc.
I. SHAPE OF LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leaves too small or too closely folded to show if they are relatively long and
narrow or short and broad)
Stems one-half inch long or less.
Capsule erect .... 38.
Capsule not erect .... 28.
Stems more than one-half inch long.
Capsule erect .... 38.
Capsule not erect .... 28.
II. SHAPE OF LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(Leaves must be seen well enough to estimate their relative shape)
a. Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part)
Stems one-half inch long or less.
Leaves hair-like throughout.
Capsule erect .... 6, 8, 38.
Capsule not erect .... 4, 6, 7, 26.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip.
Capsule erect .... 8, 38, 40, 41.
Capsule not erect .... 8, 27, 28, 41.
46 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Stems more than one-half inch long.
Leaves hair-like throughout.
Capsule erect .... 6, 8, 38.
Capsule not erect .... 4, 6, 7, 8, 26.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip.
Capsule erect .... 8, 38, 41.
Capsule not erect .... 8, 27, 28, 41.
b. Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer
than broadest part)
Stems one-half inch long or less; capsule not erect ....
28, 30.
Stems more than one-half inch long; capsule not erect. . . .
28, 29, 30.
B
Fruit on the side of the stem or on a very short lateral
branch. Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect, usu-
ally much branched (with more than two or three
branches).-^ Pleurocarpous mosses.
Note. In many cases the genus can be determined without the aid of the
capsule. When in doubt where to place a sterile moss that is somewhat
branched, try it under both Division A and Division B.
Plants growing on the ground
I. LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leaves too small or too closely folded to show if they are straight or curved)
Stems pinnately branched; capsule not erect ....
57, 58, 71-
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; capsule not
erect .... 57, 68.
1 For arrangement of branches see "Illustrations of Terms," Plate II.
LEAF KEY 47
Stems irregularly branched.^
Capsule erect 50, 53, 75.
Capsule not erect .... 59, 71, 79.
II. LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(It is necessary only to see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show)
Stems pinnately branched.
Leaves straight; capsule not erect ....
57,58,64,66,67, 68, 69, 71, 74.
Leaves curved; capsule not erect .... 62, 66, 70, 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched ; leaves straight ;
capsule not erect .... 68.
Stems tree-like in branching; leaves straight; capsule erect
45-
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of the stem.^
Leaves straight; capsule not erect .... 72, 73, 75, 80.
Leaves curved; capsule not erect .... 71.
Leaves turned to one side,^ more or less curved.
Capsule erect .... 44.
Capsule not erect .... 44, 62, 71.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.
Leaves wide-spreading ; capsule not erect ....
59, 61, 63, 64, 67, 73, 75, 78.
Leaves not wide-spreading.^
Capsule erect .... 44, 50. 75.
Capsule not erect . . . . 44, 58, 61, 71, 74, 75, 76, 79.
^ If No. 34 has been mistaken for a plcurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
2 If No. 31 has been mistaken for a plcurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
48 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing on rocks, sticks, etc. in or at the edge of
streams, ponds, or water-holes
I. LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leaves too small or too closely folded to show if they are straight or curved)
Stems less than three inches long; irregularly branched;
capsule not erect .... 79.
II. LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(It is necessary only to see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show)
Stems less than three inches long.
Stems tree-like in branching; leaves straight; capsule
erect .... 45.
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves straight, erect or spreading.'-
Capsule erect .... 44.
Capsule not erect .... 44, 59, 61, 65, 75, 77, 79.
Leaves more or less curved and turned to one side.
Capsule erect .... 44.
Capsule not erect .... 44, 65.
Stems more than three inches long, irregularly branched.
Leaves straight, erect or spreading.^
Capsule erect .... 43, 44.
Capsule not erect .... 44, 59, 65.
Leaves more or less curved, sometimes turned to one
side.
Capsule erect .... 44.
Capsule not erect .... 44, 62, 65.
1 If No. 19 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
LEAF KEY 49
Plants growing on rocks not in streams, ponds, or
water-holes
I. LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leaves too small or too closely folded to show if they are straight or curved)
Stems pinnately branched; capsule not erect .... 57, 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; capsule not
erect .... 57, 68.
Stems irregularly branched.^ ^ ^
Capsule erect 50, 53, 54, 55, 56.
Capsule not erect .... 59, 60, 71, 75, 79.
II. LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(It is necessary only to sec if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show)
Stems pinnately branched.
Leaves straight; capsule not erect ....
57, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71.
Leaves curved; capsule not erect .... 62, 66, 70, 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched ; leaves straight ;
capsule not erect .... 68.
Stems somewhat tree-like in branching; leaves straight;
capsule not erect .... 49.
Stems irregularly branched.^ ^ ^
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of stem.
Leaves straight.
Capsule erect .... 48, 55.
Capsule not erect .... 72, 73.
Leaves curved; capsule not erect .... 71.
* If No. 34 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
2 If No. 19 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
■'' If No. 21 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
50 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Leaves turned to one side, curved; ^ capsule not erect
62, 7I0
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.
Leaves wide-spreading.
Capsule almost concealed by leaves .... 42.
Capsule not concealed.
Capsule erect .... 54, 56.
Capsule not erect .... 59, 61, 67, 73, 75, 78.
Leaves not wide-spreading.^ 2 3
Capsule erect .... 46, 50, 51, 75.
Capsule not erect .... 61, 71, 75, 76, 79.
Plants growing on roots or trunks of trees
I. LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leaves too small or too closely folded to show if they are straight or curved)
Stems irregularly or rarely pinnately branched.^
Capsules erect .... 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56.
Capsule not erect .... 59, 60, 68, 71, 75.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; capsule not
erect .... 68.
II. LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(It is necessary only to see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show)
Stems pinnately branched; capsule not erect ....
68, 69, 70.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; capsule not
erect .... 68.
^ If No. 34 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
2 If No. 19 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
' If No. 21 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
LEAF KEY 51
Stems irregularly or rarely pinnalcly branched.
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of stem.^
Leaves straight.
Capsule partly concealed by leaves .... 47.
Capsule not concealed.
Capsule erect .... 48, 55.
Cai)sule not erect .... 80.
Leaves curved; capsule not erect .... 71.
Leaves turned to one side, curved; capsule erect .... 52.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.-
Capsule erect 46, 50, 51, 52, 56, 75.
Capsule not erect .... 75, 78.
Plants growing on decaying wood, as old logs,
stumps, etc.
I. LEAVES WHEN MOIST NOT EASILY SEEN
(Leaves too small or too closely folded to show if they are straight or curved)
Stems pinnately branched.
Capsule erect .... 51, 52.
Capsule not erect .... 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; capsule not
erect .... 57, 68.
Stems irregularly branched.
Capsule erect .... 50, 51, 52, 53, 56.
Capsule not erect . . . . 59, 71, 75.
^ If No. 31 has been mistaken for a plcurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belonj; here.
' If No. 21 has been mistaken for a plcurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
52
HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
II. LEAVES WHEN MOIST EASILY SEEN
(It is necessary only to see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outhne need not show)
Stems pinnately branched.
Leaves straight.
Capsule erect .... 51, 52.
Capsule not erect .... 67, 68, 69, 71.
Leaves curved.
Capsule erect .... 52.
Capsule not erect . . . . 62, 70, 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; leaves straight;
capsule not erect .... 68.
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of stem.
Leaves straight; capsule not erect .... 72, 73, 75, 80.
Leaves curved; capsule not erect .... 71.
Leaves turned to one side, curved.
Capsule erect .... 52.
Capsule not erect .... 62.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.
Leaves wide-spreading.
Capsule erect .... 51, 52.
Capsule not erect .... 67, 73, 75, 78.
Leaves not wide-spreading.
Capsule erect .... 50, 75.
Capsule not erect 7ij 75-
Scale
Inches
Millimeters
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 60 55 60 65 70 75
CAPSULE KEY TO GENERA
A. Fruit at the apex of the stem or of a well developed
branch, sometimes appearing lateral by the new growth
of the plant. Stems generally erect, and often not
branched; or if slightly branched by forking, usually
with not more than two or three branches.^ Acrocar-
pous Mosses, p. 77.
B. Fruit on the side of the stem or on a very short lateral
branch. Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect,
usually much branched (with more than two or three
branches^) Pleurocarpous Mosses, p. 172.
Note. When in doubt where to place a moss that is somewhat
branched, try it under both Division A and Division B.
A
{Fissidens, p. 97, with fruit both terminal and lateral may be found here)
Plants growing on the ground
I. CAPSULE ERECT
a. Capsule cylindrical
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad) ....
2, 15, s^, 40.
^ For arrangement of branches sec "Illustrations of Terms," Plate II.
54 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part).
Leaves hair-like throughout .... 2, 3, 6, 8, ii, 15, 38.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip
8, 13, 39, 40, 41.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 10, 18.
b. Capsule angular (four- to six-sided)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 41.
c. Capsule top-shaped or urn-shaped
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad) .... 16.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 16, 24.
d. Capsule egg-shaped, pointed
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 36.
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
a. Capsule cylindrical
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part).
Leaves hair-like throughout .... i, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8.
CAPSULE KEY 55
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip
8, 9,30,31,35,39,41.
Leaves short and broad ^ (less than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 10, 29, 30, 31.
b. Capsule angular (four- to six-sided)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 41.
c. Capsule pear-shaped
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad ....
25, 28.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 26, 27, 28.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 25, 28.
d. Capsule globular
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad) .... 34.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 32, 33.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 34.
1 If No. 63 has been mistaken for an acrocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
56 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
e. Capsule egg-shaped, pointed
Leaves absent .... 37.
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 36.
Plants growing on rocks, bricks, mortar, etc.
I. CAPSULE ERECT
a. Capsule cylindrical
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad) ....
2, 22, 23.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part).
Leaves hair-like throughout .... 3, 5, 6, 8, 14.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip
8, 13, 22, 23,41.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 10, 15, 17, 18.
h. Capsule angular {Jour- to six-sided)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) . . . .41.
c. Capsule elliptical, oval, or pear-shaped
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen,^ (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad.)
1 See Andreaea, p. 75-
CAPSULE KEY 57
Capsule partly concealed by leaves .... 19.
Capsule not concealed by leaves .... 21.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow ^ (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 12, iq, 23.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 20, 21.
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
a. Capsule cylindrical
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part).
Leaves hair-like throughout .... 4, 6, 7, 8.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip
8, 9, 30, 41.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 10, 29, 30.
h. Capsule angular {jour- to six-sided)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) . . . .41.
c. Capsule pear-shaped
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad.) . . .
25, 28.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must
be seen well enough to estimate their relative
shape.)
* See Andreaea, p. 75.
58 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part).
Leaves hair-like throughout .... 26.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip
.... 27, 28.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 25, 28.
d. Capsule globular
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad) .... 34.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 32, 33.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 34.
Plants growing on roots or trunks of trees
I. CAPSULE ERECT
a. Capsule cylindrical
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 8, 13, 22, 23.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 10, 17.
b. Capsule elliptical, oval, or pear-shaped
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too small
or too closely folded to show if they are relatively
long and narrow or short and broad) .... 21, 22.
CAPSULE KEY 59
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 22, 23.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 21.
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
Capsule cylindrical
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 10, 30, 31.
Plants growing on decaying wood, as old logs,
stumps, etc.
I. CAPSULE ERECT
a. Capsule cylindrical
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad) .... 38.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen wtU enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part).
Leaves hair-like throughout .... 6, 8, ^S.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip
....8,38,41.
b. Capsule angular {four- to six-sided)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 41.
60 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
a. Capsule cylindrical
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part).
Leaves hair-like throughout .... 4, 6, 7, 8.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip
.... 8, 41.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 29, 30.
h. Capsule angular {four- to-six-sided)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part) .... 41.
c. Capsule pear-shaped
Shape of leaves when moist not easily seen. (Leaves too
small or too closely folded to show if they are rela-
tively long and narrow or short and broad) .... 28.
Shape of leaves when moist easily seen. (Leaves must be
seen well enough to estimate their relative shape.)
Leaves long and narrow (more than four times longer
than broadest part).
Leaves hair-like throughout .... 26.
Leaves broader, sometimes ending in a hair-like tip
27, 28.
Leaves short and broad (less than four times longer than
broadest part) .... 28.
CAPSULE KEY 6l
Fruit on the side of the stem or on a very short lateral
branch. Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect, usually
much branched (with more than two or three branches).^
Pleurocarpous Mosses, p. 172.
Note. When in doubt where to place a moss that is somewhat branched,
try it under both Division A and Division B.
Plants growing on the ground
I. CAPSULE ERECT
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too
closely folded to show^ if they are straight or
curved); stems irregularly branched .... 50, 53, 75.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show.)
Leaves more or less curved; stems irregularly
branched .... 44.
Leaves straight.
Stems irregularly branched .... 44, 50, 75.
Stems tree-like in branching .... 45.
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
a. Capsule long-cylindrical (at least four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too
closely folded to show if they are straight or
curved).
Stems pinnatcly branched .... 57, 5S, 71.
> For arrangement of branches sec "lUustrations of Terms," Plate II.
62 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched .... 57.
Steins irregularly branched .... 59, 71.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to see
if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire out-
line need not show.)
Stems pinnately branched.
Leaves straight 57, 58, 64, 71, 74.
Leaves curved .... 62, 70, 71.
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of the
stem.^
Leaves straight .... 72, 73, 80.
Leaves curved .... 71.
Leaves turned to one side, curved .... 44, 62, 71.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.
Leaves wide-spreading .... 59, 61, 64, 73, 78.
Leaves not wide-spreading . . . . 44, 58, 61, 71, 76.
b. Capsule short-cylindrical (less than four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too
closely folded to show if they are straight or curved).
Stems pinnately or irregularly branched ... 71, 79.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched .... 68.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show.)
Stems pinnately branched.
Leaves straight .... 66, 67, 68, 69, 71.
Leaves curved .... 62, 66, 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; leaves
straight .... 68.
* If No. 31 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
CAPSULE KEY 63
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves straight^ .... 63, 67, 75.
Leaves curved .... 62.
Plants growing on rocks, sticks, etc., in or at the edge of
streams, ponds, or water-holes
I. CAPSULE ERECT
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to see
if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show.)
Leaves straight, erect or spreading."
Capsule partly concealed by leaves; stems long,
floating, irregularly branched .... 43.
Capsule not concealed.
Stems tree-Hke in branching .... 45.
Stems irregularly branched .... 44.
Leaves more or less curved and turned to one side
44.
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
a. Capsule long-cylindrical (at least four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist easily seen (it is necessary only to see
if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire out-
line need not show) ; stems irregularly branched.
Leaves straight, spreading .... 44, 59, 61.
Leaves more or less curved and turned to one side
.... 44, 62.
* If No. 34 has been mistaken for a plcurocarpous moss, it will apparently
bclont; here.
* If No. 19 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
64 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
b. Capsule shorUcylindrical (less than four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too
closely folded to show if they are straight or
curved); stems irregularly branched .... 79.
Leaves when moist easily seen (it is necessary only to see
if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire out-
line need not show); stems irregularly branched.
Leaves straight, erect or spreading ....
65, 75, 77, 79-
Leaves more or less curved and turned to one side
.... 65.
Plants growing on rocks not in streams, ponds, or
water-holes
I. CAPSULE ERECT
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too
closely folded to show if they are straight or
curved) ; stems irregularly branched ^ . . . .
50, 53, 54, 55, 56.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show.)
Capsule partly concealed by leaves ; - stems irregularly
branched; leaves straight .... 42.
Capsule not concealed.
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of stem,
straight 48, 55.
^ If No. 21 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
* If No. 19 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
CAPSULE KEY 65
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.
Leaves wide-spreading .... 54, 56.
Leaves not wide-spreading ^ .... 46, 50, 51, 75.
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
a. Capsule long-cylindrical (at least four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too
closely folded to show if they are straight or
curved)
Stems pinnately branched .... 57, 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched ...» 57.
Stems irregularly branched .... 59, 60, 71.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show.)
Stems pinnately branched.
Leaves straight .... 57, 71.
Leaves curved .... 62, 70, 71.
Stems somewhat tree-like in branching; leaves
straight .... 49.
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of stem.
Leaves straight .... 72, 73.
Leaves curved .... 71.
Leaves turned to one side, curved .... 62, 71.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.
Leaves wide-spreading .... 59, 61, 7.3.
Leaves not wide-spreading .... 61, 71, 76.
* If No. 21 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss it will apparently
belong here.
66 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
b. Capsule short-cylindrical (less than four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too closely
folded to show if they are straight or curved).
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched .... 68.
Stems irregularly branched^ .... 75, 79.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show.) ,
Stems pinnately branched.
Leaves straight .... 66, 67, 68, 69.
Leaves curved .... 62, 66.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; leaves
straight .... 68.
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves turned to one side, curved .... 62.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.
Leaves wide-spreading . . . . 67, 75, 78.
Leaves not wide-spreading ^ . . . . 75, 79.
Plants growing on roots or trunks of trees
I. CAPSULE ERECT
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too
closely folded to show if they are straight or
curved) ; stems irregularly or pinnately branched ^
50, 51. 52, 53, 55, 56.
Leaves when moist easily seen (it is necessary only to see if the
leaves are straight or curved, the entire outline need
not show) ; stems irregularly or pinnately branched.
^ If No. 34 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
2 If No. 21 has been mistaken for a pleurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
CAPSULE KEY 67
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of stem,
straight.
Capsule partly concealed by leaves .... 47.
Capsule not concealed .... 48, 55.
Leaves slightly turned to one side, straight or curved
.... 52.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight ^
46, 50^ 51, 52, 56.
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
a. Capsule long-cylindrical (at least four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too closely
folded to show if they are straight or curved).
Stems pinnately branched .... 71.
Stems irregularly branched .... 59, 60, 71.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outHne need not show.)
Stems pinnately branched; leaves curved .... 70, 71.
Stems irregularly branched; ^ leaves curved .... 71.
b. Capsule short-cylindrical (less than four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too closely
folded to show if they are straight or curved).
Stems pinnately or irregularly branched ....
68, 71, 75-
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched .... 68.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
* If No. 21 has been mistaken for a plcurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
2 If No. 31 has been mistaken for a plcurocarpous moss, it will apparently
belong here.
68 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outHne need not show.)
Stems pinnately or irregularly branched.
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of stem.
Leaves straight .... 75, 80,
Leaves curved .... 71.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight
.... 68, 69, 75, 78.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; leaves
straight .... 68.
Plants growing on decaying wood, as old logs,
stumps, etc.
I. CAPSULE ERECT
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too
closely folded to show if they are straight or
curved); stems irregularly or pinnately branched
^ 50. 51, 52, 53, 56.
Leaves when moist easily seen (it is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outhne need not show); stems irregularly or pin-
nately branched.
Leaves straight . . . . 50, 51, 52.
Leaves curved .... 52.
II. CAPSULE NOT ERECT
a. Capsule long-cylindrical (at least four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too closely
folded to show if they are straight or curved).
Stems pinnately branched .... 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched .... 57.
Stems irregularly branched . . . . 59, 71, 75.
CAPSULE KEY 69
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outline need not show.)
Stems pinnately branched, leaves curved ....
62, 70, 71.
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves apparently on two opposite sides of stem.
Leaves straight .... 72, 73, 80.
Leaves curved .... 71.
Leaves turned to one side, curved .... 62.
Leaves arranged equally around stem, straight.
Leaves wide-spreading .... 73.
Leaves not wide-spreading .... 71.
b. Capsule short-cylindrical (less than four times longer
than broad)
Leaves when moist not easily seen (too small or too closely
folded to show if they are straight or curved).
Stems pinnately branched .... 68, 71.
Stems bipinnatcly or tripinnately branched .... 68.
Stems irregularly branched .... 71, 75.
Leaves when moist easily seen. (It is necessary only to
see if the leaves are straight or curved, the entire
outUne need not show.)
Stems pinnately branched.
Leaves straight .... 67, 68, 69, 71.
Leaves curved .... 62, 71.
Stems bipinnately or tripinnately branched; leaves
straight .... 68.
Stems irregularly branched.
Leaves straight .... 67, 75, 78.
Leaves curved .... 62.
LIST OF GENERA
Note. The genera are numbered in the order selected for the book.
PAGE
1. Trematodon 77
2. Ditrichum 78
3. Saelania 80
4. Ceratodon 81
5. Distichium 83
6. Dicranella 84
7. Oncophorus 86
8. Dicranum 87
9. Leucobryum 95
10. Fissidens 97
11. Weisia 100
12. Hymenostylium loi
13. Tortella 102
14. Didymodon 104
15. Barbula 105
16. Pottia 106
17. Tortula 107
18. Encalypta 108
19. Grimmia iii
20. Rhacomitrium 113
21. Drummondia 116
22. Orthotrichum 117
23. Ulota 119
24. Physcomitrium 122
25. Funaria 123
26. Leptobryum 126
LIST OF GENERA 71
27. Pohlia 127
28. Bryum 129
29. Rhodobryum 131
30. Mnium 134
31. Aulacomnium 139
32. Plagiopus 143
^S. Bartramia 144
34. Philonotis 145
35. Timmia 148
36. Webera 1^0
37. Buxbaumia 152
38. Georgia 154
39. Catharinaea 1^6
40. Pogonatum 160
41. Polytrichum 162
42. Hedwigia 172
43. Fontinalis 17^
44. Dichelyma 177
45. Climacium 179
46. Leucodon 182
47. Neckera 185
48. Homalia 186
49. Thamnium 187
50. Entodon 189
51. Platygyrium 191
52. Pylaisia 192
53. Thelia 195
54. Myurella 196
55. Anomodon 198
56. Leskea 201
57. Thuidium 202
58. Helodium 205
59. Amblystcgium 208
60. Homomallium 210
72 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
6i. Hygroamblystegium 211
62. Drepanocladus 213
63. Calliergon ^ 216
64. Acrocladium 217
65. Hygroh>^num 218
66. Ctenidium 221
67. Rhytidiadelphus 223
68. Hylocomium 225
69. Hypnum 22g
70. Ptilium 230
71. Stereodon 231
72. Isopterygium 238
73. Plagiothecium 240
74. Camptothecium 243
75. Brachythecium 244
76. Cirriphyllum 250
77. Oxyrhynchium 251
78. Eurhynchium 252
79. Bryhnia 254
80. Rhynchostegium 256
CLASS BRYOPHYTES
Sub-Class Musci
ORDER I. SPHAGNALES (Peat Mosses)
Family SPHAGNACEAE
A FAMILY containing but a single genus.
SPHAGNUM (Dill.) Ehrh. (Sphag-num)
A genus containing a great many species found in
bogs and swampy woods, along the margins of ponds,
sometimes submerged, on moist banks
by streams, and more rarely in drier
situations. An old Greek name for some
plant.
Plants crowded together, sometimes form-
ing dense, extensive growths; varying in
color from pale to bright green, and in some
species from pink to deep red; fruit not
common.
Stc?ns usually erect, continuing growth at
the tips, sometimes reaching several feet in
length, but, as a rule, the older portions be-
coming so decayed and fragile, that only a cymbmum
few inches of the plants can be gathered ; 7nuch
branched; branches arranged in clusters along the stem, shorter
and more crowded at the tips forming a conspicuous head.
74 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Seta absent, but represented by an outgrowth called a
pseudopodium.
Leaves sharp-pointed or spoon-shaped, closely folded and
overlapping, or spreading; especially adapted for holding
water.
Capsule oval; brown; on a pale stalk; wrapped in leaves
until mature; without a peristome; mature in summer.
Operculum convex.
Range, cosmopolitan in suitable habitats, more abundant
in the cooler bogs of North America and Europe.
In economic value, the Sphagnums are the most im-
portant of the Bryophytes. The peat of commerce is
obtained from the firm, compressed mass of the older
portions of the plants that is formed at the bottom of
bogs. This mass is cut into bricks and, when dried, is
used for fuel, especially in Scotland and Ireland.
Sphagnum is also valuable as a packing material. In
certain localities it is used as a filling for mattresses
and pillows, and, as a non-conducting substance, it is
wrapped around steam-pipes or packed in the walls of
houses. When moist, it is used by gardeners and flor-
ists for packing vegetables and plants, as the peculiar
structure of the leaves enables them to absorb and
hold moisture like a sponge.
It has been discovered in Germany, England, and
Scotland that, owing to its absorbing qualities. Sphag-
num can be successfully used for surgical dressings as
a substitute for prepared cotton wool.
ORDER II. ANDREAEALES
Family ANDREAEACEAE
A FAMILY containing only one genus.
ANDREAEA Ehrh. (An-dre-ae-a)
A genus containing many species, growing on rock,
but not on limestone, usually in mountainous regions;
three species occurring in our range; not common.
Named after Andrea, an apothecary
of Hanover, Germany.
Plants small and fine, growing in dense
or lax tufts on rocks; reddish-brown to
almost black.
Stems erect, slender, short, usually about ^^<ircaea petrophUa
% inch long; very brittle. , a. moist capsule;
^^ -^ (,, dry capsule; en-
Leaves small, fine, spreading when larged.
moist; closely folded when dry; some-
times too small to be seen; reddish-brown to almost
black.
Seta absent, but represented by a very short stalk of
different origin.
Capsule at apex of stem, very small, erect, oval; dark
brown or blackish ; without peristome or operculum; splitting
along four longitudinal lines, but united at the apex.
Operculum absent.
Range, almost cosmopolitan.
76 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Andreaea is separated from the true mosses on ac-
count of the structure of the capsule, which is incon-
spicuous because it is about the same dark color as the
rest of the plants and is raised only a little above the
end of the stem or branch. It can best be seen, when
dry, by looking across the plants to the light. When
dry, the four parts of the capsule are spread apart;
when moist, they are closed and resemble the end of a
branch. Andreaea forms a close, dark growth on rocks
somewhat similar to that of Grimmia (p. in), Ortho-
trichum (p. 117), and Hedwigia (p. 172). It is much
less frequent than any of these, as it occurs only in
mountainous regions, and the stems and branches as a
rule are shorter and much more slender. The tufts are
less compact than in Orthotrichum, and the stems usu-
ally much shorter than in Grimmia and Hedwigia,
The presence of the fruit in any case will distinguish
the genus.
ORDER III. BRYALES (True Mosses)
ACROCARPI
The acrocaq)ous mosses are generally erect and
often not branched; or, if slightly branched by fork-
ing, usually with only two or three branches. The
fruit is borne at the tip of the stem, or of a well-
developed branch, sometimes appearing lateral by the
new growth of the plant.
Family DICRANACEAE
A very large family containing many genera and
several hundred species.
I. TREMATODON Michx. (Tre-mat-o-don)
A genus containing a number of species; one of
which, Trematodon ambiguus (Hedw.) Hornsch.,
occurs especially in the northern part of
our range. Name derived from the Greek
for "perforated" and ''tooth," referring
to the teeth of the peristome.
Plants growing close together in old fields,
in wet, swampy places, or on damp, clayey
soil; light green or brownish; fruiting abun-
1 ,, , Trematodon
dantly; not common. ambisuus
Stems erect, short, usually less than ^2 inch Leaf and capsule
long. enlarged.
78 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Leaves tang and hair-like , erect or somewhat spreading;
light green or brownish.
Seta greenish-yellow ; shining; /^-i>^ inches long; con-
spicuous.
Capsule inclined, cylindrical, with a long neck, giving the
appearance of a very long slender fruit; reddish-brown;
mature in summer.
Operculufn long-beaked.
Range, Canada and the northern United States; Europe.
The long slender fruit of Trematodon and the shining,
yellow fruit-stalks first attract the eye and are the im-
portant characteristics for determination. The moss
is not conspicuous when not fruited.
Two other mosses with short stems and hair-like
leaves are Ditrichum pallidum (p. 80), and Leptobryum
(p. 126), but the capsules are very different, and as
none of these plants are likely to be collected except
when fruited, there is no danger of confusing them.
2. DITRICHUM Timm (Di-tri-chum)
A cosmopolitan genus of many species, three of
which are common. Name derived from the Greek
for ** two," and '^ hair," referring to the divided teeth
of the peristome.
Plants crowded together, growing on the ground, rarely
on rocks; bright or yellowish-green; fruiting abundantly;
not conspicuous unless in fruit ; common.
Stems erect, short, usually less than }^ inch long.
DICRANACEAE 79
a. Leaves too small to show outline; closely folded when dry;
a rather bright green.
Seta usually less than i inch long; reddish-brown.
Capsule erect, cylindrical, slender; reddish-brown;
mature in autumn.
Operculum short-beaked. D. tortile.
D. vaginans.
b. Leaves easily seen, long, hair-like, spreading; yellowish-
green.
Seta usually i-i/4 inches long; yellowish.
Capsule erect or slightly inclined, long, cylindrical;
yellowish ; mature in June.
Operculum short-beaked. D. pallidum.
Ditrichum tortile (Schrad.) Lindb. and Ditrichum
vaginans (Sull.) Hamp. are both found in the eastern
half of North America and in Europe, the former
also in Asia and Africa. They resemble each
other too closely for the beginner to identify
them easily. They grow on moist banks, often
along roadsides, very rarely on rocks. The
stem^s and capsules are very slender, and the
leaves are so small and so closely folded, es- ^'[['^llil^
pecially when dry, that one is hardly con- capsuie
scious that there are any leaves at all, as ^"^^'■^^^•
the plants look as though they consisted of tiny
green stems with the fruit and fruit-stalks. No other
small mosses with small erect capsules are commonly
found on moist soil. Barbula (p. 105) has erect cap-
sules, but usually grows on drier soil, is less com-
8o HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
mon, and the leaves are crisped when dry, so that
the steins do not look smooth and slender. Georgia
pellucida (p. 154) also has small erect capsules and slen-
der stems, but its favorite habitat is decaying wood; it
less frequently grows on the ground, and mixed with
the fruited plants are usually sterile stems with larger
leaves arranged at the tip of the stem in a cup-like
cluster containing gemmae, or brood bodies capable of
reproducing the plants.
b
Ditrichum pallidum (Schrad.) Hamp. can be recog-
nized by the long yellow seta and slender capsule, erect,
or slightly inclined, sometimes becoming hori-
zontal when old, and by the long hair-like
leaves. It usually is found on bare ground in
woods. For comparison with other mosses
having hair-like leaves see Trematodon (p.
77), Dicranella (p. 84), Weisia (p. 100), and
Leptohryum (p. 126).
Ditrichum -^^^^^> Ontario to the Gulf of Mexico, west to
pallidum, Kansas; Europe; Asia; Africa.
3. SAELANIA Lindb. (Sae-lan-i-a)
A genus containing but one species found on earth
and in crevices of rocks, especially limestone, in moun-
tainous or hilly regions; rare. Named after Saelan, a
Scandinavian moss student.
t
DICRANACEAE 8i
Plants thickly crowded together; glaucous or light bluish-
green above, brown below; fruit occasional.
Stems usually less than i inch long, erect, slender,
slightly branched.
Leaves long, hair-like, erect; some at least showing the
characteristic glaucous or light bluish-green color.
Seta about % inch long; yellowish or pale
reddish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical; reddish; mature in
early autumn. ^ , .
Saelania
Operculum cone-shaped, not easily seen. giaucescens
Range, Greenland and Labrador to the Mid-
dle Atlantic States, west to British Columbia and Colo-
rado; Europe; Asia; New Zealand.
Saelania giaucescens (Hedw.) Broth. (5. caesia
Lindb.) is to be expected only in elevated regions,
especially in limestone country. It is at once distin-
guished by the glaucous bluish-green of the upper leaves.
No other moss has this peculiar color. The plants first
impress one as being coated with some foreign matter,
and a hand-lens shows the back of the leaves covered
with a white substance.
4. CERATODON Brid. (Ce-rat-o-don)
A genus of many species widely distributed. Name
derived from the Greek for " horn " and '' tooth,"
referring to the teeth of the peristome.
Ceratodon purpiireus (L.) Brid. is found all over the
world, growing on barren soil, burnt-over places, rocks,
82 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
old roofs, and even on the sand at the seashore. It is
very common and fruits abundantly.
Plants crowded together; fruiting abundantly; most con-
spicuous when in fruit ; a rather dark green.
Stems erect, usually about y?, inch high;
often slightly branched by forking at tip of old
growth.
Leaves short, hair-like, spreading when moist ;
somewhat folded when dry; a rather dark
green.
Seta about i inch long; becoming dark red
when fruit is mature.
Capsule cylindrical, inclined; dark red like seta
and grooved when mature, turning brown when
very old; sometimes appearing lateral by new
growth of stem; mature in spring.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, a cosmopolitan species.
Ceratodon purpilreus is one of our commonest mosses
and one of the first to attract the eye in early spring.
In March, when the snow disappears, the slender
young fruit-stalks have already reached nearly their
full height and are beginning to turn from green to red;
although the capsules are still so spear-like that one
can hardly tell where the seta ends and the capsule
begins. By late May or early June both have become
the characteristic dark red that suggested the name
purpureus. Often the new growth starts at the tip of
the stem, sometimes forking before the fruit is mature,
causing the seta to look as if it came from the side of
DICRANACEAE 83
the stem; but when this occurs, the new leaves are
lighter green than the old ones and one readily sees
what has taken place.
The distinguishing characteristics of Ceratodon are
the dark-red capsule and seta combined with the short
erect stems and short hair-like leaves. When the plants
are not fruited they are not conspicuous, unless the
growth is quite extensive, and are not easily recog-
nized. One can bear in mind that Ceratodon grows in
dry, barren places and that the leaves are short, hair-
like, and wide-spreading when moist. Sterile plants of
Pohlia nutans (p. 127) often grow quite extensively,
and this moss is also a very common one; but it is
found in damper places, having leaves wider, larger,
and more erect than in Ceratodon and the stems gen-
erally red, especially in the young plants.
5. DISTICHIUM Bryol. Eur. (Di-stich-i-um)
A small genus. Name derived from the Greek for a
*' double row," referring to the leaves arranged in two
rows.
Distichium capillaceum (Sw.) Bryol. Eur. (Swartzia
montana Lindb.) is found in mountainous regions,
growing on rocks and ledges, especially limestone; not
common; fruit occasional.
Plants thickly crowded together; glossy; bright or dark
green above, reddish-brown below.
Stems very slender, usually 1-4 inches long; branched.
84 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Leaves long, hair-like, spreading when moist; more erect
when dry; arranged in ofily two rows ; bright or dark green.
Seta about i inch long; reddish.
Capsule erect, cyhndrical, slender; reddish-
brown; mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped, not conspicuous.
Range, Europe, North America, Tasmania,
New Zealand.
This species is usually found on rocks in
Dishchum ^YiQ mountains, especially in limestone re-
capillaceum ' ^ -^
Portion of gions. The distinguishing characters are the
\lig^d ^^' ^^^^ slender stems and the long hair -like leaves.
The plants are soft and silky in appear-
ance. The leaves are in two opposite rows, but this is
not always clearly seen, especially if the leaves are
crowded. Sometimes they are separated enough to
show this arrangement and also the white sheathing
bases which make the stems appear white and shining.
6. DICRANELLA Schimp. (Di-cra-nel-la)
A genus of over one hundred species, only two of
which are at all common in our range. The name means
a " little " Dicranum; Dicranum is from the Greek,
referring to the shape of the teeth of the peristome.
Plants growing close together on damp soil and upturned
roots, rarely on earth-covered rocks ; common ; freely fruiting.
Stems erect, slender, usually less than i inch high.
Leaves long, narrow, hair-like, usually turned to one side;
not much changed when dry; bright to dark green.
DICRANACEAE 85
Seta less than i inch long; yellowish in the two common
species, reddish in the others.
Capsule cylindrical, symmclrical and erect, or unsymvietri^
cat and slighlly inclined; reddish-brown; ma-
ture in autumn.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Newfoundland to Florida, west to the ^ -.
Pacific; Europe; Asia. J IT
Dicranellaheteromalla (Dill.,L.) Schimp. Dicrandia
, , . , 7 7 • 7 7 . heteromalla
has the unsymmetrical capsule, slightly in-
clined, and when dry and empty it suddenly capsule en-
1 , 1 , larged.
curves in just below the mouth.
Var. orthocarpa (Hedw.) E. G. B. has the capsule
erect and symmetrical, not curved in below the mouth.
These two small mosses are typical little Dicranums.
Their long hair-like leaves, usually turned to one side,
and the long-beaked operculum are very characteristic.
Dicranum jlagcllare (p. 89) somew^hat resembles Di-
cranella, is next to these in size, and has erect capsules;
but it commonly growls on decaying logs, and the
stems are longer, thicker, and matted together with
radicles; the leaves are coarser, usually crisped when
dry; and if the tiny branchlets (flagella) can be seen
sticking up above the upper leaves, one may be sure
that the moss is Dicranum jlagcllare and not Dicra-
nella. Ditrichum pallidum (p. 80) has hair-like
leaves, yellow seta, and erect capsule; but leaves, seta,
and capsule are all longer than in Dicranella. See also
Weisia (p. 100).
86 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
7. ONCOPHORUS Brid. (On-c6-pho-rus)
A genus of several species widely distributed, one of
which occurs in certain parts of our range. Name
derived from the Greek for " something puffed out/'
referring to the swelling at the base of the capsule.
Oncophorus Wahlenbergii Brid. {Cynodontium vi-
rens var. Wahlenbergii S chimp.) grows on the ground,
on rocks, and on decaying logs, in moun-
^ tainous and hilly woods ; not common ; fruit
occasional.
Plants growing close together forming small
bright- green tufts, dark below.
Stems erect, up to i/^ inches long; some-
Oncophorus times forked.
a en ergtt Leaves long, hair-like; spreading when moist ;
XrgeV"' loosely curled when dry, giving the plants a
woolly appearance; bright green.
Seta %- 1 inch high; yellowish or pale reddish.
Capsule cylindrical, much curved and inclined; orange-
yellow in spring, with a tiny red swollen spot at the base
and the peristome showing like a red band around the
mouth; when past maturity, darker and about the same
color throughout; mature in spring.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Canada and the northern United States; Europe;
Asia.
One needs to collect Oncophorus in the spring to see
the leaves and capsules in their best color. By fall, the
DICRANACEAE 87
fruit has become dark and broken, while the new cap-
sules are merely slender spears. The plants have a
characteristic curly appearance when dry, due to the
long leaves slightly curling. Two other mosses with
similar growth, leaves, and habitat, are Dicranum fus-
cescens (p. 93) and Bartramia pomiformis (p. 144).
The leaves of these two species become somewhat
crisped in drying, but they are not so distinctly curled
as in OncopJiorus, and in the Dicranum they are more
or less turned to one side. The lower part of the stems
of both Dicranum and Bartramia is usually covered
with a felted mass of brown radicles, called tomentum,
which is not found on the stems of OncopJiorus. The
fruit of Bartramia, if present, distinguishes the genus
at once, as it is round instead of cylindrical ; but the fruit
of Dicranum is similar to that of OncopJiorus in general
appearance, although usually not so curved.
With a hand-lens the small projection at the base of
the capsule can be seen, which suggested the name of
the genus.
8. DICRANUM Hedw. (Di-cra-num)
A large cosmopolitan genus comprising several of
our common mosses. Name derived from the Greek
for a '' two-pronged fork," referring to the teeth of the
peristome.
Plants varying in size, often robust, growing close to-
gether, forming mats or tufts, on damp soil, rocks, decaying
88 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
logs, and rarely on living trees; bright to dark green; fruit
of most species common.
Stems erect or ascending, usually ^^-3 inches long;
branched by forking, or unbranched; often covered with
brown or whitish radicles forming a felt-like coating called
tomentum.
Leaves long and narrow, often curved and turned to one side
(secund), more rarely equally spreading; in some species
crisped when dry; bright to dark green.
Seta }i-2 inches long; sometimes two or more setae to-
gether ; often appearing to come from the side of the stem
on account of the new growth of the plant; usually reddish;
yellowish when not solitary.
Capsule cylindrical, erect and symmetrical, or inclined
and curved; yellowish or reddish; mature in summer or
autumn.
Operculum long-beaked.
Peristome red, easily seen in some of the larger species,
appearing like a red band at the mouth of the capsule.
For comparison with Catharinaea and Polytrichunij
which also have long narrow leaves, see p. 171.
The different species are divided as follows : — •
a. Capsule erect D. fulvum. D. longijolium.
D. flagellare. D. viride.
D. montanum.
b. Capsule not erect . . .D. scoparium. D. Drummondii.
D. fuscescens. D. majus.
D. undulatum.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE V
DiCRANUM
Fig. I.
D.fidvmn.
Fig. 2.
D. flagdlare.
Fig. 2a.
Branch of D. flagdlare showing flagella,
enlarged.
Fig. 3-
D. fuscescens.
Fig. 4.
D. scoparinm.
Fig. S-
D. mididatum.
Fig. sa.
, Leaf of D. iindidatiim, enlarged.
Fig. 6.
Peristome of Dicranum, enlarged.
I'LAiK V. DICRANUM
DICRANACEAE 89
a. Capsule erect
Dicranum fulvum Hook. (Plate V, Fig. i) is a com-
mon species growing only on rocks. The plants are
medium in size, dark green above, dark brown below.
The lower part of the stems is often covered with radi-
cles. The leaves are more or less turned to one side;
somew^hat crisped when dry; usually rather dark green.
The fruit matures in autumn.
Range, Nova Scotia to Wisconsin, south to North Caro-
lina and Missouri; Europe.
When this species is not fruited it somewhat resem-
bles certain forms of D. scoparium (p. 91), which also
grows on rocks. Typical plants of D. scoparium are
taller and the leaves are more turned to one side, not
changing much when dry. When the plants are fruited,
they are easily distinguished by the position of the
capsule. See also D. fuscescens (p. 93).
Dicranum flagellare Hedw. (Plate V, Fig. 2) is tisu-
ally found on old logs and stumps in moist woods. It is
a common species, generally fruiting freely, maturing
in summer.
Range, Nova Scotia to North Carolina; Mexico; Europe;
Asia.
A small species with stems about i inch long, the
lower part covered with felt-like tomentum, or radicles.
The leaves are somewhat curved and turned to one
side; usually crisped when dry; bright or yellowish-
90 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
green. Fine branchlets, called flagella (Plate V, Fig.
2a), are often present and should be looked for at the
tips of the stems. They are erect, rather stiff in appear-
ance, sometimes numerous, and about the same size
and color as the leaves, although they themselves are
covered with very minute leaves. Care must be taken
not to mistake very young capsules or new leaves for
the flagella. The leaves are usually slightly curved and
more hair-like at the tips and the young capsule is
covered with the yellowish calyptra. D.flagellare when
fruited most closely resembles Dicranella heteromalla
var. orthocarpa (p. 85), as both have erect capsules.
See under that species for comparison. Sterile plants,
unless the flagella can be seen, may be mistaken for D.
fuscescens (p. 93), and both occur on decaying wood,
but D. flagellare is more frequent and has a wider range,
as D. fuscescens is found chiefly at a higher altitude.
It is safest always to name species only from fruited
specimens.
There are three other Dicranums with erect capsules
that occur on living trees, but they are rare; Dicranum
montanum Hedw., Dicranum longifolium (Ehrh.)
Hedw., and Dicranum viride (Sull. & Lesq.) Lindb.
The fruit is very rare.
Dicranum montanum is a very small species with
stems usually not more than }^ inch long, found on trees
and decaying logs. The leaves are shorter and more hair-
DICRANACEAE 91
like than other species and become much crisped when
dry. They are yellowish to dark green.
Range, Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to West Vir-
ginia; Europe; Asia.
Dicranum longifolium occurs on rocks and trees in
mountainous or hilly woods. The stems are usually
1-2 inches long and the leaves about }4 mc//, often longer;
curved and turned to one side; not much changed
when dry; light green, and glossy.
Range, Nova Scotia to North Carolina, west to British
Columbia and Colorado; Greenland; Europe; Asia.
Dicranum viride is found on decaying logs as well as
on living trees. It is a small species, usually not more
than I inch high. The leaves are yellowish to dark
green, spreading when moist, a Kttle crisped when dry
and the tips are usually broken of, which is the dis-
tinguishing characteristic, but not always easily seen
without a lens.
Range, Newfoundland to the Rocky Mountains, south
to Pennsylvania and Ohio.
b. Capside not erect
I. Seta solitary
Dicranum scoparium (L.) Hedw. (Plate V, Fig. 4) is
by far the most common species and is very variable.
It grows on soil, rocks, or decaying wood in dry or
92 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
moist woods. The fruit is frequent and matures in
August or September.
Range, Canada and the United States; Europe; Asia.
Often large clumps of this species occur not bearing
fruit; then again the plants will be well fruited. The
stems are sometimes very long, up to 4 inches, as they
continue growth at the tips, dying down below. The
older parts are thickly covered with brown radicles.
The leaves are often more than % inch long, usually
slightly curved and turned to one side, but sometimes
shorter and equally spreading, little changed when
dry; yellowish-green. It is the Dicranum most fre-
quently collected, but varies so in size and general ap-
pearance that puzzling forms are often found. The
usual large size of the plants, the long leaves more or less
turned to one side, not much changed when dry, are typi-
cal characteristics.
There are two other Dicranums, D. Bergeri Bland.
{D. Schraderi Web. & Mohr), and D. Bonjeani De Not.,
that grow in sub-alpine bogs and marshes and closely
resemble certain forms of D. scoparium, but they are
not so common and are too difficult for the beginner to
identify as species, although the generic characters are
easily recognized in leaves and capsule. The leaves are
shorter with broader tips and are more erect than the
typical leaves of D. scoparium.
See D. fulvum (p. 89) and D. fuscescens (the follow-
ing species).
DICRANACEAE 93
Dicranum fuscescens Turn. (Plate V, Fig. 3) is
found on rocks and decaying wood in mountainous
regions. The plants are usually well fruited, and ma-
ture in the autumn. The stems are about i ^ inches
long, often branched, brown below, and matted to-
gether with radicles. The leaves are more or less
curved and turned to one side, crisped when dry, es-
pecially in the upper part.
Range, Labrador to South Carolina, Alaska to California;
Europe; Asia.
D. fuscescens may be distinguished from D. scopa-
rium by its smaller size, and narroiver, somewhat shorter,
leaves, more crisped when dry. It is also much less fre-
quent. If sterile plants are found on rocks they may
be confused with D. fulvum (p. 89), but the stems of
D. fuscescens are lighter hrown below and thickly covered
with radicles, and the leaves are more curled when dry.
2. Setae clustered
Dicranum undulatum Ehrh. (Plate V, Fig. 5) is
easily recognized by the wavy leaves and clustered setae^
2-5 on one plant. It grows on moist soil and earth-
covered rocks in hilly woods. Fruit mature in summer.
Range, Canada and the northern United States; Eu-
rope; Asia.
The stems of D. undulatum are stout, often 3-4
inches long, sometimes prostrate in the lower part, and
94 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
thickly covered with brown or whitish radicles. The
wavy leaves (Plate V, Fig. 5a) are very long, glossy, and
bright yellow-green; wide-spreading or slightly turned to
one side, the uppermost erect; not much altered when
dry. Catharinaea undulata (p. 157) also has wavy
leaves, but they become very crisped when dry, and
the stems are not covered with radicles.
Dicranum Drummondii C. Mlill. has clustered setae
and is found in locahties with D. undulatum, but less
frequently. It may be easily distinguished from the
latter by the leaves, which are never wavy and become
crisped when dry.
Range, northern United States, south to New Jersey and
Colorado.
There is one other Dicranum with clustered setae, but
it is very rarely found. Dicranum majus Smith. This
species occurs in the mountains and again along the
coast in the northern part of our range. The stems are
long as in the two preceding species and the leaves are
very long, usually regularly turned to one side; light to
dark green, and glossy; not wavy, and not crisped when
dry. The stems are only slightly covered with radicles
in the lower part.
Range, Greenland to Maine; Alaska; Europe; Asia.
Family LEUCOBRYACEAE
A SMALL family occurring chiefly in the tropics with
the exception of the following genus which is almost
cosmopolitan.
9. LEUCOBRYUM Hamp. (Leu-co-bry-um)
A genus containing several species, mostly tropical.
The name is derived from two Greek words meaning
*' white moss," referring to the typical color of the
leaves.
Leucobryum glaucum (L.) Schimp., sometimes
called '' white moss," is found on the ground and on
rocks in the woods. It is very com-
mon in most regions, but rarely
fruits.
Plants growing in cushions of vary-
ing size; glaucous or whitish- green
above when dry; sometimes darker
green when moist; grayish-brown
beneath.
Stems erect, usually 1-3 inches long,
thick, but easily broken; branched by
forking.
Leaves long, narrow, tubular from
the incurved margins, erect or spreading; glaucous or whitish-
green, darker when moist in the early spring, but becoming
very pale w^hen dry.
Leucobryum glaucum
Leaf enlarged.
96 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Seta usually i inch long or less, dark brown.
Capsule cylindrical, curved, inclined; dark brown; mature
in autumn.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Newfoundland to the Rocky Mountains; south to
Florida and Louisiana; Europe; Asia; Africa.
The pale-green cushions of Leucohryum are familiar
to nearly every one who frequents the woods. Some-
times only the surface of the cushions protrudes above
the ground, and sometimes the stems seem quite, if not
wholly, unattached, and the rounded tufts are lying on
the top of the ground. On account of its characteristic
color, Leucohryum will not be confused with any other
moss except Sphagnum (p. 73). The two plants re-
semble each other in color and erect growth, but the
manner of branching and the leaves are very different.
The branches of Sphagnum are very numerous, ar-
ranged in a close head at the tip of the stem, but long,
clustered, and drooping below; the leaves vary some-
what in size, and are erect and closely folded or some-
times spreading. The stiff, erect leaves of Leucohryum
might be mistaken for the short branches that form the
heads of Sphagnum, but by separating a few of the
plants and comparing the illustrations no mistake will
be made.
Family FISSIDENTACEAE
The plants of this family belong, with only a few
exceptions, to the following genus.
10. FISSIDENS Hedw. (Fiss-i-dens)
A genus of wide distribution, containing many
species. Name derived from the Latin for *' split," and
a '' tooth," referring to the teeth of the peristome.
Fissidens is found in damp places, growing on the
ground in moist woods or on shaded earth in green-
houses, on wet rocks often along streams, and more
rarely at the base of trees or on decaying wood. A few
species occur fairly frequently in our range,
but rarely fruit, and are not easily sepa- S]
rated.
Plants growing close together, sometimes
forming thin mats; bright to dark green.
Stems erect or ascending, usually less than
I inch long, sometimes taller; not branched Leaf enlarged.
or with a few branches.
Leaves relatively short and broad, arranged in only two rows
on opposite sides of stem; lying flat when moist, but becom-
ing crisped when dry; most of the upper half double; bright
to dark green.
Seta terminal or lateral, ]i'i inch long; reddish.
Capsule cylindrical, erect or inclined; reddish-brown;
maturing from summer to winter.
98 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Operculum conical or short-beaked, not easily seen.
Range, throughout North America; Europe; Asia; Africa.
The leaves of Fissldens differ from those of other
mosses in having a double part that clasps the stem.
In the larger plants it can usually be seen with the un-
aided eye when the plants are held to the light. It is
the lower part of the upper side of the leaf and will look
thicker and darker than the rest of the leaf.
The conspicuous characteristic of Fissidens is the
flattened appearance of the plants, due to the leaves ar-
ranged in only two rows, one on either side of the stem.
Only one other moss described in this book has this
arrangement of leaves, Distichium (p. ^2)) 5 but there
are several that have a flattened appearance, and the
leaves must be examined closely to notice that they are
really in more than two rows; sometimes they dis-
tinctly show that there is more than one layer. See
Mnium (p. 138) and Aulacomnium heterostichum (p.
140). Among the pleurocarpous mosses the flattened
appearance is more common, but the manner of growth
and the branching is very different from that of Fissi-
dens. See especially Neckera (p. 185) and Homalia
(p. 186).
Fissidens more closely resembles some of the leafy
hepatics than any of the mosses. Both the hepatics
and Fissidens grow on rocks and moist banks, espe-
cially along streams, and it is often necessary to gather
the plants and carefully examine them to tell them
apart. The leaves of Fissidens lie flat when moist, are
FISSIDENTACEAE 99
pointed, and when held to the light the midrib can
usually be seen even if the double portion does not
clearly show; while the leaves of hepatics are rounded
or lobed, usually curled under at the tips, and there is
no midrib. See Introduction (p. 6). The stems of
leafy hepatics are usually much branched and often
interweave, forming tangled mats, while the stems of
Fissidcns are not much branched and can be easily
separated.
Family POTTIACEAE
A VERY large family, occurring chiefly in the tem-
perate zones. Our common genera are found on the
ground and on rocks.
II. WEISIA Hedw. (Weis-i-a)
A genus containing many species. Named after
Weis, a botanist of Gottingen, Germany.
The only species of this genus found in our range is
Weisia viridula (L.) Hedw. It grows on bare earth
along roadsides, on banks, or in fields, sometimes on
soil newly turned over in woods, but it is
rarely collected. The fruit is abundant.
Plants crowded together; yellow-green; thickly
covered with fruit.
Stems erect, very short, less than % inch long,
usually about % inch.
Natural Leaves long, narrow, hair-like, spreading when
size and en- moist; somewhat crisped when dry; yellow-
larged.
green.
Seta % inch long or less, greenish-yellow.
Capsule short cylindrical, oval or elliptical, erect; reddish-
brown; mature in spring.
Operculum long-beaked, not easily seen.
Range, Canada; United States; Europe; Asia; Africa;
New Zealand; Tasmania.
POTTIACEAE loi
The stems of Weisia are so short that it is not likely
to be collected except when in fruit. The small size of
the plants, long hair-like leaves, short seta, and short
capsule, all help to distinguish Weisia from other
mosses. It is nearest in size to Pottia (p. io6), but the
leaves of Pottia are much broader and the capsule is
top-shaped. Ditrichum pallidum (p. 80) has short
stems, hair-like leaves, and yellow seta, but the seta is
much longer and the capsule is larger. In Dicranella
(p. 84) the hair-like leaves are turned to one side.
Tortella caespitosa (p. 103) is another short-stemmed
moss, but the leaves are much broader, more crisped
when dry, and the capsule is longer.
12. HYMENOSTYLIUM Brid.
(Hy-men-o-sty-li-um)
A genus of wide distribution, containing several
species occurring chiefly in limestone re-
gions. Name derived from the Greek,
referring to the structure of the capsule.
Hymenostylium curvirostre (Ehrh.)
Lindb. (Gymnostomiim curvirostre Hedw.)
is found in our range. EynunostyUum
curvirostre
Plants thickly crowded together, growing on Capsule en-
moist rocks, usually limestone, in mountainous
or hilly regions, and along the coast; hrigJit green above,
brownish below; not common; fruit sometimes abundant.
Stems erect, very slender, ^-4 inches long; branched.
102 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Leaves hair-like, hut short; erect or somewhat spreading
when moist; only shghtly twisted and more erect when dry;
usually bright green in the new growth, brown below.
Seta not more than }4 inch long; yellowish or light reddish-
brown.
Capsule erect, symmetrical, oval, very small; reddish-
brown; mature in summer.
Operculum with a long oblique beak, not easily seen with-
out a lens.
Range, Labrador to Alaska, south to California and
South Carolina; Europe; Asia; Africa.
Hymenostylium curvirostre occurs chiefly 07i wet cliffs
in limestone regions. The plants often form a deep,
dense growth, conspicuously green for about one-quarter
of an inch, and then brown below. The fruit is some-
times abundant. If the capsule is examined under a
lens it will be seen that there is no peristome. See
Didymodon (p. 104).
13. TORTELLA (C. Mull.) Limpr. (Tor-tel-la)
A cosmopolitan genus containing many species.
Name derived from the Greek for '* twisted," referring
to the twisted teeth of the peristome.
The two species occurring in our range are found on
earth, rocks, and roots of trees; not common; fruit
occasional.
Plants crowded together; green or yellowish-green.
Leaves long and narrow; much crisped when dry; green or
yellowish-green.
POTTIACEAE 103
Seta more than % inch long; orange-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, erect; orange-brown; mature in
June.
Operculum long-beaked.
Stems erect, more than >^ inch long. T. tortuosa.
Stems erect, less than ^ inch long. T. caespitosa.
Tortella tortuosa Tortclla caespitosa
Leaf and peristome enlarged. Leaf enlarged.
Tortella tortuosa (L.) Limpr. \s found on rocks in
mountainous or hilly regions.
Range, Greenland; Canada; northern United States;
Europe; Asia; Africa.
The stems of this species are usually i or 2 inches
long, robust, yellowish-green above, brown below, and
covered with brown radicles.
Tortella caespitosa (Schwaegr.) Limpr. (Barbula
caespitosa Schwaegr.) is a much smaller species than T,
tortuosa. It grows on earth and roots of trees in the woods.
Range, Ontario and New England to the Gulf States,
west to British Columbia; Mexico; South America; Europe;
Asia; Africa.
I04 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
The two species described above are not among our
common mosses. The long slender leaves, becoming
much curled and crisped when dry, and the long, slender^
erect capsule are distinguishing characteristics. If the
plants are found in fruit, the student will be well repaid
to examine the peristome with a lens. The long teeth
are shaded from orange-red to yellow, and are spirally
twisted. The peristome of Barhula (p. 105) and Tortula
(p. 107) is similar to that of Tortella.
14. DIDYMODON Hedw. (Di-dym-o-don)
A genus of many species occurring in limestone re-
gions. Name derived from the Greek for '' twin " and
" tooth," referring to the divided teeth of the peristome.
Didymodon rubellus (Hoffm.) Bryol. Eur. is found
on wet ledges and rocks, usually limestone,
in mountainous or hilly regions; not com-
mon; fruit sometimes abundant.
Plants growing close together; bright or dark
green above, rusty -red below.
Didymodon Stems usually less than i inch long; branched.
rubellus Leaves hair-like; wide-spreading when moist;
Leaf and somewhat crisped when dry; bright or dark
lar^ed^^ ^"" g^^^n above, rusty-red on lower part of stem.
Seta about ^ inch long; reddish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical; reddish-brown ; mature in
summer.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States;
Europe; Asia; Africa.
POTTIACEAE 105
Didymodon is to be expected on the hills and moun-
tains of limestone regions. The conspicuous charac-
teristic is the rusty-red color of the lower leaves, which
distinguishes this species from other mosses of the
same locality.
15. BARBULA Hedw. (Bar-bu-la)
A large genus widely distributed. But two species
are described here and they are not common. Name
derived from the Latin for ''beard," referring to the
peristome.
Barbula unguiculata (Huds.) Hedw. is found on the
ground and on stones; sometimes on stone
walls.
Barbula convoluta Hedw. grows on the
ground in rather dry places.
Plants growing close together; yellow-green; Barbula
fruit often abundant. unguiculata
Stems erect, short, usually less than }^ inch laJgeT"
long.
Leaves^ if large enough to be seen, short and hair-like;
much crisped when dry.
Seta about >^ inch long; reddish-brown in B. unguiculata;
yellowish in B. convoluta, becoming reddish with age.
Capstde long-cylindrical , erect.
Peristome twisted as in Tortclla (p. 102), and Tartula
(p. 107).
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Canada and the northern and western United
States; Europe; Asia; Africa.
io6 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
The beginner will not be likely to collect the Bar-
hulas^ unless fruited, as even moist plants are so small
and inconspicuous; and when dry, they look very much
dried-up on account of the tightly curled leaves. When
not fruited, the short stems and the leaves crisped when
dry are the only distinguishing characteristics. Barhula
is common south and west of our range. See Ditrichum
(p. 78), Georgia (p. 154), and Encalypta (p. 108).
16. POTTIA Ehrh. (P6tt-i-a)
A large genus widely distributed. But one species
occurs in our range. Named after Pott, a professor of
botany in Brunswick, Germany.
Pottia truncatula (L.) Lindb. grows on the ground
in moist places; not common; fruit usually abundant.
Plants growing close together; dull green.
Stems erect, very short, about }i inch long.
Leaves short and broad; usually easily seen
when moist; slightly crisped when dry; dull
green.
Seta short, % to y% inch long; yellow-brown.
Leaf and Capsule top-shaped, erect; reddish-brown; ma-
capsule en- ture in autumn.
larked
Operculum short-beaked, not easily seen.
Range, Quebec and New England to Pennsylvania;
Nevada; Europe; Asia; Africa.
Pottia is not very common, but is easily recognized
by the top-shaped capsules. The only other moss with a
POTTIACEAE 107
similar capsule is Physcomitrium, which is a little larger
and more common than Pottia. It also has short stems
and leaves similar in shape, but lighter colored; the
seta is longer and the capsule is larger, lighter colored,
and more urn-shaped; that is, with the outline more
curved. See illustration of Physcomitrium (p. 122).
Weisia (p. 100) resembles Pottia in size, but the leaves
are hair-like and the capsule is cylindrical and more
slender than that of Pottia.
17. TORTULA Hedw. (Tor-tu-la)
A large genus widely distributed. But two species
are described here, and they are very rare. Name
derived from the Latin for " twisted," referring to the
peristome.
Plants growing close together on rocks and on trees in
dense cushions or patches; light or dark green; fruit some-
times abundant in T. muralis.
Stems erect, short, about /4 inch long, or less.
Leaves broad and short in T. papulosa; longer in T.
muralis, with the midrib extending beyond the leaf in a
hair-like tip, not easily seen without a lens; only slightly
crisped when dry; light or dark green.
Seta in T. muralis about H inch long; yellowish to reddish.
Capsule in T. muralis long-cylindrical, erect; yellowish
or reddish; mature in spring.
Peristome twisted as in Tortclla (p. 102) and Barhula
(p. 105). Seen with a lens.
Operculum long-beaked.
io8 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Tortula muralis (L.) Hedw. is a rare species in the
eastern United States, growing on walls and
sunny rocks. The leaves of this species are four
or five times longer than the broadest part,
slightly crisped when dry; dull or brighter green;
hoary from white, hair-like tips. The seta is
orange when young, growing darker with age;
the fruit, sometimes abundant, is mature in
larged!" the Spring. Compare Encalypta (p. no).
Range, throughout North America, a cosmopoHtan.
Tortula papulosa Wils. is also a very rare species. //
grows on the hark of trees, less frequently on rocks. The
fruit has not been reported from America. The
leaves are dark or olive-green, short and broad,
Tortida ^nd fold against the stem when dry, much like
papulosa ^j^Qgg oi Orthotrichum (p. 117). Orthotrichum
occurs much more frequently, the stems are usually
longer, the leaves longer and more gradually pointed,
and the fruit can usually be found.
Range, throughout the northern Atlantic States; South
America; Europe; Australia; New Zealand; Tasmania.
18. ENCALYPTA Schreb. (En-ca-lyp-ta)
A cosmopolitan genus containing many species, two
of which, rarely collected, are described below. Name
from the Greek, meaning " to cover with a veil," refer-
ring to the large calyptra.
ft.
POTTIACEAE 109
Plants growin<T close together on rocks or soil in moun-
tainous or hilly regions, especially limestone country; green
above, brownish below; sometimes well fruited
in E. ciliata; rare.
Stems erect, robust, usually ^^-3 inches long;
branched.
Leaves relatively sJwrt and broad, usually at
least y^ inch long ; spreading when moist ; sotne- ^
what crisped when dry with tips incurved; green Encalypta
above, brownish below. "^^'^^
Seta usually about % inch long; yellowish or calyptra en-
reddish, larged.
Capsule in E. ciliata erect, long-cylindrical ; reddish-brown ;
mature in summer.
Calyptra long-cylindrical, closely covering the entire
capsule ; straw-colored.
Operculum long-beaked.
Encalypta ciliata (Hedw.) Hoffm. has stems about
}i inch long. The plants are sometunes well fruited
when found, but are less common than the following
species.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern United
States; Europe; Asia; Africa; Australia; Hawaiian Islands.
Encalypta contorta (Wulf.) Lindb. {E. strcptocarpa
Hedw.) is a larger species with stems 1-3 inches long.
Sterile plants are frequent in limestone regions, but the
fruit has not been reported from America.
Range, Ontario to Virginia, westward to the Rocky
Mountains; Europe; Asia.
no HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Encalypta may be expected only in the higher alti-
tudes, especially in limestone regions. The distinguish-
ing characteristics are the leaf-tips curving in when dry,
and especially the cylindrical calyptra, when present,
closely covering the capsule. The leaves are short and
broad as in Barhula (p. 105) and Tortula (p. 107), but
they are larger and less strongly crisped. The stems
are also more robust.
Family GRIMMIACEAE
A FAMILY containing only a few genera, two of which
are given below.
19. GRIMMIA Ehrh. (Grimm -i-a)
A genus containing a great many species widely dis-
tributed, growing only on rocks and stones. The stems
branch by forking much more freely than most of the
acrocarpous mosses and they are often ascending in-
stead of erect, so that, uPxlesG one can find the capsules
almost hidden at the tips of the stems and branches,
the moss is likely to be mistaken for pleurocarpous.
Named after Grimm, a physician and botanist of
Gotha, Germany.
Grimmia apocarpa (L.) Hedw. and G. conferta
Funck are the two species most frequently collected,
but as they are difficult to distinguish, only general
characteristics are given.
Grimmia apocarpa var. rivularis (Brid.) Web. &:
Mohr is found on rocks in and along streams and
occurs in our range. The steins are longer than the
more common species, reaching from 2-4 inches,
freely branched, and leajlcss in the lower part. Other
112 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
characteristics are the same as those given below. This
form of Grimmia may be confused with Rhacomitrium,
the following genus, and the pleurocarpous mosses
growing on rocks in streams and having the lower
part of the stem leafless. See Hygroamhlystegium
(p. 21 1). Like all acrocarpous mosses single plants
are easily separated, while the pleurocarpous mosses
usually form such tangled mats that no great length
of the stem can be pulled out.
Plants growing in rather loose tufts, on rocks; dull olive-
green or brownish except at the young tips, which are a
brighter green; common; fruit common.
Stems erect or ascending; usually not more than
I inch long, except in var. rivularis; branching
somewhat freely; stijff when dry.
Leaves long and narrow, about five times
^ . . longer than broadest part, sometimes ending in
apocarpa a white hair-point giving the plants a hoary ap-
Capsule pearance; spreading when moist; closely folded
enlarged, -^hen dry; dull olive-green, or brownish.
Seta very short, hidden in leaves.
Capsule almost hidden at the tips of the branches, oval,
erect; mature in late spring.
Operculum short-beaked; bright red, appearing like a red
tip to the branch, as the rest of the capsule is so hidden by
the leaves.
Range, almost cosmopolitan.
The Grimmias grow in such small dark patches that
they do not often attract the eye except after rain,
when the leaves are well spread and lighter colored, and
GRIMMIACEAE 113
especially when the plants are well fruited and the
operculum shows bright red at the tips of the branches.
The stems are more branched than any of the acrocarp-
ous mosses except Rhacomitrium (p. 114) and the Ortho-
trichaceae (p. 116), but the fruit is always terminal,
which shows the plants are not pleurocarpous mosses.
The common species of Orthotrichum (p. 117) and
Ulota (p. 119), that grow on rocks and most closely
resemble Grimmia, have the capsule more exserted, but
if the plants are not in fruit the looser, darker growth
of Grimmia, with stems usually longer and more slen-
der, are the only distinguishing characteristics. In the
pleurocarpous mosses, Hedwigia (p. 172) grows on
rocks and has the capsule almost concealed by leaves,
but it is lateral instead of terminal as in Grimmia, and
the plants usually occur in larger patches, are more
branched, and are a grayer green. See Andreaea
(P- 75).
20. RHACOMITRIUM Brid. (Rha-co-mi-tri-um)
A large cosmopolitan genus. Named from the Greek
for a '' frayed cap," referring to the calyptra, which is
often ragged at the base.
Rhacomitrium aciculare (L.) Brid. is the common
species of this genus, and is found on rocks along
streams, especially in mountainous or hilly regions.
The fruit is not common.
114 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing in wide, loose patches ; dull dark green,
often becoming blackish.
Stems usually 1-2 inches long ; stout; pros-
trate to ascending, with ends of branches erect;
the lower part of the stem leafless; branched
by forking.
Leaves short and broad; wide-spreading when
moist; closely folded when dry ; very dark ex-
cept at tips of branches.
Rhacomitrium Seta about ^ inch long ; dark brown ; some-
aticulare times appearing lateral by the new growth
Leaf enlarged, of the plant.
Capsule erect, elliptical; red-brown; mature in spring.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Alaska, Canada, south to California and Ala-
bama; Europe; Africa.
Rhacomitrium resembles Grimmia, the preceding
genus, in manner of growth and branching, but the
common species described above is found on rocks
along streams, sometimes overflowed, while the com-
mon Grimmias usually grow on rocks in woods. The
stems and branches are stouter and longer, except in
G. apocarpa var. rivulare, the leaves broader, and more
separated, and if the plants are fruited there is no diffl-
culty in distinguishing the two genera. The species
of Orthotrichum and Ulota (pp. 117, 119) that occur
on rocks are dark and somewhat branched; but like
Grhnmia they are also found in woods instead of
along streams; the stems are shorter, and the plants
grow in closer tufts. Associated with Rhacomitrium is
GRIMMIACEAE 115
sometimes found a pleurocarpous moss, Hygrohypnum
eugyrium (p. 220). The leaves of Hygrohypnum are
lighter green, more or less curved and turned to one
side, and do not closely fold against the stem when dry;
the stems are more branched, and the capsule is lateral,
curved and inclined, instead of terminal, symmetrical,
and erect as in Rhacomitrium.
Family ORTHOTRICHACEAE
A FAMILY containing several genera, two of which,
Orthotrichum and Ulota, are widely distributed and a
third, Drummondia, is occasionally found in our range.
21. DRUMMONDIA Hook. (Drum-mond-i-a)
A small genus, but one species occurring in our
range. Named after Thomas Drummond, an American
botanist and collector.
Drummondia clavellata Hook, grows on trunks of
trees — very rarely on rocks — in the woods, but is
only occasionally found. It is the one species of the
acrocarpous mosses most likely to be mistaken for a
pleurocarpous moss, as the stems are creeping with
numerous erect branches; but the fruit is always terminal.
Plants growing on trunks of trees in flat, often dense,
mats; rather dark green above, blackish below; fruit some-
times abundant.
Stems, long, creeping; with numerous
stout, erect branches usually ^-/^ inch
Drummondia clavellata i^^g, SO thickly set that the Stem is
almost wholly concealed.
Leaves short and broad, often too small to show entire
outline; somewhat spreading when moist; closely folded
when dry.
ORTHOTRICHACEAE 117
Seta about % ii^ch long; yellowish-brown.
Capsule short, oval, erect; light brown; mature in sum-
mer.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Ontario and New England, south to Alabama and
Missouri; Asia.
Drunimondia, when collected fruiting, will both inter-
est and puzzle the beginner, as the stems are creeping
and much branched, while the fruit is terminal. The
stems adhere so closely to the bark of the tree that it is
not easy to remove much of the specimen unless the
bark is cut. If only tufts of branches are removed, the
creeping stem is not noticed and the moss will most
likely be mistaken for Orthotrichum, the following
genus, as the leaves fold in much the same way. But
when long creeping stems covered with short erect
branches run out from the dense mats, the grow^th is
much like that of a pleurocarpous moss, except that
when the fruit is found it will be at the tips of the
branches. No pleurocarpous moss growing on trees has
such short thick branches, and the fruit is always
lateral.
22. ORTHOTRICHUM Hedw. (Or-tho-tri-chum)
A large and cosmopolitan genus occurring on trees
and on rocks. Several species are found in our range.
Name derived from two Greek words for '' upright "
and " hair," referring to the erect hairs on the cahptra.
ii8 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing on trees, often apple trees, and on rocks,
in small dark-green tufts; common; fruit common.
Stems erect or ascending; short, usually about % inch
long; sometimes branched.
ffl ^ Leaves about four or five times longer
m^ /| than broadest part, sometimes too
K^ (y small to show outline; wide- spreading
when moist; folded straight against stem
a. 0. sordjdum. , ,
b. 0. anomalum. '^^en dry.
c. Capsule of 0. Br aunii. Seta SO short that it rarely shows above
enarge . leaves, except in one of the common
rock-inhabiting species, O. anmnalum, when it is longer and
yellowish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical or elliptical, with a tapering
neck, usually partly concealed by leaves; yellowish or red-
dish; mature in spring.
Calyptra thinly covered with hairs.
Operculum cone-shaped or short-beaked, not easily seen.
Range, a cosmopolitan genus.
The Orthotrichums will be found on trees or rocks in
the open as well as in the woods. The species are not
easily distinguished, but the generic characters, the
partially concealed capsule, except in 0. anomalum,
which grows on rocks, and the leaves folding straight
when dry, can be readily recognized. These mosses
most closely resemble the Ulotas (p. 120), but in Ulota
the leaves are strongly crisped when dry, except in U.
americana; the seta is longer so that the capsule is not
partly concealed by leaves, and the calyptra is con-
spicuously covered with hairs. The exceptions to the
characteristics given above, Orthotrichum anomalum
ORTIIOTRICHACEAE 1 19
Hedw. and Ulota americana, both grow on rocks and
closely resemble each other, as in both species the cap-
sule is raised above the leaves, and the leaves are not
crisped when dry. If the plants are not fruited, the
beginner will not be able to identify them, but if the
fruit can be found there is one character that differs
slightly. In the Orthotrichum, when the capsule is dry
and empt}^ it suddenly tapers at the base, while in the
Ulota it tapers more gradually. The Ulota will proba-
bly be more frequently collected.
See also Andreaea (p. 75), Grimmia (p. iii), and
Drummondia (p. 116).
Orthotrichum Braunii Br>^ol. Eur. (0. strangiilatum
Sull.) is a fairly common species and can be easily recog-
nized when fruited, by the capsule greatly contracted
below the mouth w^hen dry and empty, so that it re-
sembles a vase in outline. The other species have the
capsule only slightly or not at all contracted.
23. ULOTA Mohr (U-lo-ta)
A genus containing many species, four of w^hich can
be found in our range. The name is derived from the
Greek for "something curled," referring to the leaves
curled or crisped when dry.
rJants growing on trees and on rocks, usually forming
small rounded cushions; yellow-green to dark green; com-
I20 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
mon in mountainous or hilly regions and along the coast;
often fruiting abundantly.
Stems erect or ascending; stout; short, less than i inch,
usually about ^2 inch long ; sparingly branched.
Leaves long and narrow, five to seven times
longer than broadest part; spreading when moist;
strongly crisped when dry, except in U. americana,
which grows on rocks and has leaves folded
straight when dry.
Ulota Seta short, ^i-y-z inch long; yellowish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical, elliptical, or pear-
enlarged! shaped, with tapering neck; yellowish; mature in
spring or summer.
Calyptra large, covering the capsule; corn-colored; hairy.
Operculum cone-shaped or short-beaked, not easily seen.
Range, a cosmopolitan genus.
Additional characteristics seen with hand-lens; erect
hairs on calyptra; capsule grooved (striate); peristome
double, outer row of teeth short and broad, recurved when
dry except in U. Ludwigii.
The compact, rounded cushions of Ulota will be
found especially in sub-alpine woods. One species
Ulota americana (Palis.) Limpr. {U. Hutchinsiae (Sm.)
Hammar) grows only on rocks, while three other spe-
cies, occurring in our range, Ulota Ludwigii Brid.,
Ulota ulophylla (Ehrh.) Broth. {U. oris pa. Bvid.),3ind
Ulota phyllantha Brid. are found on trees. Very rarely
U. ulophylla and U. phyllantha occur on rocks.
The Ulotas are similar to the Orthotrichums in habi-
tat and growth, but differ from them in having the
calyptra more hairy and the leaves crisped when dry.
ORTHOTRICHACEAE 121
except in U. amcricana, which grows on rocks and has
the leaves folded straight when dry, and cannot be
easily distinguished from Orthotrichum anomalum. For
comparison with that species see p. 118. U. Ludwigii
and U. ulophylla are the common species found on
trees. They are distinguished from each other by cer-
tain characteristics of the capsules that are not always
clearly defined. Typically the capsule of U. Ludwigii
is pear-shaped, with a very narrow mouth, while in U.
ulophylla the capsule is contracted below a much
wider mouth, then gradually narrowed toward the
base. Ulota phyllaniha, which also grows on trees,
more rarely on rocks, is a larger, more robust species
than the preceding, is less frequent, and very rarely
fruits.
Family FUNARIACEAE
A FAMILY containing several genera, two of which are
common in our range.
24. PHYSCOMITRIUM (Brid.) Furnr.
(Phys-co-mi-tri-um)
A genus containing many species, only one of which
is common. Name derived from the Greek for a '' blad-
der " and a " cap," referring to the calyptra.
Physcomitrium turbinatum (Michx.) Brid., given as
P. pyriforme by some authors, is found on damp soil
in fields and gardens and along roadsides;
common; fruit abundant.
Plants growing close together or somewhat
scattered; light green.
Stems erect; very short, less than ^ inch,
Physcomitrium often Only /^ inch long.
ur ma urn Leaves broad and flat; spreading when moist ;
^ukenkrgeT ^ little Crisped when dry; light green.
Seta usually not much more than % inch
high; yellowish in spring, becoming reddish-brown with age.
Capsule erect, urn-shaped; light colored in spring, becom-
ing darker; mature in May or June.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Quebec to Florida, west to the Rocky Mountains.
FUNARIACEAE 123
Pkyscomitrium turhinatum is conspicuous, especially
in the spring, on account of the light color of the
leaves and fruit. The capsule is the distinguishing char-
acter. It is contracted below the mouth and again at
the base making it urn-shaped. In some specimens this
is much more clearly seen than in others. There will be
no diflkulty in distinguishing Physcomitrium when
fruited from other mosses except Pottia. For compari-
son with that genus see p. 106. If the plants are not
fruited, they are not likely to be collected. The light
color of the leaves is not a sufficient characteristic to go
by, as the very young growth of any moss may be light
green. For instance, the early sterile growth of Cathari-
naea (p. 158), when the stems are short and the leaves
broader and lighter green than when well developed,
might be mistaken for Physcomitrium, but Catharinaea
occurs much more frequently and grows more exten-
sively, and the leaves have a broader midrib, which
can usually be seen when the plants are held to the
light.
25. FUNARIA Schreb. (Fu-na-ri-a)
A cosmopolitan genus of a great many species. Name
derived from the Latin for " cord," referring to the
twisted seta.
Funaria hygrometrica (L.) Sibth. is very common
and fruits abundantly.
124 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing close together, rarely scattered, on the
ground in woods or in the open, especially on burnt-over
places; sometimes found in crevices of rock; light yellow-
green.
Stems erect; very short, less than % inch long.
Leaves short and broad ; light yellow-green;
folding so close in a bulb-like tuft at tip of stem
/^^ that the outline cannot be seen unless the
^-^ / leaves are separated by pressing the tuft be-
tween the finger-tips.
Seta long, 1-2 inches; shining; greenish-
yellow when young, finally becoming reddish-
Funaria brown; curved and twisted when dry, quickly
hygrometnca \ , ^ 7 -1 ^
c 1 ith ^i^twisting when moistened,
calyptra; leaf Capsule pear-shaped, unsymmetrical, curved
enlarged. ^^ ^^^^ upper side; in various positions; when
young, light green, yellow or orange, becoming reddish-brown
and grooved with age; mouth on one side; when not too old,
with a bright-red ring around it; mature in May or June.
Operculum convex.
Range, a cosmopolitan species.
Funaria hygrometrica often covers a large patch of
ground, especially in burnt-over places. The abundant,
tall, shining, bright-colored setae make the plants very
conspicuous. The characteristic capsule is easily recog-
nized even before maturity, with the mouth so decid-
edly on one side that it often becomes quite parallel to
the axis of the capsule, and the seta so variously curved
that no two capsules seem to be in the same position.
When the fruit is very young, Funaria may be known
by the much-curved seta and the long pointed calyptra
FUNARIACEAE 125
that nearly covers the then slender capsule, all pale
yellow-green, and by the round cluster of light-green
leaves. The leaves fold so closely, even when moist,
that the outline cannot be seen unless the bulb-like
tuft is pressed and the leaves spread apart. The leafy
part of the plant is so small that it is doubtful if Fu-
naria is ever collected except when fruited. Mixed with
Funaria is often a taller, sterile growth of some other
moss with long narrow leaves, so that care must be
taken to separate the fruited plants to see the character
of the leaves.
Family BRYACEAE
A COSMOPOLITAN family containing a great many
species, only a few of which are common and easily
recognized.
26. LEPTOBRYUM (Bryol. Eur.) Wils.
(Lep-to-bry-um)
A genus of only three species. Name derived from
the Greek for '^ slender," and Bryum.
Leptobryum pyriforme (L.) Wils. is found on the
ground, on rocks or stone walls, and on rotten wood.
It is fairly common and usually fruits abun-
dantly; sometimes plants with unfertilized
flowers are collected. (See below.)
Plants crowded together; light green or yel-
lowish-green.
Stems erect, very slender; usually >^-i inch
long.
Leaves very fine, long, hair-like; spreading,
pyriforme forming a tuft at tip of stem; below scattered
Leaf and and shorter,
capsule en- ^^^^ j_2 inches long; orange-brown; shining.
Capsule inclined or drooping; pear-shaped
with a distinct, slender neck; reddish-brown; mature in early
summer.
Operculum convex, not easily seen.
BRYACEAE 127
Range, throughout North America; South America;
Europe; Asia; Tasmania; New Zealand.
Leptohryum is especially conspicuous when fruited,
as the long setae and capsules shine lilvC burnished cop-
per. The combination of long hair-like leaves and pear-
shaped capsules with the orange-brown setae easily dis-
tinguish Leptohryum from other mosses which have
only one of these characteristics. Fimaria, the precede
ing genus, and the two following genera, Pohlia and
Bryum^ have capsules similar to those of Leptohryum,
though usually not so small or with the neck so dis-
tinct, and the leaves are not hair-like. Other mosses
with spreading, hair-like leaves have a yellowish seta
and cylindrical capsule. See Trematodon (p. 77) and
Ditrichum pallidum (p. 80).
It is not uncommon to find Leptohryum not fruited,
but with unfertilized flowers appearing like tiny dark
dots at the tips of the stems surrounded by the long
hair-like leaves. These barren plants are also often
mixed with the fruited ones.
27. POHLIA Hedw. (Pohl-i-a)
A genus of world-wide distribution containing many
species. Named after Pohl, a professor of botany in
Dresden, Germany.
Pohlia nutans (Schreb.) Lindb. {Weber a nutans
Hedw.) is very common, and found almost everywhere,
often fruiting abundantly.
128 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants thickly crowded together, growing on soil, on
rocks, or on decaying wood in the woods or in the open;
usually rather dark green above, brownish
P^ below.
Slems erect, slender; about /^-i inch long;
sometimes branched and often reddish.
/^^ Leaves long and narrow, erect; usually form-
'' ing a tuft at tip of stem; below smaller and
more scattered; rather dark green.
Seta varying in length from %-!% inches;
reddish-brown.
Capsule inclined, horizontal or drooping;
pear-shaped or club-shaped, with neck not very
PoUia nutans (jig^inct; stiU green even when well filled out,
suie enlarged" ^^^^^Y becoming reddish-browH ; mature in
early summer.
Operculum convex.
Range, a cosmopolitan species.
Pohlia nutans is one of our most common mosses,
especially conspicuous in spring when the capsules are
light green or yellowish, changing to brown. Its favor-
ite habitat is a moist, shaded bank, where quite an
extensive growth is often seen, sometimes thickly cov-
ered with fruit. The capsule of Pohlia resembles that
of Bryum, the following genus, with the neck less dis-
tinctly marked than in Leptobryum, the preceding
genus. Pohlia can usually be distinguished from Bryum
by the longer leaves more gradually narrowed from the
base. In some species of Bryum the leaves are longer
than in others, but they are widest above the base and
never look so long and slender as in Pohlia. Pohlia is
BRYACEAE 129
by far much more common than Bryum, and therefore
more frequently collected. It grows in larger patches
and fruits more abundantly. The red stems are not
conspicuous and can be seen in the taller plants only by
holding them in a good light; the young, sterile growth
shows this characteristic as well as any. The leaves at
this stage are lighter green than in the older plants.
For comparison of sterile growth with another common
moss see under Ceratodon (p. 83).
28. BRYUM Dill. (Bry-um)
A widely distributed genus of several hundred spe-
cies, only a few of which are fairly frequent. Name
derived from the Greek for some Crypto- ^^
gamic plant.
Plants growing close together on the ground
or on rocks, rarely on decaying wood; yellow-
ish-green to dark green, sometimes brown- I '^^\
ish; silvery in B. argentcum; fruit sometuncs
abundant.
Stems erect; about ^ inch long except in ^^
B. bimum, when they may reach 2 inches; ^
often reddish; somewhat branched. Bryum
Leaves erect or spreading, about four to five catsptUctum
times longer than broadest part; sometimes too ^^'"^^ ^"^' *^^P'
sulc enlarged.
small to be seen easily; often tufted at ti]) of
stem; yellowish-green to dark green, sometimes brownish;
silvery in B. argenteum.
Seta %-2 inches long; reddish-brown.
Capsule inclined, horizontal or drooping: pear-shaped or
I30 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
club-shaped, with neck not decidedly marked; reddish-
brown; mature in summer or autumn.
Operculum convex, or cone-shaped.
Range: The following species are cosmopolitan.
Bryum bimum Schreb. is the largest of the common
Bryums and is found in moist places and on wet ledges.
The stems are sometimes 2 inches long and often con-
spicuously red, covered in the lower part with reddish-
brown radicles. The leaves are four to five times longer
than broadest part; the upper ones are sometimes red
at the base like the stem; the lower ones are brown.
The seta is very long, i>^-2 inches, and the capsule
is long and slender, maturing in early summer.
Bryum caespiticium L., probably the most common
species, is found on dry ground and on rocks. The
stems are about ^ inch high, and the leaves are usually
yellowish-green, about four to five times longer than
broad. The seta is 1-2 inches long. Fruit mature in
early summer.
Bryum argenteum L., commonly called the *^ silvery
Bryum," is known at once by the silvery ap-
pearance of the older plants when dry, due to
the lack of green coloring matter in the upper
part of the leaves. The stems are usuall>
less than ^A inch hisrh and are smoothly
Bryum / o -'
argenteum cylindrical, with the very small leaves, too
small to be seen, folding closely and overlapping. It is
BRYACEAE 131
found on dry ground, on rocks, and sometimes in the
crevices of brick walls or stone walls. The seta is
short, about Yi inch long, and the capsule small,
maturing in the fall. This species sometimes fruits
abundantly.
Other species of Bryiim are likely to be collected
occasionally and are not easily identified, but the
Bryum capsule is readily distinguished from all others
except that of Pohlia. See under that genus (p. 128) for
comparison. The capsule of Mnium (p. 134) is hori-
zontal or drooping like that of Bryum, but the Mnium
capsule is cylindrical throughout, — ■ that is, the same
width throughout, while the Bryum capsule has a
more or less distinct neck, making the lower part nar-
rower than the upper portion; yet this character is not
so marked as in Leptobryum (p. 126).
29. RHODOBRYUM (Schimp.) Hamp.
(Rho-do-bry-um)
A genus containing many species, one of which is fre-
quent and so strikingly characteristic that it is easily
recognized. Name derived from the Greek for ''rose,"
and Bryum, referring to the leaves forming a rosette.
Rhodobryum ontariense (Lindb.) Paris is usually
given as R. roscum (Weis) Limpr. {Bryum roscuyn
Schreb.); but the plants commonly collected in our
range have a longer midrib than is described under R.
roseum.
132 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing loosely together or scattered, sometimes
singly with other mosses; found in moist woods on the
ground, on decaying logs, and on earth-covered rocks;
dark green; frequent; fruit occasional.
Steyns erect, >^-i/^ inches long; growing
from underground runners (stolons); appar-
ently leafless below the tip, as the lower leaves
are small and scale-like.
Leaves broad, flat; dark green; when moist,
forming a large rosette at the end of the stem;
when dry, somewhat crisped and folded to-
gether, so that the rosette becomes more like
a thick bud.
Seta usually i-iK inches long; sometimes
two or three on one plant; reddish.
Capsule large, cylindrical, horizontal or
drooping; yellowish- or reddish-brown, with red band at
mouth when young; mature in autumn.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, southeastern Canada and northeastern United
States.
Additional characteristics seen with hand-lens. Leaves
toothed in upper part, midrib extending a little beyond tip,
tip often twisted, leaf-cells large; peristome- teeth long,
large.
If one has become familiar with the illustration of
Rhodobryum it will be easy to recognize this moss
without having to use the Key. The broad, flat rosettes
when moist and wide open, often measuring fully
% inch across, quickly attract the eye. No other
moss forms such conspicuous rosettes except possibly
Mnium, the following genus. The rosettes of Mnium
BRYACEAE 133
are smaller and are most noticeable in the male plants,
the male reproductive organs showing in the center.
The stems of Mnium below the rosettes bear leaves
similar to those of the rosette instead of being appar-
ently leafless as in Rhodobryutn.
Family MNIACEAE
A FAMILY containing only four genera, one of which
is common and conspicuous.
30. MNIUM (Dill.) L. (Mni-um)
A genus containing many species, several of which
are common and easily distinguished by the broad, fiat
leaves. Name derived from the Greek for '* moss."
Plants usually growing close together, sometimes singly
and mixed with other mosses ; found in moist places on the
ground, on rocks, on decaying logs, and rarely on trees;
light to dark green; often fruiting abundantly; some
species common.
Stems erect, in sterile plants sometimes prostrate or arched;
varying in length from % inch in the smallest species to
3 inches or more in the largest species; lower part often
thickly covered with a felt-like coating of reddish-brown
radicles called tomentum.
Leaves of most species large, flat and broad, rounded or
more or less elliptical; narrower in M. hornum; of a thin,
gauzy texture; often separated, sometimes clustered in a rosette
at tip of stem; usually much crisped when dry; bright to dark
green; midrib and sometimes a thickened border can be
seen in the largest leaves when moist plants are held to the
light.
Seta long, generally 1-2 inches ; sometimes two or three
on a single plant ; yellow or reddish.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE VI
Mnium
Fig. I. M. cuspidahim.
Fig. la. Leaves of M. cuspidahim, enlarged.
Fig. 2. Double peristome of Mnium, enlarged.
Fig. 3. M. cinclidioides.
Fig. 3a. Leaf of M. cinclidioides, enlarged.
Fig. 4. M. hornnm.
Fig. 4a. Leaf of M. hormim, enlarged.
Fig. 5. M. punctahim var. datum.
Fig. 5a. Leaf of M. punctatum var. elatum, enlarged.
Fig. 5b. Tip of leaf of M. punctatum var. elatum showing
cell-structure, enlarged.
I'LAii: VI. MNIL.M
MNIACEAE 135
Capsule inclined, horizontal or drooping; cylindrical; about
the same width throughout, without the smaller neck por-
tion as in Bryum (p. 129), Pohlia (p. 128), and Leptobryum
(p. 126); usually yellowish when mature in May or June,
sometimes growing darker with age, in some species with a
red band around the mouth.
Operculum varying from convex to long-beaked.
Range, a cosmopolitan genus.
Additional characteristics seen with hand-lens: Leaves
sometimes bordered or toothed; teeth in some species
double; midrib occasionally extending beyond leaf; leaf-
cells large, nearly round; teeth of peristome long, slender.
(See Plate VI.)
Mnium cuspidatum (L.) Leyss. (M. sylvaticum
Lindb.) (Plate VI, Fig. i) is a very common species
found in moist, shady places on lawns as well as in
woods; also on decaying logs and earth-covered rocks;
often fruiting freely. The leaves are medium-sized for
the genus, much crisped when dry, and vary in color
from light to dark green. The sterile shoots of this
species as well as of some others are sometimes long,
slender, and prostrate or inclined, often arched and
rooting at the tips. The fruit is borne singly.
Additional characteristics seen with a hand-lens:
Leaves toothed only in the upper half; teeth single.
Range, Newfoundland to Florida and west to the Pacific;
Europe ; Asia.
Other species of Mnium, less frequent and occurring
only in moist woods, resemble M. cuspidatum in gen-
136 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
eral appearance, having erect, fertile stems and pros-
trate or arched sterile shoots (Plate VI, Fig. i) ; but the
different species cannot be determined without the use
of a lens which will show if the teeth are single or
double, long or short, and how far they extend around
the leaf. Certain species will often bear clustered fruit.
It is not unusual to find plants with the leaves forming
conspicuous rosettes at the end of the stems. (Plate
VI, Fig. I.) These are usually the male plants and the
male reproductive organs can be seen in the center of
the rosette. See end of this genus for comparison with
Rhodobryum, which also has conspicuous rosettes.
Mnium hornum L. (Plate VI, Fig. 4) is frequently
found on moist banks and rocks, especially along streams
in woods. It often grows extensively in wide patches,
but the fruit is not common. The leaves of this species,
unlike those of other Mniums, are long and narrow,
usually closely set and erect, sometimes more or less
flattened and not much crisped when dry. They are
usually a rather dark green. See Fissidens (p. 97) and
Aulacomnium heterostichum (p. 140), that have leaves
flattened, and Catharinaea (p. 156), that has leaves
crisped when dry.
Range, Newfoundland to Wyoming, south to Georgia;
Europe; Asia; Africa.
The two following species are the largest Mniums.
They will be found in swamps and very wet woods,
MNIACEAE 137
sometimes even in water in the early spring. The stems
are often 3 inches or more in length, and the leaves
are larger than those of most mosses.
Mnium punctatum var. datum Schimp. (Plate VI,
Fig. 5) is a common moss found in swamps and wet
woods, and may be known by the very large, broadly
egg-shaped leaves; bright to dark green; with a midrib
and thickened border easily seen when the plants are
held to the light. (Plate VI, Fig. 5a.) The stems are
stout, sometimes branched, and usually thickly covered
with reddish-brown radicles, called tomentum. The fruit
is not common.
The species Mnium punctatum (L.) Hedw. is smaller
and not so frequently collected. It occurs on rocks as
well as on the ground. The leaves are the same shape
as those of the variety, only smaller.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern United
States; Europe; Asia.
Mnium cinclidioides (Blytt) Hiiben. (Plate VI,
Fig. 3) is sometimes found in the same swamp with the
preceding species, but is not so common and the fruit
is very rare. The leaves are bright green, oblong, rounded
at the end, and the midrib can be seen; but they are not
bordered as in Mnium punctatum, and the stems are not
covered with radicles.
Range, northern North America, south in the East to
Pennsylvania; Europe; Asia.
138 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
The distinguishing characteristic of the Mniums is
the broad, flat leaf of a thin, gauzy texture, which en-
ables the student quickly to learn to recognize the
genus. The rosettes resemble Rhodobryum, the pre-
ceding genus, but the leaves grow on the lower part
of the stem as well as at the tip. Sometimes the
leaves appear to be on opposite sides of the stem, as
in Fissidens (p. 97), but the leaves are larger, more
separated, and a careful examination will show that
they are arranged in more than two rows. Aulacom-
nium heterostichum (p. 140) somewhat resembles certain
Mniums; for comparison see under that species. Care
must be taken not to mistake the round leaves of
certain hepatics for those of Mnium. The conspic-
uous leaves of the hepatics are arranged in only two
rows, are somewhat thicker, usually smaller than in
most of the Mniums, and are not so fiat, as they often
curl under at the tip. (See Introduction, p. 6.)
Family AULACOMNIACEAE
A FAMILY containing only two genera, one of which is
common and widely distributed.
31. AULACOMNIUM Schwaegr.
(Au-la-c6-mni-um)
A small genus, two species of which occur in our
range. Name derived from the Greek for *' furrowed "
and ^' moss," referring to the grooved capsule.
The two common species of Aulacomnium are unlike
in growth and habitat and without microscopic exam-
ination resemble each other only in the capsule.
a. Leaves short and broad . . . . A. heterostichum.
b. Leaves long and narrow . . . . A. palustre.
Aulacomnium heterostichum (Hedw.) Br}^ol. Eur.
is occasionally found on moist banks and at the base of
trees in the woods. The fruit is not uncommon.
Plants growing close together, often forming a somewhat
flattened mat; yellowish-grecji above, olive-green or brown
below.
Stems prostrate or ascending; branched by the terminal
annual growth; the lower part covered with brown radicles
(tomentum).
I40 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Leaves relatively short and broad; sometimes flat as though
pressed, and sometimes turned to one side, especially in
the new growth; not much changed when dry; yellowish-
green or olive-green.
Seta usually about i inch long; reddish-
brown.
Capsule inclined; long-cylindrical; reddish-
brown when mature; grooved when dry; mature
in May or June.
Operculum short-beaked.
Range, the eastern part of the United States
to Wisconsin and Texas; Asia.
Aidacomnium
heterostichum
Leaf and cap-
sule enlarged.
Aulacomnium heterostichum has leaves
similar in shape to those of Fissidens
(p. 97) and some of the Mniums, the
preceding genus. It is distinguished at once from
Fissidens by having more than two rows of leaves,
and from Mnium by the leaves being closer-set,
and not changing much when dry. When the leaves
turn to one side this moss does not suggest either Fissi-
dens or Mnium; the manner of branching and the cap-
sule are also different.
Two pleurocarpous mosses, Neckera (p. 185) and
Homalia (p. 186), grow on trees and have broad leaves
lying fiat, but the stems are more branched and the
capsules are not terminal.
The somewhat flattened appearance of this Aula-
comnium may resemble some of the leafy hepatics, but
the leaves are more pointed and are a lighter green.
(See Introduction, p. 6.)
AULACOMNIACEAE
141
Aulacomnium palustre (L.) Schwacgr. is common
in moist and swampy places, but is sometimes found
where the ground has become dry; fruit
quite common.
Plants growing close together; usually light
yellowish-green.
Stems varying in length, usually 1-4 inches
long; thickly covered with brown radicles (to-
mentum) ; frequently terminating in thread-like
leafless shoots (pseudopodia), bearing a cluster
of brood bodies (gemmae) at the tips.
Leaves long and narrow; erect, or somewhat
spreading when moist; slightly curled when
dry; usually light yellowish-green.
Seta i-i}4 inches long; reddish-brown.
Capsule inclined, long-cylindrical; reddish-brown when
mature; grooved when dry; mature in June.
Operculum short-beaked.
Range, Arctic America, south to the mountains of South
CaroHna, Utah, and California; South America; Europe;
Asia; Australia.
Anlacomtiium
palustre
Leaf enlarged.
Aulacomnium palustre is most freciuently found in
Sphagnum bogs. The plants are variable both in length
and in robustness, but can usually be distinguished by
the light yclloivish-grccn leaves, often separated enough
to show the stems covered with the reddish-brown
tomentum. The thread-like shoots at the tips of the
stems are also very characteristic.
142 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
This species will not be confused with other mosses
growing in boggy places, except possibly with certain
Dicranums that are rarely found. See D. Bergeri and
D. Bonjcani (p. 92). The leaves of Aulacomnium pal-
ustre are not so long as those of Dicranum, nor so
thickly set, and never turn to one side.
Family BARTRAMIACEAE
A FAMILY containing only a few genera, two of which
are common in most localities. A third occurs only in
limestone regions.
32. PLAGIOPUS Brid. (Pla-gi-o-pus)
A genus containing only three species. Name de-
rived from the Greek for " oblique " and *' stalk,"
referring to the way the seta joins the capsule.
Plagiopus Oederi (Gunn.) Limpr. {Bartramia Oederi
(Gunn.) Schwaegr.) is found in mountainous and hilly
woods of limestone regions growing on rocks
or soil; not common; fruit not common.
In order to recognize Plagiopus without the
use of a compound microscope, the student
needs to be familiar with Bartramia pomi-
formis, the following species, as the plants ^!^Jj^^"^
are best described by comparison.
The general characters of stems, leaves, and capsule
are similar to those of Bartramia pomiformis, but the
stems are more slender, usually 1-2 inches long, the
leaves shorter and less crowded, and the capsule smaller.
Range, Canada and the northern United States, south in
the East to North Carolina; Europe; Asia.
144 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
33. BARTRAMIA Hedw. (Bar-tram-i-a)
A cosmopolitan genus containing many species, only
one of which is common. Named after Bartram, an
American botanist.
Bartramia pomiformis (L.) Hedw. is frequently
found in moist woods, on the ground, or on rocks, often
freely fruiting.
Plants growing close together, forming thick, Hght- or
yellowish-green mats.
Stems usually 1-2 inches long, thickly covered
with reddish-brown radicles (tomentum) in the
lower part.
Leaves long, narrow, hair-like throughout;
spreading when moist; more erect and slightly
crisped when dry.
Seta yz-i inch long; reddish-brown.
Bartramia CapsuU nearly globular, inclined; yellowish-
potmjormts ^^^^j^ when mature in late spring.
Operculum convex, usually red, and, though small, con-
spicuous, especially when the capsule is young.
Range, Arctic America and Canada, southward to Ala-
bama and Colorado; South America; Europe; Asia; Africa;
New Zealand.
The striking character of Bartramia, as well as of
Plagiopus and Philonotis, the two related genera, is the
globular capsule, which, when green, with the opercu-
lum red, looks like a tiny apple, with a red cheek. No
other common moss has the capsule so nearly round.
BARTRAMIACEAE 145
Bartramia may be distinguished from Philonotis by
the long hair-like leaves becoming somewhat crisped
when dry; from Plagiopus, which is not common
and found only in limestone regions, by the larger
size, more robust stems, longer leaves, and larger
capsule.
When Bartramia is not fruited it resembles Oncoph-
orus (p. 86), in general appearance, but Bartramia is
much more common, grows more extensively, the
leaves are not so decidedly curled when dry, and the
brown radicles found on the stems are not found on
the stems of Oncophorus. Bartramia may be known
from Dicranum, when both are sterile, by the leaves
equally spreading instead of more or less turning to
one side. See Plate V.
34. PHILONOTIS Brid. (Phi-16-no-tis)
A very large genus with one species generally com-
mon. Name derived from the Greek for '' loving " and
" moisture," referring to the favorite habitat of the
plants.
Philonotis fontana (L.) Brid. is found on the ground
in swamps and wet places and on rocks where water is
dripping; fruit occasional.
Plants growing close together; light yellowish- green; often
forming thick mats.
Stems erect or ascending, usually 1-3 inches long, slender;
red; the lower part covered with brown radicles (tomen-
146 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
turn) ; the new growth forming a whorl of branches at the tip
of the stem, giving the plants the appearance of being
pleurocarpous.
Leaves J in the very young growth, too small to show out-
line, in the more robust growth, short and apparently hair-
like; erect, or shghtly turned to one side when moist ; closely
folded when dry.
Seta usually 1-2 inches long; yellowish
or reddish.
Capsule nearly globular, inclined; yellow-
ish- or reddish-brown when mature in
June.
Operculum convex; red, and conspicuous,
especially when the capsule is green.
Male flowers often conspicuous in a ros-
ette of leaves at tip of stem.
Range, Arctic and temperate North
America, south in the East to Florida; a
cosmopolitan.
Philonotis fontana
Old and young
plant. Leaf en-
larged.
Philonotis is especially fond of wet
places where water is slowly running or
dripping. The slender stems, short leaves,
and the peculiar manner of branching
are distinguishing characteristics when
the globular capsules are not found. The only other
common moss with similar capsule is the preceding
genus, Bartramia. See under that genus for com-
parison.
Philonotis resembles Aulacomnium in color, but the
stems are more slender, the leaves are much smaller,
and the branching differs. See p. 141.
BARTRAMIACEAE 147
When the whorled branches at the tip of the stem
become long, the plants have the appearance of being
pleurocarpous. The only pleurocarpous mosses with
branches only toward the tip of the stem are Clima-
cium (p. 179) and Thamnium (p. 188).
Family TIMMIACEAE
A FAMILY containing a single genus of only a few
species.
35. TIMMIA Hedw. (Timm-i-a)
A small genus. Named after Timm, a botanist of
Mecklenburg, Germany.
Timmia cucullata Michx. (given by some American
authors as T. megapolitana Hedw.) occurs especially in
^ limestone regions on moist banks; not com-
monly collected; fruit rare.
Plants growing in loose patches; green above,
brown below.
Stems erect, usually 1-2 inches long, slightly
branched.
Leaves long and narrow; erect; spreading
when moist; slightly curled when dry.
Seta about i inch long; reddish.
Capsule inclined or horizontal, short-cylin-
drical, tapering io the seta; yellowish; ma-
ture in May.
Operculum convex.
Range, Newfoundland to Pennsylvania, west to the
Pacific; Europe.
Timmia is not found in all localities and is rarely
collected. Sterile plants when moist resemble Poly-
TIMMIACEAE 149
trichum, as the stems are robust and the leaves some-
what stiff in appearance; but when dry the leaves do
not fold, but are somewhat curled and suggest Catha-
rinaea, though they are more opaque, and much Jess
crisped. The short capsule, with its tapering neck and
convex operculum, would suggest the fruit of Mnium
or Bryum rather than that of Catharinaca or Polytri-
clium. See Plates VI, VII; also pp. 129, 157.
Family WEBERACEAE
A FAMILY containing only one genus.
36. WEBERA Ehrh. (We-ber-a)
A small genus, only one species of which is found in
North America. Named after Weber, a botanist of
Gottingen, Germany.
Webera sessilis (Schmid.) Lindb. {Diphyscium Joli-
osum Mohr) is found on moist, shaded earth, sometimes
by roadsides ; not uncommon.
Plants growing close together, only those hearing fruit
conspicuous; brownish ; freely fruiting.
Stems so very short that the capsules appear
to grow directly on the ground.
Leaves on the stem too small to be seen;
those surrounding the capsule long, hair-
Weherasessilis^ /iy^.; brownish.
^ and enkrgtd!^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ without dissect-
ing the plants.
Capsule erect or oblique, egg-shaped, with narrow end
pointed; light brown, growing close to the ground appar-
ently without a seta (sessile) ; mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Alabama;
Europe; Asia; Madeira Islands.
One has carefully to search moist, barren ground in
order to find Webera sessilis, as there is nothing con-
WEBERACEAE 151
spicuous about the plants to attract the eye except the
light-brown capsules, and these might easily be mis-
taken for bits of gravel at a distance. The sterile plants
are mixed with the fruited ones, forming a low, dark
growth, sometimes thickly dotted with the lighter
capsules.
Only the following genus, Btixbaumia, has a capsule
of similar shape, but the plants do not resemble each
other in any other way.
Family BUXBAUMIACEAE
A FAMILY containing but one genus.
37. BUXBAUMIA Hall. (Bux-baum-i-a)
A widely distributed genus of five species, one of
which is more frequently found than the others.
Named after Buxbaum, a German botanist.
Buxbaumia aphylla L. grows on moist, barren soil in
open woods. It is rarely collected and does not resem-
ble other mosses. Only fruited plants are noticeable.
Plants very small, scattered, growing from a brownish-
green coating (protonema) on the surface of the ground.
Stems practically absent. The seta grows di-
rectly from the radicles and has the appearance
of being a leafless stem, so that only fruited
plants are noticeable.
Buxbaumia Leaves not distinmishable, almost obsolete;
aphylla , . , . , ,
brownish; servmg only to protect the young re-
productive organs, and disappearing long before the cap-
sule is mature; found at base of seta.
Seta stout, about Yt. inch long; brownish-red.
Capsule oblique; egg-shaped, with narrow end pointed,
flattened on the upper surface; when mature rich brownish-
red, glossy; mature in spring.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Nova Scotia to Ontario and West Virginia,
Yukon Territory to Washington; Europe; Asia.
BUXBAUMIACEAE 153
This curious little plant was first found by Buxbaum,
a German botanist, in 171 2, on the banks of the Volga.
For some time it was regarded as a fungus, but after
careful examination it was referred to the mosses on
account of the structure of the fruit.
Buxbaumia is not a common moss and is collected
only when fruited. It is very inconspicuous, especially
when the capsules are mature and dark colored. In the
fall and early winter the capsules are bright green, and
if the ground is bare one can more easily locate the
plants, as the capsules are more conspicuous than when
brown, and then wait for the fruit to develop before
collecting. One needs carefully to examine barren soil
in open woods and look for the brownish-green coating
from which the plants grow. This coating on the sur-
face of the ground is the felted mass of protonema that
performs the work of leaves in nourishing the plants.
The first appearance of the plants looks like minute
buds from which the seta and capsule grow. For some
time the young capsule is only slightly larger around
than the seta, but the seta is already red, while the
capsule remains green until nearly mature. One can
sometimes find different stages of development of the
capsule on a few square inches of soil, and it will be of
great, interest to watch week by week the change that
takes place.
No other moss resembles Buxbaumia, although
Webera, the preceding genus, has a capsule similar in
shape.
Family GEORGIACEAE
A FAMILY containing only two genera, one of. which
is common.
38. GEORGIA Ehrh. (Georg-i-a)
A small genus, one species of which is found in al-
most every locality. Named in honor of King George
III of England.
Georgia pellucida (L.) Rabenh. (Tetraphis pellucida
Hedw.) is found most frequently on decaying logs
and old stumps and sometimes on the
ground in the woods; fruit abundant.
Plants crowded thickly together; brown-
ish-green above, reddish-brown below;
matted together at the base. Mixed with
the fertile plants are usually stems with
Georgia peUucida ^ cup-like cluster of leaves at the tip
Leaf, peristome, containing brood bodies feemmae), which
and cup-hke clus- ^. ^^ ^ '
ter of leaves en- are Sometimes large enough to be seen
^^^sed. ^j|-jj a, hand-lens.
Stems erect, slender, about /4 inch long, sometimes
branched.
Leaves of two kinds, those of the fertile plants erect, short,
hair-like, or a little broader, rarely too small to show outline;
those of the gemmae-bearing stems broader, more spreading,
and arranged in a cup-like cluster at the tip of the stem.
Seta /^-^ inch long; yellowish- or reddish-brown.
GEORGIACEAE 155
Capsule erect, long-cylindrical; reddish-brown; mature in
spring.
Operculum short-beaked.
Peristome of only four teeth, sometimes large enough to be
seen with the unaided eye when plants are held to the light.
Range, Canada and the northern United States; Europe;
Asia.
Georgia pellucida is one of the most common mosses.
Its favorite habitat is decaying logs and old stumps. It
is distinguished from other mosses of similar location
by the slender stems with very small erect leaves. If the
stems, with terminal leaves forming a cup-like cluster,
are present, or if the peristome of four teeth can be made
out, no other characters are necessary for identifica-
tion. If the plants are found on the ground compare
Ditrichiim (p. 78) and Barbula (p. 105).
Family POLYTRICHACEAE
A FAMILY containing several genera and a great
many species, some of which are among our largest and
most common mosses.
39. CATHARINAEA Ehrh. (Cath-a-rin-ae-a)
A cosmopolitan genus containing many species, two
of which are very common and usually grow exten-
sively, and a third is occasionally found. Named in
honor of Empress Catherine II of Russia.
Plants growing in dense or loose patches on dry or moist
soil; usually dull green; sometimes fruiting freely.
Stems erect, usually K-2 inches long; often reddish.
Leaves long and narrow; erect or spreading when moist ;
strongly crisped when dry; transversely wavy (undulate), in
C. undulaia; midrib conspicuous when plants are held to the
light; usually dull green.
Seta %-2 inches long, sometimes two or more together;
yellowish- or reddish-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, slender, erect or slightly inclined^
sometimes curved; dark reddish-brown; mature in autumn.
A white disk-like membrane across the mouth, united at the
edge to the teeth of the peristome, as in Pogonatmn and
Folytrichum, the two related genera. (Plate VII, Fig. 4.)
Operculum long-beaked.
a. Surface of leaf distinctly wavy (undulate); midrib
narrow, about H width of leaf . . . . C. undulata.
POLYTRICHACEAE 157
b. Surface of leaf not distinctly wavy, but flat or nearly
so.
1. Midrib broad, li-Vi width of leaf ....
C. angustata.
2. Midrib narrow, ys width of leaf . . . . C crispa.
Catharinaea undulata (L.) Web. & Mohr is common
on moist ground in open woods. It is
the most robust species, but varies in
size. The stems are usually 1-2 inches
long, sometimes longer when the new
growth starts from the tip of the old,
and the leaves often reach }i inch in
length. They are dull or dark green.
The surface of the leaf on either side
of the midrib, even when moist, is
distinctly transversely wavy, or un-
dulate, instead of flat. See Dicranum
undulatiim (p. 93). The seta is long,
often tw^o or more growing from the
same plant. The capsule is long,
slender, and usually curved. The
distinguishing characteristics are the
strongly undulate leaves with a nar-
row midrib. For comparison with C. angustata and C.
crispa see under those species.
Range, throughout temperate North America; Europe;
Asia; Africa.
Catharinaea undulata
Leaf enlarged.
158 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
h. I
Catharinaea angustata Brid. is one of our common-
est mosses. It often grows quite extensively on lawns
or banks, in a low, close mat, sometimes with a reddish
tinge. It is smaller than C. undulata and
usually grows on drier, more sandy soil,
although the two may be found not far
apart. The stems are about %-i inch long.
The leaves are generally }i-% inch long,
sometimes forming a rosette at tip of stem,
not at all or only slightly wavy; usually dull
green, sometimes with a reddish tinge.
Catharinaea 07
angustata The midrib is wide, occupying ^-yi width
Leaf enlarged, ^^f i^^i. The capsulc is usually shortcr and
narrower than in C. undulata, more nearly erect, and
less curved.
In their distinct typical forms C. angustata and C.
undulata are easily distinguished, but puzzling varie-
ties sometimes occur; for instance, one may find a tall
growth of C. angustata with leaves slightly wavy and
midrib narrow for the species, or a short growth of C.
undulata with leaves not so wavy as usual and midrib
broad for the species. In such cases it is safest for the
beginner not to try to determine species.
Range, throughout temperate North America; Europe;
Asia.
POLYTRICHACEAE 1 59
b.2
Catharinaeacrispa James occurs much less frequently
than the preceding species. Its favorite locality, like
C. undulata, is moist soil, especially banks of streams.
The leaves are usually light or yellowish-green, some-
what separated, hardly at all wavy, and the midrib is
narrow, about Ys the width of the leaf.
Range, Canada and the northern United States; Europe.
Catharinaea oris pa most closely resembles C. undulata
on account of the narrow midrib, but the leaves are more
separated, shorter and broader, and not at all or only
very slightly wavy, and they are usually a lighter green.
The Catharinaeas may be distinguished from other
mosses that have long narrow leaves by the conspicuous
midrib and the leaves becoming strongly crisped wJien
dry. Tortella (p. 102) and Mnium hornum (p. 136) have
the leaves crisped when dry, but the midrib is not so
conspicuous, and the stems are thickly covered with
reddish-brown radicles which are not found on the
stems of Catharinaea. For comparison with Dicranum
and Polytrichum (two common genera having long
narrow leaves) see p. 171.
If the leaves of Catharinaea are examined with a lens,
dark lines will be seen along the midrib. These are thin
strips of tissue called lamellae, characteristic of the
leaves of the Polytrichaceae, but not seen in other genera
without a compound microscope. See Plate VII, Fig. 3.
i6o HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
40. POGONATUM Palis. (Po-gon-a-tum)
A genus containing many species widely distributed,
only a few of which occur in the eastern United States.
Four are described here. Name derived from the
Greek for '^ beard," referring to the hairy calyptra.
Plants growing on the ground, more or less scattered;
olive or dark green; in two species growing from a green sub-
stance, called protonema, covering the soil.
Stems erect, mostly not branched, rarely forked; }i-2
inches long.
Leaves long and narrow, stiff, opaque; somewhat spread-
ing when moist; erect and slightly incurved, or closely folded
when dry; only very few in number and not always easily
seen when the plants grow from the persistent protonema;
olive or dark green.
Seta about i inch long; reddish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical, symmetrical; yellowish- or red-
dish-brown; mature in autumn. A white disk-like mem-
brane across the mouth, as in Catharinaea and Polytrichum.
(Plate VII, Fig. 4.)
Operculum more or less long-beaked.
Calyptra covered with corn-colored hairs.
a. Plants growing from persistent protonema, leaves few
.... P. brevicaule.
.... P. brachyphyllum.
h. Plants not growing from persistent protonema, leaves
numerous ....
P. capillare.
P. urnigerum.
POLYTRICHACEAE i6i
a.
Pogonatum brevicaule Brid. (P. tenue (Menz.)
E. G. B.) is common on moist clay banks and road-
sides in open woods. The leaves are olive or
dark green. The plants are scattered and
grow from a green substance, called proto-
nema, which forms a thin coating on the sur-
face of the soil. All mosses first start from
protonema, but it usually disappears when
the leaves are developed. In P. brevicaule Sind
P. brachyphyllum the protonema is persist- ^brevkl^
ent and assists in nourishing the plants, as Caiyptra
the leaves are greatly reduced in number. The ^"^^""s^^-
stems are very short, and the leaves are so few and often so
closely folded that they are likely to be overlooked unless the
plants are thoroughly moistened and closely examined.
Range, Nova Scotia to Alabama and west to Missouri.
Pogonatum brachyphyllum (Michx.) Palis, occurs in
New Jersey and southward. It grows from persistent
protonema, and has olive, or dark -green leaves like P,
brevicaule, and cannot be distinguished from it without
microscopic examination.
b.
Pogonatum urnigerum (L.) Palis, and Pogonatum
capillare (Rich.) Brid. are found in mountainous re-
gions and occur in the northern part of both hemi-
i62 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
spheres. The protonema is not persistent, and the
stems are longer and the leaves more numerous than in
the preceding species. P. urnigerum is from
1-3 inches high, sometimes branched, and
usually the leaves thickly cover most of the
stem, while P. capillar e is much smaller,
I inch high or less, unbranched, with the
leaves often clustered at the tip of the stem.
The color of the leaves in both species is
capiiiare o^i^e or dark green.
Leaf en- The Cylindrical capsule separates Pogon-
^^^^ ' atum from Polytrichum, the following genus,
except Polytrichum alpinum var. arcticum; for com-
parison see under that species (p. 167). The leaves
and calyptra resemble those of Polytrichum in general
character, but a little experience will enable one to
note that the leaves of Polytrichum are less rigid and
the calyptra is longer in most cases. The common
Pogonatum hrevicaule is readily distinguished by the
presence of protonema, which is not found in Poly-
trichum, and by the smaller size. Pogonatum is dis-
tinguished from Catharinaea (p. 156) by the opaque
leaves J folding when dry and not crisped,
41. POLYTRICHUM Dill. (Po-ly-tri-chum)
A genus containing over one hundred species, some
of which are our commonest mosses, found chiefly on soil
in the cooler regions. Commonly called " hair-cap
EXPLANATION OF PLATE VII
POLYTRICHUM
Fig. I. P. commune var. perigoniale.
Fig. la. Male plant of P. commune var. perigoniale showing the new
growth of the stem continued through the old male disk.
Fig. lb. Calyptra covering capsule of P. commune var. perigoniale
enlarged.
Fig. 2. P. piliferum.
Fig. 2a. Leaf of P. piliferum, enlarged.
Fig. 2b. Cross-section of leaf of P. piliferum showing lamellae and leaf-
margins folded in, enlarged.
Fig. 3. Cross-section of leaf of P. commune showing lamellae and leaf-
margins not folded in, enlarged.
Fig. 4. Peristome of Polytrichum, showing the membrane at the
mouth of the capsule joined at the edge to the tip of the teeth,
enlarged.
Fig. 5. Capsule of P. commune, enlarged.
Fig. 6. Capsule of P. jiiniperinum, enlarged.
Fig. 7. Capsule of P. ohioense, enlarged.
Fig. 8. Capsule of P. gracile, enlarged.
Fig. 9. Capsule of P. alpinum var. arcticum, enlarged.
2 a
Tlatc VII. rOLYTRICIIUM
POLYTRICHACEAE 163
Mosses," on account of the hairy calyptra. In some
localities known as *' bird wheat." Name derived
from the Greek for '* many " and " hair," referring to
the hairy calyptra.
Plants growing in dense or loose patches on moist or dry
soil, earth-covered rocks, old stumps, and upturned roots;
bright to dark green, or bluish-green; often fruiting abun-
dantly.
Stetns erect, ^-10 inches long, stifT, rarely branched,
sometimes coated toward the base with whitish or brown
radicles (tomcntum).
Leaves long and narrow, in one species ending in a long,
whitish, hair-like tip; wide-spreading when moist; closely
folded when dry; bright to dark green, or bluish-green;
opaque. The male flowers at the tip of the stem surrounded
by modified leaves called "bracts," in the form of a rosette.
These bracts are red or deep orange. (Plate VII, Fig. la.)
Seta 1-4 inches long; orange or reddish; shining.
Capside erect at first, finally inclined, horizontal or droop-
ing; usually 4-6 angled; cylindrical in one species; yellowish
or reddish-brown; mature in summer. A whitish membrane
across the mouth of the capsule joined at the edge to the
tip of the teeth as in the related genera, Catharinaea and
Pogonatum. (Plate VII, Fig. 4.)
Calyptra covered with corn-colored or light golden-brown
hairs, wholly or partly covering the capsule. (Plate VII,
Fig. lb.)
Operculnm short or long-beaked; sometimes red or
orange, or with a red or orange rim.
a. Leaves glaucous or bluish-green; leaf-margins folded
in (more easily seen toward base of leaf). (Plate
VII, Fig. 2a.)
1 64 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
1. Leaves ending in a long, whitish, hair-like tip ... .
P. piliferum.
2. Leaves not ending in a long, whitish, hair-like tip
.... P. juniperinum,
P. strictum.
b. Leaves yellowish-green to olive or dark green; leaf-
margins not folded in. (Plate VII, Fig. 3.)
1. Capsule cylindrical ....
P. alpinum var. arcticum.
2. Capsule angled .... P. commune.
P. oJnoense.
P. gracile.
a. I
Polytrichum piliferum Schreb. (Plate VII, Fig. 2)
is the smallest Polytrichum, with stems usually not
more than i inch long, and leaves and capsule much
smaller than in the other species. It is very common on
gravelly soil and around the edges or in the hollows
and crevices of rocks and ledges. The leaves are a
rather dark green, crowded at the end of the stem, and
end in a long, whitish, hair-like tip, which gives the
plants a hoary appearance. (Plate VII, Fig. 2a.) The
margins of the leaves fold in, but this character is not
easily seen in this small species. (Plate VII, Fig. 2b.)
The capsule is angled, erect at first, and finally becom-
ing horizontal or drooping. The operculum is red or
orange, with a short beak. The plants fruit abun-
dantly and are conspicuous in the spring with the red
fruit-stalks and pale-yellow hoods that cover the fruit.
POLYTRICHACEAE 165
Male plants are often numerous, and when the leaves
are moist and well expanded the bright-red bracts of
the rosettes look like tiny flowers.
Range, northern North America, south to Alabama and
California; Greenland; Europe; Asia; South America.
a. 2
Polytrichum juniperinum Willd. (Plate VII, Fig. 6)
is a common species, found in thin woods and in open
places. The stems are 1-4 inches high, rarely branched.
The margins of the leaves are folded in. This folding in
can generally be seen, in this species, at least, toward
the base of the largest leaves. The leaves are a hluer-
green than in the other large common species; the cap-
sule is oblong, sharply four-angled; the operculum is red
and has a short beak; the calyptra covers the capsule,
and the seta is red and shining.
Range, Arctic and temperate North America; a cosmo-
politan.
Polytrichum juniperinum can usually be distin-
guished by the bluish-green of the leaves, which, to-
gether with the size of the plants, will serve as a good
field characteristic when the folded leaf-margins cannot
be readily seen. The plants are larger in every way
than P. pilifcrum, the preceding species, also having
bluish- or gray-green leaves with folded margins. Com-
pared with other common species, besides the cok>r of
the leaves, the oblong capsule separates P. jiinipcri-
i66 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
num from P. commune with a capsule almost cubic,
and from P. ohioense with a capsule tapering at the
base. See also the following species. A peculiar annual
growth sometimes occurring in the male plants is
described under P. commune. See Plate VII, Fig la.
Polytrichum strictum Banks, is found in peat-bogs
and moist woods, especially in the higher altitudes.
The typical form is not common, although gradations
between the type and P. juniperinum are more fre-
quently collected. Typically the stems are over j inches
long, slender, and covered for a great part of their length
with a thick mass of whitish radicles. The leaves are
dull green or olive, shorter than in most of the other
Polytrichums, more erect when moist and more closely
folded when dry, so that the leaves have to be bent back
to see the folded margins. The capsule is sharply four-
angled, very little longer than broad.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern
United States; Europe; Asia; South America.
The very slender stems of Polytrichum strictum
matted together with whitish radicles, and the closely
folded leaves, are usually very noticeable, but the
gradating forms are sometimes difficult to distinguish
from P. juniperinum. P. juniperinum may be ex-
pected in drier localities and is a more common
species, with less slender stems and leaves more spread-
ing when moist.
POLYTRICHACEAE 167
h. I
Polytrichum alpinum var. arcticum (Sw.) Wahl.
{Pogonalum alpinum var. arcticum (Sw.) Brid.) (Plate
VII, Fig. 9) is found in mountainous or hilly regions
and along the coast. The stems are up to 3 inches long,
often slightly branched; the leaves are a rather dark
green; the margins are not folded in; the capsule is
cylindrical, slightly inclined and curved when mature;
the operculum is long-beaked; and the calyptra only
partly covers the capsule.
Range, northern part of North America and northern
Europe.
This species is not to be expected except in the
higher altitudes. It is distinguished from other Poly-
trichums when in fruit by the cylindrical capsule, and
from the Pogonatums by the larger size, and larger,
curved capsule. See p. 160.
h. 2
Polytrichum ohioense Ren. & Card. (Plate VII,
Fig. 7) is a common species. The stems are up to 3
inches long; the leaves are olive or dark green; the
leaf-margins are not folded in; the capsule is angled,
gradually tapering to the seta; the seta is usually reddish
below and yellow above; the operculum has a beak of
medium length, longer than in P. commune, but not
i68 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
so long as in P. gracile; and the calyptra only partly
covers the capsule.
Range, Newfoundland to Alaska, south to Alabama,
Missouri, and Oregon; Europe.
Polytrichum ohioense, when not in fruit, cannot be
distinguished from P. commune and P. gracile, as the
leaves are similar, but it may be expected in moist,
shady places, usually in woods, while P. commune^
although occurring in woods, is the common species in
more open places and grows more extensively, and P.
gracile is a rare species of elevated regions. See also
P . juniperinum, p . 165.
Polytrichum commune L. typically has stems 6-10
inches loftg, with leaves very long, often % inch, rather
separated, wide-spreading when moist, folded when dry,
hut having the tips recurved and the shining leaf-bases
conspicuous. The plants grow in moist, shaded places
and are a rather bright green. The plants commonly
found in drier, more exposed places are probably P.
comjnune var. perigoniale (Michx.) Bryol. Eur. (Plate
VII, Fig. i). The stems of this variety are shorter,
usually 2-4 inches long, the leaves are a little smaller
and more crowded, so that when dry and folded tite leaf-
bases do not generally show, and the leaves are often a
darker green or olive, with only the young growth at
the tip of the stems bright yellowish-green. The cap-
sule in both mosses is sharply four-angled, almost
POLYTRICH ACEAE 1 69
cubical, only a little loncjer than broad; the operculum
is short-beaked; and the calyplra is long, wholly cover-
ing the capsule and extending a little below.
Range, throughout North America, a cosmopolitan species.
The large sterile patches of Polytrichum, with stems
longer than in P. pilijcrum, conspicuous on banks and
in open places, especially in the spring when the new
growth first starts, are most likely to be the var. pcri-
goniale. This variety is not mentioned by most moss
students, as both the short and tall plants are spoken
of as P. commune. Fruited specimens are frequently
found and are sometimes abundant, but they rarely
grow so extensively as the sterile plants. It is not un-
usual to fmd male plants with one year's growth start-
ing from the middle of the rosette, and again develop-
ing the male heads at the tip, then the next year's
growth starting in the same way. (Plate VII, Fig. la.)
This growth occurs in other species also. P. commune
and this variety are distinguished from other common
Polytrichums by the almost cubical capsule, with the
short-beaked operculum, and long calyptra and by the
leaves without the margins folded in, yellowish- green or
darker, but not the bluish-green of P. juniperinum,
which in some localities is a very common species grow-
ing extensively. Other species have a longer capsule
and some have a longer beak to the operculum. P.
piliferum often grows in large patches, but the plants
are much smaller in every way.
I70 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
P, commune is used in Lapland for beds and pillows
and occasionally in certain parts of England for stuffing
mattresses and for brooms.
Polytrichum gracile Dicks. (Plate VII, Fig. 8) is a
rare species found especially in higher altitudes. The
capsule is obscurely 5-6 angled, the operculum has a
long beak, and the calyptra does not wholly cover the
capsule. This species most closely resembles P. ohio-
ense, but it is not so common, the growth is somewhat
more slender, and the capsule does not gradually
taper to the seta as in P. ohioense. The leaves are dark
green or olive-green.
Range, northern part of North America, eastern United
States; Europe.
The Polytrichums are among our commonest mosses
and are easily recognized as a genus, although the
species cannot always be determined unless fruited.
The opaque character of the leaves is due to thin, longi-
tudinal strips of tissue called lamellae, standing on edge
and running parallel to one another along the leaf,
forming what appears to be a wide midrib. This inter-
esting characteristic is best seen in cross-section of the
leaves under a compound microscope (Plate VII, Fig.
3). The lamellae also occur on the leaves of Pogona-
tum and Catharinaea, though much reduced in number
in Catharinaea. They are easily seen with the aid of a
hand-lens on the leaves of C. anguslata, p. 158.
POLYTRICHACEAE 171
The following Key may help to separate Polytri-
chum, Catharinaea, and Dicranum, the three common-
est genera of the acrocarpous mosses having long nar-
row leaves.
Leaves more or less turned to one side (sccund), both
when moist and when dry .... Dicrafium (p. 87).
Leaves equally spreading when moist; folded or crisped
when dry.
Leaves folded straight against the stem when dry;
stems not conspicuously covered with radicles ex-
cept in P. strictum .... FolytricJiufn (p. 162).
Leaves strongly crisped when dry; stems not covered
with radicles .... Catharinaea (p. 156).
Leaves more or less crisped or not much changed when
dry; stems covered with radicles, especially in the
lower part .... Dicranum (p. 87).
PLEUROCARPI
The pleurocarpous mosses are prostrate or ascend-
ing, rarely erect, and usually much branched (with
more than two or three branches) . The fruit is borne on
the side of the stem or on a very short lateral branch.
Family HEDWIGIACEAE
A small family widely distributed; only one genus
common in our range.
42. HEDWIGIA Ehrh. (Hed-wig-i-a)
A cosmopolitan genus containing only a few species,
only one of which occurs in our range. Named after
Hedwig, Professor of Botany at Leipzig in the eight-
eenth century, called the " Father of Bryology."
Hedwigia albicans (Web.) Lindb. (H. ciliata Ehrh.)
is found on rocks, boulders, and stone walls, but never
on limestone; common in most localities; fruit occa-
sional.
Plants growing in patches of varying size; glaucous or
grayish-green, brownish or blackish below; especially
hoary when dry, due to the colorless tips of the leaves.
Stems prostrate, sometimes ascending and curved at tips,
varying in length; slightly forked with shorter lateral
branches; when dry, stiff and easily broken.
HEDWIGIACEAE
73
lurnea lo
lorlesstips. \| | f
tit IS cofn- W t^
Hedivigia albicans
Plant when moist; and when dry;
leaf and capsule enlarged.
Leaves straight, easily seen; when moist, wide-spreading,
and bright green in new growth; when dry, erect and
folded, sometimes turned to
one side, and grayer-;
hoary, due to the colorless
Seta so short that it is com- w^ % i[
pletely concealed. M "^
Capsule on the side of the ^
stem, almost completely con-
cealed by surrounding leaves;
mature in spring.
Operculum convex.
Range, throughout North
America; almost a cosmopoli-
tan species.
Additional characteristics seen with hand-lens: Leaves
ending in a white tip ; capsule yellowish, with a wide, red-
rimmed mouth; peristome lacking.
Hedivigia will be found growing in rather flat
patches var^ung in size. The plants when moist present
an entirely different appearance from that when dry.
When moist, the branches are straight and stout; the
leaves are wide-spreading and quite a bright green in
the new growth, much darker below; and if the plants
are fruited, the light-brown capsules with a red rim at
the mouth can be seen above the leaves. When dr}%
the branches often curl upwards at the tips, and are
much more slender, as the leaves are closely folded ; the
plants are darker in color, often hoary from the color-
less tips of the leaves; the new grow^th is not so con-
spicuous; and the capsule is concealed by the leaves
174 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
folding around it, so that it looks like a swollen end of
a branch.
Hedwigia most closely resembles Grimmia, an acro-
carpous moss. For comparison see under that genus
(P- 113)-
Family FONTINALACEAE
A SMALL family containing only a few genera; two
occurring in our range.
43. FONTINALIS (Dill.) L. (Font-i-na-lis)
A genus of many species found chiefly in running
water. A Latin name, meaning '' belonging to water."
Plants attached to stones or wood in cool streams; quite
common, but rarely fruiting.
Fontinalis antipyrctica
var. gigantea
Capsule enlarged.
Fontinalis novac-angliae
176 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Stems very long, usually over 3 inches, attached only at
the base; irregularly branched, branches long, floating;
lower part of stem leafless.
Leaves straight, long, erect- spreading, narrow and slender
or large, broad, and concave; of various shades of green, com-
monly rather dark or olive-green.
Seta so short that it is usually concealed by leaves.
Capsule partially concealed by leaves, long-cylindrical,
erect; mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, temperate and cooler parts of the Northern
Hemisphere.
Fontinalis antipyretica var. gigantea Sull. is quite
a common species in cool brooks. The distinguishing
characteristics are the large deeply concave leaves ar-
ranged in three rows, which give a three-sided appear-
ance to the long stems. The leaves are usually dark
or olive-green, sometimes golden-green or copper-
colored.
Other species of Fontinalis resemble the accompany-
ing illustration. The stems are much more slender than
in the species described above and the leaves are smaller
and narrower, but there are no striking specific charac-
teristics for easy determination.
As a genus, Fontinalis is easily distinguished by the
long floating stems, with straight leaves erect or slightly
spreading. Other mosses with long stems commonly
found in water have finer leaves, wide-spreading or
more or less curved. See following genus; also Drepa-
nocladus (p. 213) and Amblystegium (p. 208).
FONTINALACEAE
177
The fresh-water Algae, often found in the same
streams with Fontinalis, are long and thread-like,
somewhat slimy, and do not have leaves.
44. DICHELYMA Myr. (Di-che-ly-ma)
A small genus of wide distribution. Name derived
from two Greek words, '' to halve " and *' a covering,"
referring to the one-sided calyptra.
Dichelyma capillaceum (Dill.) Schimp. is the com-
mon species, found on bushes, sticks, etc., in or around
the edges of ponds, and on the ground
in swamps; fruit common. ll ( I
Plants matted together, commonly
found on sticks or dead leaves in water
or at edge of water; yellowish-green above,
brownish below.
Stems long, slender, often over 3 inches;
branched.
Leaves long, hair-like, straight or curved,
especially at ends of branches, erect or
spreading, sometimes turned to one side;
yellowish-green; usually glossy in new
growth.
Seta less than Yz inch long, wrapped in
long leaves.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined or
erect ; yellowish-brown ; mature in summer.
Operciiliini conc-shaj^cd.
Range, New Brunswick to Ontario and Pennsylvania;
Europe.
Dichelyma capilla-
ceum
Capsule enlarged.
178 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Dichelyma capillaceum is usually found at the edge
of ponds and in very wet, swampy places. The dis-
tinguishing characteristics are the long hair-like leaves,
sometimes turned to one side, usually curved at the tips
of the branches y with the capsule protruding from the long
leaves that wrap around the seta. If this species is fruited,
the above character of the capsule and seta at once
separate it from other mosses growing in similar situ-
ations. Sterile plants may be distinguished from Fon-
tinalis by the curved leaves, giving the ends of the
branches a hooked appearance. Dichelyma is found in
stagnant water, while Fontinalis grows in flowing
water. See Drepanocladus (p. 213) and Amhlystegium
(p. 208).
Family CLIMACIACEAE
A FAMILY of only two genera, one occurring in our
45. CLIMACIUM Web. & Mohr (Cli-ma-ci-um)
A widely distributed genus, commonly called '^ Tree-
IMoss," containing only a few species, three of which
are found in our region.
Name derived from the
Greek for '^ staircase," re-
ferring to the appearance
of the inner peristome.
Plants growing separately
or in compact clumps on wet
ground, especially borders of
streams and ponds, one species
frequently occurring in water;
bright to dark green; quite
common; fruit occasional.
Primary stems creeping under
ground like stolons; secondary
stems erect, robust, usually tree-
like in branching, the branches
longer and more numerous at the end of the stem, some-
times showing red through the leaves.
Leaves large, crowded, straight, erect or spreading; rather
dark green.
v..
A
/
Climacium dcndroidcs
i8o HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Seta reddish, often i-i >2 inches long, usually several on
one plant.
Capsule erect y long-cylindrical; reddish; mature in
autiunn.
Operculum short-beaked.
Climacium dendroides (L.) Web. & Mohr is the spe-
cies most common in the northern part of our range,
especially in mountainous regions. The capsule is
about yk inch long, shorter and stouter than in the fol-
lowing species, and the leaves are more spreading.
Range, northern and western North America, south to
New Jersey, Colorado, and California; Europe.
Climacium americanum Brid. has a more southern
range. The capsules are longer and more slender
than in C. dendroides, measuring about ^16 inch, and
the leaves are more erect.
Range, New Brunswick to Alabama, west to the Rocky
Mountains.
Climacium Kindbergii (Ren. & Card.) Grout is the
species that grows in close clumps, with branches more
irregular and less frequently tree-like. It is sometimes
found in water at the edge of ponds and lakes. The
capsule is like that of C. americanum.
Range, New Brunswick to Alabama; west to the Rocky
Mountains.
CLIMACIACEAE i8i
The distinguishing characteristic of Climacium is the
manner of branching, which gives it the popular name
of " Tree-Moss." If a number of plants are examined,
some are quite sure to be found that at once suggest
tiny trees, as the branches spread all around tlie stem
and point upwards. C. Kindhergii is less tree-like and
will be more easily recognized if one has first become
familiar with one of the other species. See Thamnium
(p. 187).
Family LEUCODONTACEAE
A FAMILY containing several genera, one of which is
occasional in our range.
46. LEUCODON Schwaegr. (Leuc-o-don)
A genus of many species, three of which occur in
the Middle and Eastern States. Name derived from
the Greek for "white" and a " tooth," referring to the
pale peristome.
Plants growing in loose patches on trees in the woods,
very rarely on rocks; yellowish, brownish, bright or olive-
green ; not common ; fruit rare.
Primary stems slender, creeping, often horizontal or
drooping, with numerous, erect, secondary stems /4-i/4
inches long, branched or unbranched; when dry usually
curved upwards at the ends, and smoothly cylindrical.
Leaves straight, easily seen when moist and spreading;
not always seen when dry and closely folded; sometimes
slightly turned to one side; varying from bright to olive-
green, or brownish.
Seta short, }i-Y% inch long, more or less wrapped in long
leaves.
Capsule short-cylindrical, erect; brownish; mature in
autumn.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Leucodon is to be looked for on living trees at least
four or five feet from the base. The distinguishing
LEUCODONTACEAE
183
characteristic is the smooth, cylindrical appearance of
the secondary stems and branches, when dry, curved out-
wards and upwards; when moist, the branches are
straight and the leaves wide-spreading.
Leucodon julaceus (L.) Sull. is a southern species, ex-
tending north to Michigan and southern New England.
Leucodon julaceus
Plant when moist ; and when dry
leaf and capsule enlarged.
Leucodon hrachypus
Plant when moist ; and when dry ;
leaf and capsule enlarged.
The secondary stems are short, rarely more than Y\
inch long, slightly branched, perfectly cylindrical when
dry, without the leaves being at all turned to one side.
The leaves are yellowish- to olive-green. Only the base
of the seta is wrapped in leaves.
Leucodon brachypus B rid. is found in mountainous
or hilly woods from Nova Scotia to Kansas, south to
the Gulf States. The secondary stems are lont^, some-
times reaching i >< inches. The leaves are bright to olive-
1 84 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
green, or brownish, sometimes slightly turned to one side
so that the branches are not so smooth and cylindrical as
in the preceding species. The seta is wholly wrapped in
leaves.
Leucodon sciuroides (L.) Schwaegr. has a range
similar to the last species, and is also found in Europe.
The secondary stems are short, usually not more than }^
inch. The leaves are olive or dark green, and show only a
slight tendency to turn to one side. Fruit very rare. This
species so closely resembles L. julaceus that it is diffi-
cult to point out any distinguishing characteristic save
that the tips of the leaves are longer and more slender ,
and the plants occur farther north.
Although the species of Leucodon are not always
easily separated, the generic character of the stems
and branches, when dry, smoothly cylindrical with
ends curved upwards, is usually distinct.
Family NECKERACEAE
A FAMILY containing many genera, three of which
occur in the eastern United States.
47. NECKERA Hedw. (Neck-er-a)
A very large genus, one species of which is common
and found in most temperate regions of the world.
Named after Necker, an eighteenth-
century botanist and bryologist.
Plants growing in large loose patches
on trees in moist, cool woods, light or yel-
lowish-green; common; fruit abundant.
Primary stems creeping; secondary
stems erect, horizontal or drooping, irregu-
larly pinnate or only slightly branched,
usually flattened, and broad.
Leaves straight, easily seen, lying flat,
apparently on two opposite sides of the
stems and branches, more or less trans-
versely undulate or wavy, not changed
when dry; light or yellowish-green.
Seta concealed by leaves.
Capsule long-cylindrical, usually partly wrapped in
leaves, erect, sometimes on llic underside of the stems;
yellowish-brown with an orange band around the mouth;
mature in autumn.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Ncckcra pcnnata
Leaf and capsule
enlarged.
i86 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Range, Nova Scotia to Manitoba and Yukon Territory,
south to North Carolina; found in most temperate regions.
Neckera pennata (L.) Hedw. is common in moun-
tainous or hilly woods. It grows chiefly on deciduous
trees, usually a few feet above the base, often extending
well up the trunk. It is easily recognized by the flat-
tened appearance of the stems and branches, the wavy
leaves lying flat on either side of the stems and branches
as though pressed, and the capsule almost hidden in the
surrounding leaves. See following genus.
48. HOMALIA (Brid.) Bryol. Eur. (Ho-ma-li-a)
A large genus, with only one species occurring in our
region. Name derived from the Greek for " flattened,"
referring to the flattened appearance of the moss.
Plants growing in flattened mats on rocks; more rarely at
the base of trees in mountainous or hilly districts; light
or yellowish- green; often glossy; fruit
rare.
Stems slender, branched, branches
flattened or curved; stems easily seen
through the thin leaves.
Eomalia Jamesii y ^ • i ^ i 1 ^ . 1 1
Leaves straight, rounded at the ends,
Portion of branch ^i • . •. i
enlarged. apparently m two opposite rows, and
in only one layer; flattened or depressed
on either side of the stems and branches, with leaf-edges often
so closely and evenly overlapping that the separate leaves
are hardly distinguishable; light or yellowish-green; glossy;
not changed when dry.
NECKERACEAE 187
Seta less than i inch long; reddish.
Capsule cylindrical, erect; reddish-brown; mature in
autumn.
Operculum long-bcakcd.
Range, Newfoundland to Pennsylvania, Washington.
Homalia Jamesii Schimp. is our American species,
closely resembling the European //. irichomanoides
(Schreb.) Br>^ol. Eur. The single layer of leaves on
opposite sides of the stems and branches gives Homalia
the general appearance of Fissidens (p. 97), and some
of the hepatics (p. 7), but the leaves of Homalia are
much lighter colored, and they do not become crisped in
drying. The stems are more branched than in Fissi-
dens. Other mosses with a flattened appearance, com-
monly growing on rocks, have fine, pointed leaves,
usually in more than a single layer. The wavy surface
of the leaves of Neckera, the preceding genus, the
larger plants growing in larger patches, distinguish it
from Homalia.
49. THAMNIUM Bryol. Eur. (Tham-ni-um)
A genus of many species, one of which occurs in the
Middle and Eastern States. Name derived from the
Greek for '* bush " or '' tree," referring to the tree-like
branching.
Thamnium alleghaniense (C. iMiill.) Br}'ol. Eur.
{Porotrichum alleghaniense (C. IMiill.) Grout) grows
on damp rocks, shaded ravines, and ledges, usually
i88
HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
along mountain and hill streams. It has been found in
Worcester County, Massachusetts, growing on rocks
in an old well in the woods ; not common.
Plants large, growing in loose clusters ; rather bright green ;
fruit rare.
Primary sterns creeping; secondary stems erect or ascending,
2-3 inches long; branches only toward the ends of the stems;
somewhat tree-like in arrange-
ment ; spreading when moist;
more erect when dry, and often
curved and turned to one side.
Leaves easily seen, straight;
spreading when moist ; more erect
when dry; rather bright green.
Seta short, curved; reddish-
brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, in-
clined; reddish-brown; mature
in autumn.
Operculum short-beaked.
Range, Nova Scotia to Min-
Thamnium alleghaniense neSOta, SOUth tO the Gulf States.
Thamnium alleghaniense is a conspicuous moss,
rarely found, but easily known from the illustration
and description. The erect tree-like growth is some-
what like Climacium (p. 179), but the branches when
moist spread out on either side of the stem; when dry,
turn to one side instead of remaining equally spread
all around the stem, as in Climacium. Thamnium
grows on rocks and is rare, while Climacium grows on
the ground, and is common.
Family ENTODONTACEAE
A FAMILY of several genera, found in most temperate
and warmer regions.
50. ENTODON C. Mull. (Ent-o-don)
A very large genus, two species of which are occa-
sional in most localities. Name derived from the
Greek for ''within" and ''tooth," referring to the
insertion of the peristome.
Plants growing in low, close mats on decaying wood, roots
of trees, rocks, or ground; glossy; light or yellow-green, some-
times golden, rarely darker; not rare; fruit occasional.
Stems prostrate, irregularly branched, branches usually
%-%v[iQh. long; cylindrical in E. seductrix; more or less
flattened in E. cladorrhizans.
Leaves, straight, usually large enough to be seen when
moist; in E. cladorrhizans flat and spreading; in E. sedtic-
trix erect and closely folded; glossy; usually light or yellow-
ish-green.
Seta >^-i inch long; reddish-brown.
Capsule erect, long-cylindrical; reddish-brown; mature in
autumn.
Operculum short-beaked.
a. Branches usually flattened, leaves flattened and
spreading ....£. cladorrhizans.
b. Branches cylindrical, leaves erect and closely folded
....£. seductrix.
IQO
HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Entodon cladorrhizans (Hedw.) C. Miill. usually
grows on old logs or at the base of trees. It is light
green or yellow-green and glossy,
but not golden. The leaves are
usually large enough to be seen
when moist. The stems nearly
always have a flattened, pressed
appearance, making them rather
broad, although the leaves do not appear to be in only
two rows, as in other flattened mosses. This species
does not fruit so freely as E. seductrix, and is not so
common.
Range, New Brunswick to Minnesota, south to the Gulf
States; Europe.
Entodon cladorrhizans
Entodon seductrix (Hedw.) C. Miill. is frequent in
moist woods on decaying logs, earth, rocks, and roots
of trees, sometimes fruiting abun-
dantly. The stems are usually
smoothly cylindrical, especially when
dry. The leaves are not easily seen,
are closely folded, and are usually
glossy; yellowish-green, often golden, very rarely dark
green.
Range, New England to Minnesota, south to Florida and
Texas.
Entodon seductrix
ENTODONTACEAE 191
The Entodons can generally be distinguished by the
very glossy, light or yellow-green leaves, closely folded in
E. scductrix, and more or less flattened in E. clador-
rhizans. They are not so common as several other
mosses; for instance, Stcreodon Haldaniamis (p. 237)
and some of the Brachytheciums (p. 244), which may
sometimes be a rather light green, slightly glossy, and
have nearly cylindrical branches. But these charac-
teristics are not so decided as in the common Entodon,
and in nearly all cases, where there is a question about
the color or the cylindrical branches, it will be safe to
say that Entodon seductrix has not been collected. By
holding dry plants to the light, leaves will be seen
sticking out around the branches in Stcreodon and
Brachytheclum^ but will not be seen in E. seductrix.
51. PLATYGYRIUM Bryol. Eur. (Pla-ty-gy-ri-um)
A genus of several species, one of which is found in
North America. Name derived from the Greek for
*' large " and '' ring," referring to the row of cells at the
mouth of the capsule.
Platygyrium repens (Brid.) Br>'ol. Eur. is found in
most localities on decaying wood, and on roots and
trunks of trees, especially chestnut and beech; rarely
on rocks; fruit frequent.
Plants forming dense, flat mats, usually rather dark
green.
Stems prostrate, creeping; irregularly or sometimes
192 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
pinnately branched; branches short, usually about Vi6 inch
long, straight or very slightly curved.
Leaves straight, small, usually large
enough to be seen when moist and
spreading; closely folded when dry; a
./^^^^ rather dark green.
Seta reddish; %-! inch long.
Piatygyriumrepens Capsule erect, Cylindrical, slender;
Branch enlarged. feddish-brown ; mature in autumn.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, North America, west to the Rocky Mountains;
Europe; Asia; Africa.
The favorite habitat of Platygyrium is on decay-
ing logs. When the plants are moist, they very
closely resemble Pylaisia, the following genus, but
the latter is more commonly found on trees. As a
rule, Platygyrium is a darker green, the branches
are a little longer, and straighter when dry, and
the lea'oes fold straight and evenly around the stems
and branches, instead of turning to one side, as in
Pylaisia.
The erect capsule, and the stems usually less regu-
larly pinnate, distinguish Platygyrium from other
mosses with short branches found in similar habitats.
52. PYLAISIA Bruch & Schimp. (Py-lai-si-a)
A genus of many species growing chiefly on trees in
the woods or in the open. Four species are found in our
region, but they are distinguished from each other by
ENTODONTACEAE 193
microscopic characteristics of the peristome. Named
after De La P}'laie, a noted moss student.
Plants growing in flat, dense mats on trees, less fre-
quently on decaying logs; light green .
or yellowish-green; common; fruit often ^' \
abundant. ^^^^ \
Stems prostrate, creeping, irregularly ^^yXX
pinnate; branches erect, short, about }i '^'"^^^
inch long, usually curved. „ , • • c- ; • . •
°' ' Pylaisia Schtmpert
Leaves straight or curved, S7nall, often ^ ^ , ,
^ I Branch enlarged.
large enough to be seen when moist and
S[)reading, usually turned in one direction, especially when
dry; light or yellowish-green.
Seta about ^ inch long; reddish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical, slender; yellowish- or reddish-
brown; mature in autumn.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Eastern and Middle States; one of our species, P.
Schimperi Card., also found in Europe and Asia.
The distinguishing generic characteristics of Pylaisia
are the erect capsules, the rather light-green leaves, usu-
ally somewhat turned in one direction, especially when
dry, and the short, erect, curved branches, which give the
plants a soft, curly appearance. These last two charac-
teristics — leaves turned in one direction and branches
curved — are better seen when the plants arc dry, as in
moist plants both leaves and branches are straighter
and more spreading. Old apple trees and willows are
favorite habitats of Pylaisia. See Platygyrium, the
preceding genus, for comparison, which it most closely
194 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
resembles. If only sterile plants are found, Pylaisia
can usually be distinguished from other similar mosses
growing on trees by the short, erect branches, curved
when the plants are dry. Leucodon (p. 182) also has
branches curved when dry, but the leaves are a much
darker green.
Family LESKEACEAE
A LARGE family occurrin^^ in temperate and tropical
regions, chiefly on trees and rocks, more rarely on the
ground. Several genera are found in the United States.
53. THELIA Sull. (The-li-a)
A North American genus of only a few species, three
of which are found in our range. Name derived from
the Greek for " papilla," referring to the tiny projec-
tions on the leaves.
Plants growing in close, flat, intricate mats; two species
found on stumps and at the base of trees in the woods ; a
third occurring on ledges and flat rocks
or dry, sandy soil; light, grayish-green, or
gray blue-green, rarely darker; dull; com-
mon ; fruit occasional.
Stems creeping, sometimes horizon- ^^'^''' ^''^'"^
tally, the under side thickly covered with broitm radicles,
pinnately or irregularly branched; branches numerous, short,
usually about /S inch long, straight, erect, smoothly cylin-
drical.
Leaves closely folded, too small to be seen even when
moist; light or grayish bluc-grccn, rarely darker.
Seta about I2 inch long; reddish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical, slender; yellowish-brown; ma-
ture in autumn.
Operculum short-beaked.
196 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Peristome white.
Range, Eastern and Middle United States.
Thelia hirtella (Hedw.) SuU. and Thelia asprella
Sull. are most frequently found in New England at the
base of trees. These two species often fruit abundantly.
They cannot be easily distinguished without the use
of a compound microscope.
Thelia Lescurii Sull. is found on ledges, flat rocks,
and dry, sandy soil. It occurs from Connecticut
southward and westward. The branches are stouter
than in the two preceding species and are arranged
in clusters. The fruit is rare.
The distinguishing characteristics of Thelia are the
numerous short cylindrical branches, with the stems so
interwoven that the plants form a close mat, the brown
radicles on the under side of the mat, and the long,
slender, erect capsule with white peristome. The color is
also characteristic, as it is a grayer green or more bluish-
green than most mosses. The stems running horizon-
tally are especially noticeable in young, thin mats.
See Leskea (p. 2oi\
54. MYURELLA Bryol. Eur. (My-u-rel-la)
A genus of only a few species, two of which occur in
our range. Name derived from the Latin for '' mouse-
tail," referring to the slender, cylindrical branches.
LESKEACEAE 197
Plants growing in crevices of moist rocks, especially lime-
stone, in mountainous and hilly woods; often mixed with
other mosses or forming only small patches; light bluish-
green; not common; fruit rare.
Stems very slender, cylindrical, irregularly branched ;
branches straight, up to ^a inch long.
Leaves straight, very small; closely folded ^
or sometimes spreading ; rarely large
enough to be seen; light or bluish-green.
Seta about yi inch long; reddish. Myurdia gracUis
Capsule small, erect, cylindrical; yel-
lowish-brown; mature in spring or summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Canada and the northern United States; Europe;
Asia.
Myurella gracilis (Weinm.) Lindb. (M. careyana
Sull.) is the species most frequently collected. The
leaves are spreading and somewhat separated, and,
although so very small, can sometimes be seen when
the plants are held to the light.
Myurella julacea (Vill.) Bryol. Eur. is a rare
species. The leaves fold so closely that they cannot
be seen without a lens. The stems and branches are
very slender and smoothly cylindrical.
Large specimens of Myurella are rarely found, as it
more often grows mixed with other limestone-loving
mosses or in very small patches. It can usually be dis-
tinguished by the pale bhiish-grccn color and the -ocry
slender stems and branches.
198 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
55. ANOMODON Hook. & Tayl. (A-nom-o-don)
A genus containing many species confined to the
Northern Hemisphere. Name derived from the Greek
for " not," " law," and " tooth," referring to the peri-
stome, which was at first considered abnormal.
Plants usually growing in thick mats; found chiefly at the
base of trees, more rarely on rocks; bright, olive, or dark
green, becoming yellowish or brownish with age; common;
fruit rare.
Primary stems creeping, usually leafless; secondary stems
erect or ascending, irregularly branched; branches }i-i inch
long.
Leaves straight ; generally spreading when moist; more or
less folded when dry; sometimes too small to be seen easily;
bright, olive, or dark green.
Seta y2-i inch long; reddish or yellowish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical; reddish- or yellowish-brown;
mature in autumn.
Operculum short or long-beaked.
a. Leaves usually too small to he seen; closely folded, es-
pecially when dry; usually bright green, except when
very old . . . . A. rostratus.
h. Leaves usually easily seen; wide- spreading when moist ;
somewhat folded when dry; usually olive or dark green,
except when very old ....
A. attenuatus.
A. minor.
A. apiculatus.
LESKEACEAE
199
a
Anomodon rostratus (Hcdw.) Schimp. is one of the
common species, and is usually a rather
bright green. The leaves are much smaller
and more closely folded, both when moist
and when dry, than those of the other
species. The branches are often not more
than ^2 inch long, and usually arranged in
clusters. The beak of the operculum is
long, which suggested the name rostratus for
species.
Range, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico; Europe; Asia.
Anomodon minor (Palis.) Fiirn. {A. ohtusifolius
Bryol. Eur.) has hlunt, wide-spread-
ing leaves that fold only a little when
dry. It is olive or dark green, becom-
ing browner with age. The second-
ary stems sometimes reach 2 inches
in length, with branches about i inch
long. Parts of the plant often have
Q, flattened appearance where the leaves are the largest
and most spreading.
Range, New Brunswick to South Dakota and Virginia;
Asia.
Anomodon minor
200 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Anomodon apiculatus Bryol. Eur. closely resembles
A . minor in general appearance, but is not so common,
and occurs chiefly in mountainous districts.
Range, Ontario and New England south to Georgia;
Europe; Asia.
Anomodon attenuatus (Schreb.) Hiiben. is the com-
mon species in most localities. It is olive-green or
brownish, sometimes becoming yel-
low-brown with age. The leaves are
more finely pointed than those of A .
minor and A . apiculatus, less spread-
ing when moist, sometimes slightly
turned to one side, and more closely
Anomodon attenuatus folded whcu dry. Some of the
branches are long and very slender at the ends, almost
hair-like, which suggested the name attenuatus for the
species. In the spring the plants are covered with
numerous short young branches, rounded and curved
at the ends.
Range, Newfoundland to Florida, west to British Colum-
bia and Kansas; Cuba; Europe; Asia.
Anomodon forms rather loose, thick mats at the base
of trees and on rocks, and is usually olive-green or
quite brown, except in A. rostratus. When it has a
flattened appearance it suggests Fissidens (p. 97) and
some of the hepatics (p. 7), but the growth of Anom-
odon is often thicker, with leafless, creeping stems, and
the color is browner. See Leskea, the following genus.
LESKEACEAE 201
56. LESKEA Hcdw. (Les-ke-a)
A widely distributed genus of several species, not
easily distinguished. Named after Leske, a professor
at Leipsic.
Plants forming rather thin mats, usually at the base of
trees, less frequently on stones and decaying wood ; dark
or yellowish-green; not common; some-
times fruiting abundantly.
Stems prostrate, irregularly branched ;
branches erect or ascending; usually less
than }4. inch long.
Leaves straight, very small, sometimes " ^^ °^'^'^^ ^
large enough to be seen when moist and spreading; dark
or yellowish-green.
Seta about >2 inch long; yellowish or reddish.
Capsule erect, cylindrical; yellowish; maturing in early
summer or autumn.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Canada and the United States; Europe; Asia.
The favorite habitat of Lcskea, like that of Thelia
(p. 195) and Anomodon, the preceding genus, is at the
base of trees.
Leskea forms thinner, flatter mats than Anomodon,
the growth is finer, the leaves smaller, and the plants
often bear fruit quite abundantly. Leskea also grows
in thinner mats than Thdia. It is a browner or darker
green, the branches are longer and more slender, the
plants are not coated with brown radicles on the under
side, and the peristome does not show white as in
202 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Thelia. Other mosses commonly growing at the base
of trees are a lighter green, with larger leaves, and
curved capsules.
57. THUIDIUM Bryol. Eur. (Thu-id-i-um)
A genus containing a great many species, widely
distributed. The three most frequent species are given
below. Name derived from the Latin for a '' small
feathery branched tree," referring to the delicate
branching of the plants.
r
Thuidium ahietinum
Thuidium delicattdum
Portion of stem and
branches enlarged.
a. Stems regularly pinnate .... T. ahietinum.
b. Stems regularly bipinnate or tripinnate ....
T. delicatulum.
T. recognitum.
Note. Care must be taken not to mistake the bipinnate or tripinnate
branches for leaves. The leaves on the branches are too small to be seen
without a lens. Stem leaves can sometimes be seen.
LESKEACEAE ' 203
Plants growing in dense tufts on rocks, or on the ground,
in dry, open woods, especially in limestone regions; rather
dark green, or olive-green; not common; not yet found
fruiting in our range.
Stems erect, usually regularly pinnately branched; stiff,
harsh to the touch, especially when dry.
Leaves small, straight; sometimes not easily seen; closely
folded when dry; rather dark green, or olive-green; dull.
Seta long.
Capsule long-cylindrical, curved; mature in spring; not
yet found in our range.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Greenland to Virginia, west to Alaska and the
Rocky Mountains; Europe; Asia.
Thuidium abietinum (Dill., L.) Bryol. Eur. may be
distinguished by the erect, pinnate stems, the straight
leaves, dark dull green in color, and by the stif, harsh
feeling when dry. Other mosses with similar growth are
lighter in color and grow in wetter places {Ilelodium
lanatum, p. 206); or have curved leaves, also lighter
green (Ptilium, p. 230) ; or are more common and have
glossy leaves {Ilypnum, p. 229). It is also well to re-
member that T. abietinum occurs chiefly in limestone
countries.
b
Thuidium delicatulum (Dill, L.) Mitt, and Thuid-
ium recognitum (L., Hedw.) Lindb. are two of the
largest species, and arc found in most localities.
204 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants Jem-like, growing in intricate mats on the ground,
decaying wood, and rocks in moist woods; bright green or
yellow-green ; common ; fruit occasional.
Stems long, prostrate, or often alternately arched and
rooting; regularly hipinnately branched; occasionally some
branches are tripinnate, especially toward the base near the
main stem, giving a triangular appearance to the branch as
a whole.
Leaves straight, too small to be seen.
Seta long, i-i>^ inches; reddish.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined, curved; reddish-
brown; mature in winter.
Operculum short- or long-beaked.
Range, almost cosmopolitan.
The regular hipinnate branching of these two Thuid-
iums gives them a delicate, fern-like appearance, which
is a conspicuous characteristic.
Another fern-like moss isHylocomium (p. 225), but it
is much larger than Thuidium, and is more often tri-
pinnate in branching. An unusually large growth of
Thuidium, especially if the tripinnate branching is
conspicuous, may be mistaken for Hylocomium. In
this case the general manner of growth must be care-
fully examined. In Thuidium the stems interweave
and often arch and root again at the tips, then con-
tinue growth, arching and rooting and so on, forming a
tangled mat, so that it is difficult to pull out a long
piece of the stem. The new growth does not regularly
start from the center of the shoot of the previous year,
as in Hylocomium. On the other hand, the tips of the
LESKEACEAE 205
stems in Ilylocomium do not root and then continue
growth, as in Thuldium, and long portions of the stems
can be pulled out, as the plants grow in looser mats.
The leaves on the stems of Hylocomium are large
enough to be seen easily, while those on the stems of
Thuidium are too small to be seen without the aid of a
lens.
58. HELODIUM (SuU.) Warnst. (He-16-di-um)
A very small genus ; two species occur in the North-
ern and Middle States. Name derived from the Greek
for ''swamp," referring to the natural locality of the
plants.
Plants growing on the ground in swamps and hogs; light
or yellowish-green; not very common; fruit rare.
Sola long, i-i/^ inches; reddish.
Capside long-cylindrical, curved, inclined; mature in
summer.
Opercidum cone-shaped.
a. Stems erect, stiff, regularly and closely pinnate.
Leaves straight, erect; usually too small to be seen
easily . . . . H. lanatum.
b. Stems prostrate, soft, slender, irregularly and distantly
pinnate.
Leaves smaW, hut easily seen, straight, spreading . . . .
H, paludosum.
206 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Helodium lanatum (Stroem) Broth. {Thuidium
Blandowii (Web. & Mohr) Bryol. Eur.) has a northern
range, — Greenland, Labrador, and the northern
'T"
Helodium lanatum
Helodium paludosum
United States. The plants grow close together; the
stems are erect and stiff; the branches are closely and
regularly pinnate; the leaves are usually too small to be
seen easily; and the color is generally light green.
Helodium paludosum (Sull.) Aust. {Thuidium palu-
dosum (Sull.) Rau. & Herv.) is the more frequent spe-
cies occurring in the Northern and Middle States. The
plants form loose spreading mats; the stems are pros-
trate, irregularly and distantly pinnate; the leaves are
LESKEACEAE 207
easily seen and wide-spreading, and arc a rather dark
yellowish-green.
Both species of Helodium are to be expected only in
very wet places, and both have small leaves. The erect,
close growth of //. lanatum, with stout stems regularly
pinnate, and the thin, straggling mats of //. paludosum,
with prostrate, slender stems and distant branches, are
distinguishing characteristics.
Family HYPNACEAE
A LARGE family widely distributed, found in all
kinds of places.
59. AMBLYSTEGIUM Bryol. Eur.
(Am-bly-ste-gi-um)
A genus of many species occurring chiefly in tem-
perate regions. Name derived from the Greek for
'^ blunt " and " roof," referring to the operculum.
a. Plants fine, leaves very small, erect- spreading ....
A. serpens, A. varium, etc.
b. Plants coarser, leaves long, narrow, wide-spreading
. . . . A. riparium and varieties.
Plants growing in very thin mats at the base of trees, on
decaying logs, soil, and rocks in moist woods; dull or yellow-
ish-green; common; fruit common.
Stems very slender, prostrate, irregu-
larly branched.
Leaves straight, small and fine; erect-
spreading when moist, and usually
Amblystesium serpens ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^, ^^^^^^
against the stem when dry; dull or yellowish-green.
Seta usually /4-i inch long; reddish.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined, slender, usually muck
curved; reddish- or yellowish-brown; mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, almost a cosmopolitan species.
HYPNACEAE
209
Amblystegium serpens (L.) Bryol. Eur. is the small-
est species and is a very common one. It not infre-
quently grows mixed with other mosses, but it is dis-
tinguished by the very slender, delicate stems, often
abundantly fruited. Amblystegium varium (Hedw.)
Lindb. somewhat resembles A, serpens, except that it
is a little larger in every way. Other small species of
Amblystegium are sometimes found, but they are not
easily separated. All are characterized by the very
slender stems and branches and by the capsule strongly
curved when mature.
Plants growing in soft, flat mats on earth, stones, or roots
of trees in swamps, sometimes floating in running water;
bright or yellowish-green; not common, and
not often fruiting.
Stems sletider, usually 3-5 inches long;
branches horizontally spreading.
Leaves straight, long, narrow, ending in a
fine tip; wide-spreading, somewhat separated;
bright or yellowish-green.
Seta about i inch long; reddish.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined, curved;
mature in late spring.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, almost a cosmopolitan species.
AmblysUi^ium
riparium
Amblystegium riparium (L.) Bryol. Eur. and the
varieties occur in very wet places, or e\cn in streams.
They are distinguished from other mosses growing in
2IO HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
similar localities by the horizontal branches, and the
long narrow leaves, straight, rather distant, and wide-
spreading, both when moist and when dry. See Fon-
tinalis (p. 175), Dichelyma (p. 177), and Drepanocladus
(p. 213).
60. HOMOMALLIUM (Schimp.) Loesk.
(Ho-mo-mal-li-um)
A small genus, but one species occurring in our range.
Name derived from the Greek for '' same " and " to
rise," referring to the slight tendency of the branches
and leaves to turn to one side.
Plants growing in thin, closely adherent mats on rocks
and at the base of trees in woods; yellowish- or olive-green;
not very common; fruit occasional.
Stems very slender, creeping, irregu-
larly branched.
Zeai'^5 small, sometimes large enough
Eomomalhum adnatum , i r t i i
to be seen; straight, closely folded;
yellowish- or olive-green.
Seta about /4 inch long; reddish.
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined, curved; yellowish- or
reddish-brown; mature in autumn.
Operculum short-beaked.
Range, New Brunswick to British Columbia, south to
North Carolina and Texas; Asia.
Homomallium adnatum (Hedw.) Broth. (Amhly-
stegiella adnata (Hedw.) Nichols) somewhat resembles
small forms of AmUystegium (p. 208), and especially
HYPNACEAE 211
Stcrcodon rcptilis (p. 233). It is less frequent than
either of these two mosses and has smaller leaves and
shorter capsules. The stems are slender like Amhly-
stcgium serpens, and less regularly branched than in
Stereodon repliUs. When moist plants are held to the
light, the leaves of Amhlystegiiim, and at least the tips
of the leaves of Stereodon, can be seen sticking out
around the branches, while in Ilomomallium the
leaves fold so closely that they can hardly be seen, and
the branches look smooth and cylindrical.
61. HYGROAMBLYSTEGIUM Loesk.
(Hy-gro-am-bly-ste-gi-um)
A genus containing several species, occurring in
temperate or cooler regions, only two of which are
included below. Name derived from the Greek for
"wet" and Amblyslegium, referring to the Ambly-
stegiums that grow in wet places.
Plants growing in mats or tufts on rocks or earth in wet
places, especially in and along streams; dark or olivc-grecn,
the new shoots bright green in spring; fairly common, but
not always fruiting.
Stems prostrate, long; the lower part leafless; irregularly
branched; branches straight, erect, or parallel; rather harsh
to the touch when dry.
Leaves straight, fine; large enough to be seen; erect or
spreading when moist; more folded when dry; bright green
when young, becoming dark or olive-green.
Seta H-i inch long; reddish.
212
HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined, much curved, espe-
cially when dry and empty; yellowish- or reddish-brown;
mature in late spring or early summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Hygroamblystegium irriguum (Wils.) Loesk. {Am-
hlystegium irriguum (Wils.) Bryol.
Eur.) is frequently found in large
mats on stones along streams. The
stems have erect, crowded branches.
In the spring the young shoots are
erect and bright green, but darken
with age.
Hygroamblystegium
irriguum
Range, Ontario south to North Carolina and Missouri;
Europe; Asia; Africa.
Hygroamblystegium fluviatile (Sw.) Loesk. {Am-
hlystegium fluviatile (Sw.) Bryol. Eur.) is generally
found floating in streams. The branches
are long and parallel^ less crowded than
in H, irriguum.
Range, Newfoundland to Wisconsin,
south to New Jersey and Missouri ; Europe.
Hygroamblystegium may be distin- Hygroamblystegium
guished from other water-loving mosses /w^-i^^^ «
by the combination of small leaves, long slender capsule,
and stems leafless in the lower part. The species of Bra-
chythecium that grow on rocks in brooks, B. rivulare
(p. 247), B.plumosum (p. 247) and Bryhnia novae-angliae
HYPNACEAE 213
(p. 254) have short thick capsules and the lower part of
the stems is not leafless. The leaves of the Brachythe-
ciums are large and easily seen, while those of Bryknia
are sometimes too small to be seen, but the branches
of Bryhnia usually curl a little when dry, while those
of Hygroamhlysiegium remain straight. Oxyrhynchium
(p. 251) grows on rocks in brooks, but is a coarse, robust
moss.
Other mosses growing on rocks in water and having
the lower part of stems leafless, are Fontinalis (p. 175),
and the acrocarpous mosses Rhacomitrium (p. 113) and
Grhnmia apocarpa var. rivularis (p. iii). Fontinalis
has much longer stems and branches and larger leaves.
RJiacomitrium and Gnmmia, which have the capsule at
the apex of the stem, branch by forking, and have
larger, coarser leaves that are very wide-spreading
when moist, and closely folded when dry, and are a
very dark green, almost black on the older part of the
plants. Individual plants of the acrocarpous mosses
are easily separated, but the pleurocarpous mosses
form more tangled mats, so that it is not always easy
to separate a long piece of the stem.
62. DREPANOCLADUS (C. Mull.) Roth
(Dre-pa-no-cla-dus)
A genus of many species widcl}' distributed; the two
of most frequent occurrence are given below. Name
derived from the Greek for '' sickle " and '' plant,'*
214 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
referring to the branches hooked at the tips from the
curved leaves.
a. Leaves short, mostly turned to one side and strongly
curved . . . . D. micinatus.
h. Leaves longer, equally spreading; curved, chiefly at
tips of stems; plants often floating ....
D. fluitans and varieties.
a
Plants growing in loose mats on the ground, on decaying
logs, and on stones in moist woods; light green; common;
fruit occasional.
Stems prostrate or ascending, 1-3
inches long; irregularly or distantly
pinnately branched; hooked at tips, from
curved leaves.
Leaves usually strongly curved and
turned to one side; light green.
Seta about i inch long; reddish.
Capsule long- or short-cylindrical,
incUned and curved; reddish-brown;
mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, almost a cosmopolitan species.
Drepanocladus uncinatus (Hedw.) Warnst. {Hyp-
num uncinatum Hedw., Uypnum aduncum L.) is fre-
quently found in moist woods of mountainous or hilly
regions. It varies a good deal, but at least some of the
branches will show the strongly curved leaves turned to
one side. It is the commonest pleurocarpous moss with
Drepanocladus
uncinatus
Branch enlarged.
HYPNACEAE 215
leaves of this character and with stems nearly pros-
trate and irregularly or distantly pinnately branched.
It may be distinguished from Stcrcodon arcuatus (p.
236), which also has leaves turned to one side, by its
smaller size, shorter branches, leaves more strongly
curved, and more frequent fruit.
Plants growing in loose, soft mats on the ground in
swamps, or floating in stagnant pools, light green or brown-
ish ; common ; fruit not common.
Stems prostrate, slender, sometimes
floating; variable in length, reaching
several inches; irregularly branched,
hooked at tips, from curved leaves.
Leaves long, hair-like, spreading;
mostly straight; curved chiefly at ends
of stems and branches; light green or
brownish.
Seta 2-3 inches long; reddish -brown.
Capsule long-cyHndrical, inclined,
curved; yellowish- or reddish-brown;
mature in summer.
Range, almost a cosmopolitan species.
Drepanocladus fluitans (Dill.) ^^^P^^^odadus jiuitans
Warnst. (Hypnum fluitans L., A7nhlystcgium fluitans
De Not.) and the varieties vary in length of stem and
leaves; also in the number of branches. The long
forms with long leaves may be confused with Dichc-
ly?na (p. 177). The stems of Dichclyma are more
2i6 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
slender, the leaves more separated, and the ends of the
stems and branches are less strongly hooked. Floating
forms of Drepanocladus resemble certain fine species of
Fontinalis (p. 175), but are found in stagnant water,
while Fontinalis occurs in running water. The ends of
the stems and branches of Fontinalis are never hooked.
63. CALLIERGON (Sull.) Kindb. (Cal-li-er-gon)
A genus containing several species; one of which is
common in most localities, and one is found chiefly
in limestone countries. Name derived from the
Greek for "something beautifully
made."
Plants growing on the ground in
swamps or wet, marshy places, or at the
margins of pools; bright green; fruit
occasional.
Stems slender, usually 3-5 inches long;
more or less erect or sometimes pros-
trate; sparingly or pinnately branched.
Leaves straight, large, spreading, sepa-
rated or crowded; light green.
Seta about 2 inches long; reddish-
Calliergon cordijolium ■,
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined, curved; reddish-
brown; mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Calliergon cordifolium (Hedw.) Kindb. {Eypnum
cordijolium Hedw.) is the common species and often
''S^
HYPNACEAE 217
forms large bright-green patches in very wet, swampy
places. When the stems arc more or less erect and little
branched, the plants might be mistaken for an acrocar-
pous moss unless the fruit can be found. The acrocar-
pous moss which grows erect in swampy places is Atda-
comnium palustre (p. 141). Its leaves are long, narrow
and crowded, while in Calliergon cordijolium the leaves
are broad at the base and separated.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern
United States; Europe; Asia.
Calliergon giganteum (Schimp.) Kindb. (Hypnum
giganteum Schimp.) is found in swamps in limestone
countries. It resembles C. cordifolium in general
growth, but it is much more branched and the leaves
are more crowded.
Range, Greenland to Pennsylvania, west to the Pacific
Coast; Europe; Asia.
64. ACROCLADIUM Mitt. (A-cro-cla-di-um)
A small genus, one species of which is found in our
range. Name derived from the Greek for '' top " or
*' summit " and " branch," referring to the pointed
tips of the branches.
Plants growing in loose tufts in swamps, bogs, and wet
meadows; briglit green, yellowish- or golden-brown ; glossy ;
not common ; fruit rare.
2i8 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Stems stout, rigid, erect or ascending; 1-4 inches long;
pinnately or irregularly branched; ends of stems and
branches pointed by the leaves rolled together (cuspidate).
Leaves straight , large , erect or spreading;
bright green, yellowish- or golden-brown;
glossy.
Seta 1-3 inches long; reddish.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined and
curved; mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Canada and the northern United
States; Europe; Asia; Africa.
Acrocladium cuspidatum (L.) Lindb.
{Hypnum cuspidatum L., Calliergon
cuspidatum Kindb.) is not found com-
monly in all localities. The cuspidate or
pointed stems and branches are the dis-
tinguishing characteristics. In general
growth it resembles Hypnum Schreberi (p. 229), but
it usually grows in wetter places and does not have
reddish stems as does H. Schreberi. The stems are
more rigid and more erect than other mosses growing
in similar places.
Acrocladium cus-
pidatum
End of branch
enlarged.
65. HYGROHYPNUM Lindb.
(Hy-gro-hyp-num)
A genus of several species found chiefly in mountain
or hill streams; four of most frequent occurrence are
given below. Name derived from the Greek for '' wet "
HYPNACEAE
219
and Hypnum, referring to the Hypnums that grow in
wet places.
Plants growing in flat mats on rocks in beds of streams;
bright green or golden-green, often brownish below.
6'/<'W5 prostrate, 1-4 inches long; irregularly branched;
sometimes leafless below.
Leaves pointed or rounded, erect or spreading, straight,
or curved (especially at tips of stems and branches) ; some-
times turned to one side; bright green or golden-green in
new growth.
Seta about i inch long; reddish.
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined, curved; reddish- or
yellowish-brown; mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern United
States; Europe; Asia.
Eygrohypnum
dilatatum
Eygrohypnum cugyrium
var. Mackayi
a. Leaves rounded, somewhat separated ....
//. dilatatum.
b. Leaves pointed, crowded ....
H. pal list re.
H. cugyrium and variety.
H. ochraceum.
220 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
a
Hygrohypnum dilatatum (Wils.) Loesk. (Hypnum
dilatatum Wils.) may be known from other water-
loving mosses by the rounded, somewhat separated,
leaves. It occurs only in mountain streams and is not
common. The fruit is rare.
Hygrohypnum eugyrium var. Mackayi (Schimp.)
Broth. (Hypnum eugyrium var. Mackayi Schimp.) is
probably the most common form in our range. The
leaves of this variety are not so strongly curved and
turned to one side as in the less frequent species H.
eugyrium, but this characteristic is often noticeable at
least at the ends of the branches. It often grows in
large patches on rocks in mountain streams, occurring
again in similar places along the coast. The fruit is
fairly common, sometimes abundant. The new growth
in the spring is bright green in contrast to the brown-
ish-green of the older parts, and the leaves, at least at
the ends of the branches, are slightly curved and
turned to one side.
Hygrohypnum ochraceum (Turn.) Broth. {Hypnum
ochraceum Turn.) is variable in size, but usually has 1
the longest stems of the genus, sometimes reaching 4
inches. The leaves are generally curved and turned to
HYPNACEAE 221
one side; most frequently yellowish-green, more rarely
bright green or brownish. The fruit is rare.
Hygrohypnum palustre (Huds.) Loesk. (Ilypnum
paluslre Huds.) resembles H. ochraceum in a general
way, but is much less frequent, and the stems are
shorter and the leaves less curved and turned to one
side; duller in color. The lower part of the stems is
often leafless. The fruit is rare.
Hygrohypnum, with the exception of H. dilaiatum,
may be distinguished from other mosses growing on
rocks in the beds of brooks by the leaves being more or
less curved and turned to one side. Plants with numer-
ous short branches will most likely be H. eugyrium var.
Mackayi. Mixed with it will sometimes be found Rha-
comitrium (p. 1 13), with leaves broader, equally spread-
ing when moist, and closely folded when dry. Plants
with longer stems will most likely be H. ochraceum.
Compare Hygroamblystcgium (p. 211), Brachythecium
plumosum (p. 247), and B. rivulare (p. 247), Oxy-
rhynchium (p. 251) and Bryhnia (p. 254).
66. CTENIDIUM (Schimp.) Mitt. (Cte-ni-di-um)
A genus containing several species, one occurring in
our range. Name derived from the Greek for '' diminu-
tive " and a '^ comb," referring to the very regular
pinnate branching.
622 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing in soft, closely interwoven mats on moist
rocks and earth in mountainous and hilly woods; yellowish-
green or olive ; not common ; fruit occasional.
Stems prostrate or ascending; variable
in length, up to 3 inches long; pinnately
branched.
Leaves fine, hut large enough to be
seen; curved or straight, wide-spreading,
Ctenidium moiiuscum somewhat Separated; yellowish-green or
olive.
Seta less than i inch long; reddish-brown.
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclmed; mature in summer.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Raftge, Newfoundland to Georgia, west to the Rocky
Mountains; Europe; Asia; Africa.
Ctenidium moUuscum (Hedw.) Mitt. {Eypnum
moiiuscum Hedw.) has a soft, feathery appearance due
to the pinnate branches and the slender leaves, some-
what curved, wide-spreading, and a little separated.
The general growth resembles Stereodon imponens
(p. 233) and Ptilium (p. 230), but both of these mosses
have strongly curved leaves and closer branches.
Mosses with pinnate branches and straight leaves,
growing in similar places, have leaves more erect and
more closely folded when dry, as in Helodium (p. 205)
and Hypnum (p. 229), or much coarser leaves, as in
Rhytidiadelphus (p. 223). Acrocladium (p. 217) grows
in more swampy places.
HYPNACEAE
223
67. RHYTIDIADELPHUS (Lindb.)
(Rhy-tid-i-a-del-phus)
Warnst.
A small genus, two species occurring in our range.
■^ame derived from the Greek for ''wrinkled" and
' brotherhood," possibly referring to this group having
he leaves more wrinkled than other members of the
ib-family.
a. Plants very robust, rigid; common . . . . R. triquctrus.
b. Plants slender, less rigid ; not common ....
R. sguarrosus.
a
Plants shaggy, growing singly or together on the ground,
more rarely on earth-covered
rocks and decaying logs ; bright
or yellowish-green ; frequent
in moist woods; fruit occa-
sional.
Stems very robust, stiff, erect
or ascending ; variable in length,
usually 2-4 inches long; irregu-
larly and unequally branched
or sometimes pinnate; stems
of young branches showing red
through leaves.
Leaves straight, large, stiff,
wide-spreading; bright or yel-
lowish-green.
Seta about i inch long; red-
dish-brown.
Rhytidiadelphus Iriquctrus
224 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined; reddish-brown; ma-
ture in early spring.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern United
States; south to North Carolina; Europe; Asia; Africa.
Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus (L.) Warnst. {Hylo-
comium triquetrum (L.) Bryol. Eur.) is by far the most
common species, sometimes growing quite abundantly
on the ground in rich, moist woods. The usual tall
growth is easily recognized by the stif, shaggy appear-
ance. Sometimes very short plants are found in dry,
open places, with only a few short, unequal branches,
but the stiff, wide-spreading leaves still give a shaggy
look to the moss. This species is sometimes used as a
packing material for china.
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (L.) Warnst. (Hylo-
comium squarrosum (L.) Bryol. Eur.) is found in
meadows and swampy places. It is not common. The
general growth, the manner of branching, and the wide-
spreading leaves are similar in character to R. trique-
trus, except that the plants are much more slender, and
the leaves are much smaller, with longer, finer points.
The stem-leaves stand out at right angles to the stem,
but this characteristic is not always seen unless the
leaves are removed from the stem and examined with a
lens.
HYPNACEAE
225
68. HYLOCOMIUM Bryol. Eur. (Hy-lo-c6-mi-um)
A small genus, three species occurring in our range.
Name derived from the Greek for an "inhabitant of
the woods."
a. Leaves erect, usually too small to be seen easily,
except on the main stem.
1. Stems regularly bipinnate or tripinnate, young
shoots at first only pinnate . ... II. prolifcrum.
2. Stems pinnate or irregularly bipinnate ....
//. umbratum.
b. Leaves wide-spreading, easily seen; irregularly pin-
nate, or occasionally bipinnate . ... II. hrcvirostre.
a. I
Plants large, growing in
loose mats on the ground, on
decaying logs, on earth-cov-
ered rocks, and at the base of
trees in moist mountainous or
hilly woods; bright, yellowish-
or olive-green; common; fruit
occasional.
Stems prostrate or ascend-
ing, 2-8 inches long ; bipin-
nately or tripinnately branched;
young shoots at first only pin-
nate, iJie no-V groiiih ascending
from the middle of the shoot
of the previous year. Stems
'■-"mfr^p^
%
■^
Uylocomium prolifcrum
226 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
showing red through the leaves in the new growth when
moist plants are held to the light.
Leaves straight, small on short branches; larger on stems
and longer branches; erect.
Seta about i inch long; reddish-brown.
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined; reddish-brown; ma-
ture in spring.
Operculum short-beaked.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern United
States; Europe; Asia; Africa.
Hylocomium proliferum (L.) Lindb. {Hylocomium
splendens (Hedw.) Bryol. Eur.) is the most frequent
and most conspicuous species of this genus. An exten-
sive growth sometimes carpets the ground in cool,
moist woods or covers the surface of large boulders or
ledges. It more rarely occurs at the base of trees. If
carefully collected, the stems will show each year's
growth starting from the center of the shoot of the
previous year. This is less distinct in the fruited speci-
mens. Very young shoots are bright green, stiff, erect,
at first only pinnately branched, eventually becoming
bipinnate and tripinnate, with leaves large enough to
be seen easily. This growth usually starts from the
center of the shoot of the previous year, but some-
times it develops on an older part of the stem,
and then the stem becomes divided. The most dis-
tinguishing characteristic of this species is the hi-
pinnate or tripinnate branching, which gives the moss
a fern-like appearance. For comparison with Thu-
HYPNACEAE 227
idium, another fern-like moss, see under that genus
(p. 204).
a. 2
Plants growing in thin, loose mats on the ground and on
stones in mountainous woods; bright green; not uncom-
mon; fruit rare.
Stems sleitder; prostrate or ascending; up to 6 inches long;
pinnately or irregularly bipinnately branched, occasionally
tripinnate; branches unequal,
frequently drooping ; tips very
slender.
Leaves small, straight, erect ;
sometimes too small to be
seen; bright green.
Seta 1-2 inches long; red-
dish.
Capsule short-cylindrical,
inclined; mature in spring.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Newfoundland to
Alaska, the northern United
States and southward in the
mountains; Europe; Asia.
Uylocomium umbratum
Hylocomium umbratum
(Ehrh.) BPy'ol. Eur. {Hyp-
num umbratum Ehrh.) oc-
curs much less frequently than //. prolifcrum. The
stems are more slender, less regularly hipinnate, and
the tips of the branches are very fine, often drooping,
and sometimes rooting.
228 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing chiefly on rocks in shaded ravines in
mountainous regions; dull green; not common; fruit
occasional.
Stems rigid, usually prostrate or arched; irregularly
branched.
Leaves quite large, straight, spreading, dull green.
Seta about i inch long; reddish.
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined; mature in spring.
Operculwn short-beaked.
Range, Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to North Carolina;
Europe; Asia; Africa.
Hylocomium brevirostre (Ehrh.) Bryol. Eur. {Hyp-
num brevirostre Ehrh.) is less frequently found than the
two preceding species and is confined to the cool ra-
vines of mountainous regions. The stems are more
robust than in H. umhratum and the leaves larger and
wider-spreading, giving the plants a coarser appear-
ance. In general growth H. brevirostre more closely
resembles Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (p. 224), but
the latter is found more often on the ground in swamps,
and has wider-spreading leaves. H. brevirostre may be
distinguished from Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus (p. 223),
which also occurs on rocks, by the less shaggy ap-
pearance, the less robust stems, and the smaller, less
spreading leaves. R. triquetrus is much more com-
mon.
HYPNACEAE
229
69. HYPNUM Dill. (Hyp-num)
A genus containing but one species. Name derived
from the Greek for " moss " or some cr^^ptogamic
plant.
Plants growing loosely together, usually on the ground in
woods, more rarely on earth-covered rocks and decaying
logs, or at the base of trees; yellowish-
green ; glossy ; common ; fruit occa-
sional.
Stems ascending or erect, rigid;
usually 4-5 inches long; usually red;
somewhat distantly pinnatcly branched.
Leaves straight; easily seen when
moist and spreading; when dry, more
erect and folded ; yellowish- green;
glossy.
Seta 1-1 j4 inches long; reddish.
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined;
mature in spring.
Opercuhwi cone-shaped.
Range, Arctic America, Canada,
and the northern United States ;
Europe; Asia. Ilypnum SchrebeH
Hypnum Schreberi Willd. is one of the commonest
mosses of dry, open ivoods. The distinguishing charac-
teristics are the bright-red stems, icith the pinnate
branches somewhat separated, and straight, glossy leaves.
The plants sometimes grow quite extensively. If the
sterile patches arc examined carefully, an occasional
230 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
fruited specimen can be found, but the fruit is not
often found abundant. See Camptothecium (p. 243),
Thuidium ahietinum (p. 203), and Helodium (p. 205).
70. PTILIUM (Sull.) DeNot. (Pti-li-um)
A genus containing only one species. Name derived
from the Greek for '' feather," referring to the appear-
ance of the plants.
Plants usually growing in loose mats on the ground, on
decaying logs, on earth-covered rocks, or at the base of trees
in mountainous or hilly woods; plume-
like; light green or yellowish-green;
fairly common; fruit occasional.
Stems ascending or erect, sometimes
reaching 5 inches in length; regularly
and closely pinnately branched; branches
nearly equal in length except at the end
of the stems, where they gradually
shorten.
Leaves strongly curved ^ small and fine,
but large enough to be seen when plants
are held to the light; not much changed
when dry; light or yellowish-green.
Seta 1-1/4 inches long; yellowish-
or reddish-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined;
yellowish- or reddish-brown; mature
in autumn.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern United
States, south in the East to North Carolina; Europe; Asia.
Ptilium crista-castrensis
Branch enlarged.
HYPNACEAE 231
Ptilium crista-castrensis (L.) De Not. (Ilypnum
crista-castrensis L.) is readily distinguished by its
plume-like character, due to the regularly and closely
pinnate branching extending to the tip of the stem, and
the strongly curved and crowded leaves. The plants are
often found mixed with other mosses, but are always
striking and conspicuous. The poorer growth may
somewhat resemble Stereodon imponens (p. 233).
Stereodon usually grows more prostrate, and the
branches are shorter, more irregularly and unequally
pinnate. See Stereodon curvif alius (p. 234).
71. STEREODON (Brid.) Mitt. (Ste-re-o-don)
A very large genus, confined chiefly to temperate
regions; a few species occurring commonly in our range.
Name derived from the Greek for '' firm " or '' stiff,'*
and " tooth," referring to the structure of the peris-
tome.
a. Leaves curved, spreading, in most species turned in
two opposite directions, and apparently in two rows,
giving a flattened, braided appearance along the stem
and branches, turned in one direction in 5. arcuatus;
usually large enough to be seen ....
S. rcptilis. S. cnpressiformis.
S. imponens. S. recurvans.
S. curvifolius. S. arcuatus.
h. Leaves straight, erect, arranged equally around stem
and branches, easily seen .... 5*. Haldanianus.
^32 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing in mats on the ground, on rocks, on trees,
and on decaying wood; light, dark or yellowish-green;
sometimes glossy; fruit common in some species.
Stems usually prostrate or creeping; ascending in S.
arcuatus; pinnately or irregularly branched; branches lying
flat on opposite sides of stem; not cylindrical.
Leaves curved, crow^ded ; usually large enough to be seen
except in S. reptilis; in most species turned in two opposite
directions, apparently in two rows, giving a flattened,
braided appearance along the stem and branches; in S.
arcuatus turned in one direction; light, dark or yellowish-
green; sometimes glossy.
Seta /^-ij^ inches long; reddish-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, except in S. curvifolius and S.
recurvans, inclined or nearly straight; mature in summer or
autumn.
Operculum cone-shaped or short-beaked.
The distinguishing characteristic of the mosses of
this group, with the exception of S. arcuatus, is the way
the lea'ues seem to part and curl in opposite directions, as
though growing in only two rows, giving a braided ap-
pearance along the stem and branches, which is very dif-
ferent from mosses with straight leaves arranged
equally, and with cylindrical branches. This generic
characteristic can usually be seen readily, but it is not
so easy to separate the species.
In 5. arcuatus the leaves are curved and turned to
one side.
HYPNACEAE 233
Stereodon reptilis (Rich.) Mitt. (Hypnum reptile
Michx.) is the commonest small species. The leaves
are sometimes large enough to be seen when the plants
are held to the light, and the
curling of the leaf-tips can usu-
ally be made out. The leaves
are spreading and give the
branches a flattened, rather
than a cylindrical, appearance. ^''''''^''' ''^^"■^"
rr., , ^ r 1 . Portion of branch enlarged.
The plants are found on stones,
at the base of trees, and on decaying logs. They are
rather dark green, and are usually fruiting, often abun-
dantly. The stems are more or less pinnately or irregu-
larly branched, closely interwoven. Some shoots that
run out from the general matted growth often are
regularly pinnate. Small forms resemble HomomaUiiim
(p. 210), but Stereodon reptilis is much more frequent
and grows in larger mats, more often fruiting than
Homomallium. When the curved tips of the leaves
can be seen in Stereodon, the branches do not look
smoothly cylindrical, as in Homomallium.
Range, Canada south to North Carolina and Utah;
Europe; Asia.
Stereodon imponens (Hedw.) Brid. {Ilypnum im-
ponens Hedw.) is a common species, larger than S.
reptilis, growing in loose mats on earth, rocks, decaying
logs, and at the base of trees, in moist woods. The
leaves are yellowish-green. The fruit is not common.
234
HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
The stems are usually irregular in branching; when
pinnate, the branching does not continue to the ends of
the stems, as in Pti-
lium {p.2^o). For com-
parison see under that
genus. S. imponens
resembles Ctenidium
in color and general
growth, but the plants
lack the soft, feathery
appearance character-
See p. 222; also the next species.
Siereodon imponens
Portion of branch enlarged
istic of Ctenidium.
Stereodon curvifolius (Hedw.) Brid. (Hypnum
curmfolimn Hedw.) is the most robust species. It oc-
curs chiefly on decaying logs in moist woods, growing
in loose mats. The leaves are light or yellowish-green.
The fruit is occasionally found. The capsules are large,
short-cylindrical, and curved. The stems are usually
quite regularly pinnate, with rather stout branches,
and the leaves distinctly show the parting and curling
so characteristic of this group. The plants are larger
than S. imponens, with thicker, more regularly pinnate
branches, more closely resembling the flatter forms of
Ptilium (p. 230), but in Stereodon the stems are more
prostrate and the branches less crowded.
Range, Arctic America and Canada, south to Florida and
Colorado; Asia.
HYPNACEAE 235
Stereodon cupressiformis (L.) Brid. {Ilypnum
cupressiforme L.) has many varieties, and the t>'pical
form is not often collected in our range. The plants
grow on rocks, roots, and at the base of trees in moist
woods, forming thickly interwoven mats; rarely fruit-
ing. The leaves are dull yellowish- or brownish-green.
The plants are not so robust as in S. curmfolius , and
the stems are more matted together and more irregu-
larly branched than in either S. imponens or 5*. cur-
vifolius. The distinguishing leaf-character of the group
is usually noticeable.
The var. filiformis Brid. is a very slender form occa-
sionally found at the base of trees. The stems are
pendant and the branches long, straight, parallel, and
very slender, giving the matted plants a smooth ap-
pearance as if water had run over them, turning the
branches in one direction.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, south to the Gulf States;
a cosmopolitan.
Stereodon recurvans (Schwaegr.) Broth. (Hypnum
recurvans Beauv., Scniatophyllum recurvans (Michx.)
E. G. B.) is frequently found in mountainous and
hilly woods, growing at the base of trees, on decay-
ing logs, and on the ground, in flat, densely inter-
woven mats. It is bright yellowish- green and more glossy
than other species of this group, so7nrd'hat smaller
than any except 5. reptilis, and fruits more abun-
dantly. The stems are closely interwoven, irregularly
236 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
branched, and the branches rather short but stout.
The leaves are shining yellowish-green, and show the
characteristic curving in two opposite directions.
Sometimes the matted plants are quite thickly covered
with the reddish-brown fruit. The seta is about Y^ inch
long, and the capsule is short-cylindrical.
Range, Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to North Car-
olina and Missouri; Mexico.
Stereodon arcuatus Lindb. (5. Lindhergii (Mitt.)
Warnst., HypnumPatientiae Lindh.) is found in moist
woods, swamps, and meadows,
often growing in the grass, in
light- or yellowish-green tufts.
The plants are more erect than
other mosses of this group, the
stems are less branched, and
more ascending, and the leaves
are larger and turned to one side,
instead of in two opposite di-
stereodon arcuatus rcctions. A rare variety more
Branch enlarged. or Icss pinnate grows ou rocks.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern
United States, south in the East to Florida; Europe;
Asia.
See Drepanocladus uncinatus (p. 214) for comparison
with that species.
HYPNACEAE
237
Plants growing in rather loose mats on the ground,
on rocks, and on decaying wood; yellowish-green to
dark green ; common ; fruit sometimes abundant.
Stans prostrate, irreg-
ularly branched; rarely
some shoots are pin-
nate; branches unequal in
length and quite straight.
Leaves straight, erect-
spreading, not much
changed when dry; yel-
lowish-green to dark
green.
Seta 1-2 inches long;
reddish-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, slender, only slightly curved
and inclined; mature in autumn.
Operculum short-beaked.
Range, Nova Scotia to Montana, south to Alabama and
Missouri; Europe; Asia.
Stereodon U aldanianus
Branch enlarged.
Stereodon Haldanianus (Grev.) Lindb. (11 yp-
nmn Haldanianum Grev.) is one of the commonest of
the pleurocarpous mosses. It is the only species of
Stereodon with straight, erect-spreading leaves. It so
closely resembles certain species of Brackythccium
(p. 244) that it cannot be distinguished except when
fruited; then, the long capsule is the distinguishing
characteristic in contrast with the short capsule of
Brachythecium.
238 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
72. ISOPTERYGIUM Mitt. (I-sop-te-ry-gi-um)
A very large genus widely distributed. A few of the
most frequent species are given below. Name derived
from the Greek for " equal " and a '* little wing,"
probably referring to the leaves lying flat on either side
of the stem.
Plants small, growing in thin, flat mats on rocks, soil, and
decaying wood, usually in mountainous or hilly woods;
light or yellowish-green; often glossy; not common; fruit
rare except in /. turfaceum.
Stems prostrate, irregularly branched, branches flattened.
Leaves straight; large enough to be seen, except some-
times in /. micans; rather separated,
wide-spreading; flattened on either side
of the stem, apparently in two rows;
light or yellowish -green; sometimes
glossy.
Seta up to I inch long; reddish-
brown.
Isopterygium turfaceum CapsuU long-cylindrical, inclined,
Portion of branch curved; reddish-brown ; mature in
enlarged. '
summer.
Operculum cone-shaped or short-beaked.
Range, Canada, and south in the East to the Southern
States; Europe.
The distinguishing characteristic of Isopterygium is
the flattened appearance of the plants due to the wide-
spread leaves lying flat, apparently in two rows on oppo-
site sides of the stem. This flattened appearance is also
HYPNACEAE 239
characteristic of PlagiotJtecium, the following genus,
Brachylliecium Starkcl (p. 248), and Rhynchoslegium
(p. 256), but I so pterygium occurs less frequently than
any of these, — some species being found only in moun-
tainous regions, — and the plants are smaller.
Isopterygium turfaceum Lindb. {Plagiothecium tiir-
Jaceum Lindb.) appears to be the species most com-
monly collected in our range. It grows on moist, rich
soil or on decaying wood, sometimes in peat-bogs.
The plants are usually yellowish-green and often well
fruited.
Isopterygium elegans (Hook.) Lindb. {PlagiotJte-
cium elegans (Hook.) Sull.) occurs on the ground or on
rocks in moist woods. The plants rarely fruit; the
branches usually point one way; and the leaves are
especially glossy, and quite a bright green.
Isopterygium MuUerianum (Schimp.) Lindb. {Plag-
iothecium Milllerianum Schimp.) is found on moist
rocks and soil in mountainous regions, rarely fruited.
It grows in rather small tufts, and the branches are
often long, slender, and frequently taper at the ends.
Isopterygium micans (Sw.) Broth. {Hypnummicans
Sw.) is a very small species occurring from New York
southward. The leaves are very small and slender, but
the branches still have a flattened look.
240
HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
73. PLAGIOTHECIUM Bryol. Eur.
(Pla-gi-o-the-ci-um)
A genus of many species, only three of which are
given below. Name derived from the Greek for
" oblique " and a " little vessel," referring to the
capsule.
a. Leaves flattened, apparently in two opposite rows
.... P. denticulatum,
P. sylvaticum.
h. Leaves wide-spreading, equally arranged around stem
.... P. striatellum.
Plants growing in flattened mats on earth, rocks, and de-
caying logs in woods; light or yellowish-green; often glossy;
very common; fruit frequent.
Stems prostrate^ irregularly
branched; branches flattened,
broad.
Leaves straight, large, wide-
spreading, flattened, appar-
ently in two opposite rows;
light or yellowish-green; often
somewhat glossy.
Seta, i-i/^ inches long; reddish-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined, curved; mature in
summer.
Operculum cone-shaped or short-beaked.
Range, almost cosmopolitan in temperate and cooler
regions.
Plagiothecium denticidatum
Portion of branch enlarged.
HYPNACEAE 241
Plagiothecium denticulatum (L.) Bryol. Eur. and
Plagiothecium sylvaticum (Huds.) Bry^ol. Eur. very
closely resemble each other. P, denticulatum is proba-
bly more frequently collected. The plants arc much
larger than most of the species of Isopicrygium, the
preceding genus. The leaves are usually glossy. P.
sylvaticum has been described as less glossy than P.
denticulatum y but this characteristic alone is not sufli-
cient for field identification. The moss that most
closely resembles these two Plagiotheciums is Rhyn-
chostegium serrulatum (p. 256). The leaves of that
species are less glossy, but the only satisfactory field-
mark is the beak of the operculum. In Rhynchostegimn
it is noticeably long, slender, and curved, while in
Plagiothecium it is shorter, and often the operculum is
only cone-shaped. BrachytheciumStarkei(p. 248) has a
flattened appearance, but this is not so conspicuous as
in Plagiothecium, as the leaves of the former are smaller
and narrower. Fruited specimens can be easily dis-
tinguished, as the capsule of Brachythecium is short
and stout and that of Plagiothecium is long and slender.
Plants small, growing in close mats on the ground, on
rocks (but not on limestone), and on decaying logs in moist
woods; rather dark green or yellowish-green; common in
swamps; fruit frequent, often abundant.
Stems prostrate, irregularly branched; branches short,
about % of an inch long; erect, crowded.
242 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Leaves small, but easily seen, spreading, equally arranged
around stem; dark or yellowish-green.
^ Seta %-yi inch long; reddish-brown.
^ Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined; red-
/ dish-brown; mature in summer.
I| - . Range, Greenland and Newfoundland
^m%MdJ^ ^^ Minnesota, south to North Carolina;
^"^^ Alaska; Europe.
Plagiothecium
striatdium Piagiothecium striatellum (Brid.)
Lindb. {Plagiothecium MUhlenbeckii Bryol. Eur.) is
usually found on decaying logs in swamps. The dis-
tinguishing characteristics are the short, crowded, erect
branches and the spreading leaves arranged equally
around the stems and branches. See Eurhynchium
(p. 252) and Brachythecium velutinum (p. 248).
Family BRACHYTIIECIACEAE
A VERY large cosmopolitan family, found in various
places.
74. CAMPTOTHECIUM BryoL
(Camp-to- the-ci-um)
Eur.
A genus containing several species, but one occurring
in our range. Name derived from the Greek for
" bent " and a " little vessel," refer-
ring to the curved capsule.
Plants growing in swamps and wet
meadows; yellowish- green; shining; not
common; fruit rare.
Stems erect, thickly covered with brown
radicles; more or less regularly pinnate;
branches rather separated.
Leaves straight, long and fiarrow, erect,
crowded; yellowish-green; shining.
Seta reddish-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined ; red-
dish-brown; mature in early summer.
Operculum short-beaked.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and
northern United States; Europe; Asia. Campiothcdum niuns
Camptothecium nitens (Schreb.) Schimp. is occa-
sionally found in cool northern swamps. The distin-
guishing characteristics are the erect stems thickly
244 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
coated with dark-brown radicles and the shining, yellow-
ish-green leaves. Hypnum Schreheri (p. 229) also has
erect stems more or less pinnateiy brancned, but it
grows in drier locations and the stems lack the coating
of radicles.
75. BRACHYTHECIUM Bryol. Eur.
(B ra-chy- the-ci-um)
A genus containing a great many species, several of
which frequently occur in our range. Name derived
from the Greek for '' short " and a " little vessel/'
referring to the short capsule.
Plants growing in loose or dense mats on earth, rocks,
trees, decaying wood, and in streams; light, dark, or yel-
lowish-green ; com-
mon; fruit frequent.
Stems prostrate, ir-
regularly branched ;
branches prostrate,
ascending or erect.
Leaves straight; large
„ , , . , , enough to be seen,
Brachytheaum sdebrosum • -n, r,
except m B. reflexum;
usually erect or erect-spreading ; more closely folded when
dry; in B. Starkei, wide-spreading both when moist and
when dry; light to dark green; sometimes slightly glossy.
Seta usually nearly i inch long; red or reddish-brown.
Capsule cylindrical, usually short and stout, inclined;
straight in B. acuminatum; reddish-brown; mature in
autumn or winter.
Operculum cone-shaped.
BRACHYTHECIACEAE 745
The general characteristics of Brachytltecium, which
hold for most species, are the prostrate stems, irregu-
larly branched, leaves straight, equally arranged around
the stem and branch-es, erect or erect-spreading, and the
usually short, thick capsule. The capsule in some
species is more slender than in others, but never so long
and slender as in Slereodon Haldanianus (p. 237).
Some of the common species of Brachylhecium {B.
salehrosum and others) so closely resemble Slereodon
Haldanianus in growth and leaf -character that they
cannot be distinguished except when fruited.
The following table, giving usual habitats, may be
helpful in looking up different species : —
Plants growing on moist ground ....
B. salehrosum. B. Starkei.
B. oxycladon. B. vclutinum.
B. rutabulum. B. acuminatum.
B. rivulare on moist banks by streams.
Plants growing on rocks in beds of streams ....
B. rivulare. B. plumosum.
Plants growing on rocks not in streams ....
B. salehrosum. B. Starkei.
B. oxycladon. B. rcflcxum.
B. rutahulum. B. vclutinum.
B. populcum. B. acuminatum.
Plants growing on roots or trunks of trees ....
B. salehrosum. B. populcum.
B. oxycladon. B. vclutinum.
B. rutahulum. B. acuminatum.
246 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Plants growing on decaying logs or old stumps ....
B. salebrosum. B. Starkei.
B. rutabulum. B. reflexum.
B. acuminatum.
Brachythecium salebrosum (Hoffm.) Bryol. Eur. is
one of the commonest species, and is found on earth,
rocks, trees, and decaying logs. It is usually bright or
yellowish-green; somewhat glossy.
Range J Canada and the Northern and Eastern States;
Europe; Asia; Africa.
Brachythecium oxycladon (Brid.) Jaeg. {B. laetum
(Brid.) Bryol. Eur.) is closely related to B. salebrosum.
Some specimens have longer, more tapering branches,
and a capsule slightly more slender and more erect. It
grows on earth, rocks, and roots of trees, but is less
frequent on decaying logs. The leaves are quite a
bright green.
Range, Newfoundland to Florida, west to the Rocky
Mountains; Europe.
Brachythecium rutabulum (L.) Bryol. Eur. is a more
robust species with thicker branches, larger leaves, and
stouter capsule. It grows more commonly on the
ground and on stones in wet places, less frequently on
trees and old logs. It is usually yellowish-green and
quite glossy.
Range, Newfoundland to Michigan and south to Mary-
land and Missouri; Europe; Asia; Africa.
BRACHYTHECIACEAE
247
Brachythecium populeum (Hedw.) Bryol. Eur. re-
sembles B. salchrosum in general appearance, but is
often smaller and darker. It grows chiefly on rocks,
less frequently on roots or trunks of trees. The leaves
are a rather dark green.
Range, Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to North Carolina;
British Columbia; Europe; Africa.
Brachythecium plumosum (Sw.) Bryol. Eur. is found
chiefly on rocks in brooks, growing in thick, rather
dark-green mats, with shorter branches than the fol-
lowing species. See Hygrohypnum (p. 218) and
Bryhnia (p. 254).
Range, Newfoundland to British Columbia, south in the
East to Alabama; Europe; Asia; Hawaiian Islands.
Brachythecium rivulare Bryol. Eur. grows on rocks
in brooks and streams or on the
ground in very wet places that
are sometimes submerged. The
stems are creeping with very
long, erect secondary stems that
are often branched, and the
leaves are light green or yellow-
ish-green, somewhat glossy. See
Hygrohypnum (p. 218) Bryhnia
(p. 254) and preceding species. Brachythecium rivulare
Range, northern North America, south to North Carolina
and Missouri; Europe; Asia.
248 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Brachythecium Starkei (Brid.) Bryol. Eur. is the
species with wide-spreading, rather separated, leaves,
flattened on either side of the stem, apparently in two
rows. The plants grow on the ground, on rocks, and on
decaying wood ; usually forming rather thin mats; quite
dark green. The growth is similar to that of Plagiothe-
cium denticulatum (p. 240) and Rhynchostegium (p.
256), but as a rule the leaves are narrower and
shorter, giving the branches a more slender appear-
ance, and the capsules are stouter without the very
long beak to the operculum that is characteristic of
Rhynchostegium.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern United
States; Europe.
Brachythecium reflexum (Stark.) Bryol. Eur. is a
very slender species with leaves closely folded and too
small to be seen. It grows chiefly on rocks and decay-
ing logs, more rarely at the base of trees in mountain-
ous regions. It is usually a rather dark green. The
stems and branches are very slender and tapering,
sometimes slightly curved at the ends.
Range, Canada and south to Maryland and Missouri;
Europe; Asia.
Brachythecium velutinum (L.) Bryol. Eur. is not
often collected. It grows on earth, and on stones, but
most frequently at the base of trees. The plants are
BRACHYTHECIACEAE 249
slender, and the leaves small but easily seen, as they
are quite wide-spreading even when dry. The color
is usually dark green or olive-green. The branches
are numerous and short, resembling those of Plagio-
tlwcium striatcllum (p. 242), but the capsule is not so
slender as in Plagiothecium. See also Eurhynchium
(p. 252).
Range J Canada and the northern United States; Europe;
Asia.
Brachythecium acuminatum (Hedw.) Kindb. is the
one species with an erect capsule. It is rare in New
England, but more common in the South. It grows in
close mats on roots of trees, rocks, and decaying logs.
The general growth when dry is much like Entodon
seductrix (p. 190), but it is much less frequent, and usu-
ally the branches are not so smoothly cylindrical, and
the general color is not so golden-green, although some-
what light or yellowish-green. The leaves are straight,
closely folded, and too small to be seen easily without a
lens.
The above descriptions are not given with the expec-
tation that the student will be able to determine spe-
cies, except possibly B. Starkei and B. rcjlcxum when
fruited, but rather to show the variations in the general
generic characteristics.
250 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
76. CIRRIPHYLLUM Grout (Cir-ri-phyl-lum)
A genus containing several species. One is fairly
common in our region. Name derived from the Latin
for " curly hair," and " leaf," referring to the curled
tip of the leaves.
Plants robust, growing in loose mats on the ground and
on earth-covered rocks in open woods, or in thin grass in
open fields; yellowish- or golden-green, rarely bright green;
glossy ; common in some lo-
calities; fruit rare.
Stems prostrate, irregu-
larly branched; branches
cylindrical, with a swollen ap-
pearance due to the very con-
cave leaves loosely folded.
Leaves straight, large, very
^. . , „ „ ,, concave; hxodid, With. 2i short,
Ctrnphyllum Boscn , i .
fine, curled tip; closely or
loosely folded; yellow- or golden-green, rarely bright green;
glossy.
5eto about ^ inch long; reddish-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined; reddish-brown; ma-
ture in autumn.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Vermont to Florida, west to Colorado and
Arkansas.
Cirriphyllum Boscii (Schwaegr.) Grout (Hypnum
Boscii Schwaegr.) when well developed is conspicuous
on account of the bright, glossy color and the large
BRACHYTIIECIACEAE
251
cylindrical branches, with the concave leaves distinctly
showing, although folded against each other. Other
mosses with cylindrical branches are much smaller
and the leaves are not clearly seen when folded,
while those mosses with equally distinct leaves have
more slender or flatter branches, as the leaves are
not spoon-shaped or concave as in Cirriphylhim.
The curled tip of the leaves can be seen in the larger
growths; it is very conspicuous when seen with a
hand-lens.
77. OXYRHYNCHIUM (Bryol. Eur.) Warnst.
(Ox-y-rhyn-chi-um)
A genus of several species; the common one given
below. Name derived from the Greek for '' sharp,"
*' well," and *' beak," referring to
the long beak of the operculum.
Plants large, growing in loose mats
on stones in streams; olive or dark
green, rarely yellowish-green, black
below; common; fruit quite com-
mon.
Stems prostrate; often leafless in
the lower part; irregularly branched;
branches ascending; thick.
Leaves straight, la^g^j broad, wide-spreading; olive or dark
green.
Seta Yz-Yx inch long; reddish-brown.
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined; mature in autumn.
Oxyrhynchium ruscijorme
252 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Newfoundland to Ontario, south to Georgia;
Europe; Asia; Africa.
Oxyrhynchium rusciforme (Neck.) Warnst. {Eu-
rhynchium rusciforme (Neck.) Milde, Rhynchostegium
rusciforme Bryol. Eur.) is a robust moss common on
rocks often overflowed in beds of streams. It is usually
well fruited, which helps to distinguish it from the
acrocarpous moss, Rhacomitrium (p. 113), which it
most resembles and which is found in similar places.
Although the capsule of Rhacomitrium sometimes ap-
pears lateral, it is always erect, while in Oxyrhynchium
it is inclined. The leaves of Rhacomitrium are not so
large as in Oxyrhynchium, and fold more closely when
dry, giving the branches a more slender appearance.
Other pleurocarpous mosses growing in brooks have
leaves smaller or more or less curved and turned to one
side, and lack the stout appearance of the branches
characteristic of Oxyrhynchium. See Hygroamblyste-
gium (p. 211), Eygrohypnum (p. 218), Brachythecium
(p. 244), and Bryhnia (p. 254).
78. EURHYNCHIUM Bryol. Eur.
(Eu-rhyn-chi-um)
A genus containing several species, one of which is
occasional in our region. Name derived from the Greek
for ''well " and " beak," referring to the long beak of
the operculum.
BRACHYTHECIACEAE 253
Plants growing in mats, commonly on the ground, on
decaying logs or at the base of trees, more rarely on rocks;
bright green or somewhat yellowish-green; not very com-
mon; sometimes fruiting.
Stems prostrate, irregularly branched; branches short,
usually }{ or }i inch long; erect or ascending; sometimes in
clusters.
Leaves small, straight, wide-spreading, even when dry;
usually bright green.
Seta /4-H inch long; reddish-brown.
Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined; mature in autumn.
Operculmn long-beaked.
Range, Arctic America, Canada, and the northern United
States; Europe; Asia; Africa.
Eurhynchium strigosum (Hoflm.) Bryol. Eur. is not
commonly found in our range, as the var. robustum
Roell is the form usually col-
lected. The general charac-
ter of the growth, prostrate
stems, with nufnerous short,
erect branches and small wide-
spreading leaves, somew^hat
resembles that of Plagiothe- Eurhynchium strigosum
var. robustum
cium striatelliim (p. 242) and
Brachythecium velutinum (p. 248), but the branches
of Eurhynchium are longer, often in clusters, and
the leaves are a brighter green. If the specimens
are fruited and the long beak of the operculum of
Eurhynchium can be seen, it is the best field-character.
The capsule is longer as a rule than in Brachythecium^
254 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
but about the same size as in Plagiothecium. The
other small moss with spreading leaves growing in
similar places is Amhlystegium serpens (p. 208), which
is much more delicate and forms much thinner
mats.
79. BRYHNIA Kaur. (Bryhn-i-a)
A small genus, found only in the Northern Hemi-
sphere. One species is commonly found in our range.
Named after Dr. Nils Bryhn, of Norway
Plants growing in loose mats on wet ground and on
stones, often in beds of streams; bright or dull green; not
glossy; common; fruit fre-
quent.
Stems prostrate or ascend-
ing; irregularly branched;
branches often ascending;
ends of branches sometimes
curved, especially when dry.
Leaves short, straight, erect-
Bryhnia novae-angliae Spreading when moist; more
closely folded when dry-,
sometimes too small to be seen easily; bright or dull green;
not glossy.
Seta %-yi inch long; dark reddish-brown.
Capsule short-cylindrical, stout; dark reddish-brown;
mature in winter.
Operculum cone-shaped.
Range, Canada, south to North Carolina and Missouri;
Europe; Asia.
BRACHYTHECIACEAE 255
Bryhnia novae-angliae (Sull. & Lesq.) Grout
{BrachytJiccium novae-angliae (Sull. & Lesq.) Jaeg. &
Saucrb.) is most frequently found on stones in beds of
brooks or in wet, shady woods. The distinguishing
characteristics are best seen in dry plants: the slight
curl of the ends of the stems and branches, and the
small leaves not tightly folded, which give the stems
and branches rather a rough appearance. When the
plants are fruited, the short, stout capsule distinguishes
Bryhnia from other mosses, except BrachytJiccium
(p. 244), growing in similar places. Bracyhlhecium rivu-
lare (p. 247) and Brachythecium plumosum (p. 247) are
also found in brooks, but they have larger leaves, not
folded when dry, and straighter branches. This dis-
tinction is also true of other Brachytheciums growing
on wet ground. Hygroaniblystegium (p. 211) also has
straighter branches without the numerous lateral
branches found in Bryhnia. Bryhnia is much larger
than Amblystcgium serpens (p. 209), and the leaves are
much shorter than in A. riparium (p. 209). Bryhnia
may be known from Stereodon (p. 231) by the less
creeping stems, without the flattened branches or
curved leaves. Stereodon Haldanianus (p. 237) has
straighter branches and larger leaves. Oxyrhynchiiun
(p. 251) is a much stouter moss, with larger leaves,
darker green than Bryhnia,
256 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES
80. RHYNCHOSTEGIUM Bryol. Eur.
(Rhyn-cho-ste-gi-um)
A genus containing a great many species, one of
which occurs in our range. Name derived from the
Greek for " beak " and " roofed chamber," referring to
the long beak of the operculum.
Plants growing in loose, flattened mats on the ground, on
logs, and on roots of trees in the woods; bright or yellowish-
green ; quite common ;
fruit frequent.
Stems prostrate, ir-
regularly branched;
branches flattened;
broad.
Leaves large, straight y
Rhynchoslegium serriuatum , ^ , . _ ,
Wide-Spreading both
Portion of branch enlarged. .
when moist and when
dry; apparently in two opposite rows; usually yellowish-
green; slightly glossy.
Seta about i inch long; reddish-brown.
Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined, curved; mature in
autumn.
Operculum long-beaked.
Range, Newfoundland to Wisconsin, south to the Gulf of
Mexico; Alaska; British Columbia.
Rhynchostegium serrulatum (Hedw.) Jaeg. {Eu-
rhynchium serrulatum (Hedw.) Kindb., Hypnum ser-
rulatum Hedw.) has ih^ flattened appearance of Plagio-
thecium (p. 240), Isopterygium (p. 238), and Br achy-
BRACHYTHECIACEAE 257
thecium Starkei (p. 248), with the leaves wide-spreading
and lying flat on either side of tJie stem, apparently in
two rows. If the plants are fruited, and the operculum
has not fallen off, the long beak of the operculum is the
distinguishing characteristic. The plants are larger
than Isopterygium, and appear larger than Brachy-
thecium Starkei, as the longer leaves make the branches
look broader, but they so closely resemble Plagiothe-
cium that they cannot be distinguished in the field
except when in fruit, and before the operculum has
fallen off. The capsule is more slender than in Brachy-
thecium, but resembles that of Plagiothecium and
Isopterygium.
APPENDIX
APPENDIX
HELPS TO IDENTIFICATION OF THE MOST
COMMON AND CONSPICUOUS MOSSES
Note. Only the conspicuous characteristics are given here. These may
vary at different seasons of the year.
A. Fruit at the apex of the stem or of a well-developed
branch, sometimes appearing lateral by the new growth
of the plant. Stems generally erect, and often not
branched; or, if slightly branched by forking, usually
wath not more than two or three branches. ^ Acrocar-
pous Mosses, p. 77.
B. Fruit on the side of the stem or on a very short lateral
branch. Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect,
usually much branched (with more than two or three
branches).^ Pleurocarpous Mosses, p. 172.
A (Acrocarpous Mosses)
Manner of growth
Individual plants of the acrocarpous mosses can nearly
always be easily separated, as the stems are erect and
do not interweave. In some cases the stems are matted
together below with a felt-like mass of radicles, called
tomentum.
Stems of most acrocarpous mosses are erect, and often not
branched; or if slightly branched by forking, usually with
not more than two or three branches. ^
^ For arrangement of branches sec Illustrations of Terms, Plate II.
262 APPENDIX
Stems ascending to erect, usually much branched by fork-
ing; plants growing on rock; leaves dark or olive-green,
except in the young growth at the tip of the stem,
which is lighter .... 19.
Stems erect, not branched, or with branches whorled at tip of
stem; plants growing on wet ground or on rocks; leaves
usually light or yellowish-green .... 34.
Looked at from above, has the outline of a star with many
rays, or looked at from the side, resembles tiny spruce or
pine trees; stems erect, usually not branched; leaves
bright green or grayish-green to dark green; plants
growing on the ground, on earth-covered rocks, old
stumps and upturned roots .... 39, 41.
Plants growing from protonema, a green or brownish coat-
ing on the surface of the soil .... 37, 40.
Color of stem
Stems of most mosses are either covered with leaves, and
show only the color of the leaves, or are brown and
inconspicuous.
Stems showing red through the leaves, especially in the
new growth when moist plants are held to the light
27, 28.
Stems at least in the lower part covered with tomentum, a
felt-like mass of brown or whitish radicles ....
8, 3o> 31, 33, 34, 41.
Shape of leaves
Leaves too small or too closely folded to be seen easily.
Capsule almost concealed by surrounding leaves
19.
Capsule erect .... 2, 22, 38, 40.
Capsule not erect .... 25, 28, 34.
APPENDIX 263
Leaves conspicuously long and narrow.
Capsule erect .... 2, 6, 8, 23, 39, 40, 41.
Capsule not erect .... 6, 8, 9, 31, S3y 39, 4i.
Leaves conspicuously short and broad.
Capsule erect .... 10, 20, 24.
Capsule not erect .... 10, 29, 30.
Position of leaves
Leaves of most mosses are arranged equally around the
stem and branches and are erect or spreading.
Leaves more or less turned to one side (secund)
6, 8.
Leaves m two rows on opposite sides of stem, giving
the plants a flattened appearance .... 10. See also
hepatics (p. 6).
Leaves forming a rosette at tip of stem . . . . 26, 29, 30,
39, 41. See also Sphagnum (p. 73).
Lesives forming a cup at the tip of the stem .... 38.
Leaves tindidate or wavy .... 8, 39.
Leaves conspicuously crisped when dry.
Capsule erect .... 8, 10, 13, 15, 23, 39.
Capsule not erect .... 8, 10, 29, 30, 2>3y 39-
Leaves conspicuously folded straight when dry.
Capsule partly concealed by surrounding leaves
19, 22.
Capsule erect .... 2, 20, 22, 23, 38.
Capsule not erect 4, 27, 28, 40, 41.
Midrib
The midrib when present is usually not seen without
the aid of a lens.
Midrib seen when moist plants are held to the light
29, 30, 39.
264 APPENDIX
Color of leaves
The color of the leaves of most mosses varies from light
or yellowish-green to dark green.
Leaves usually conspicuously light or yellowish-green
24, 25, 31, 34.
Leaves glaucous or whitish green especially when dry
.... 9. See also Sphagnum (p. 73).
Leaves bluish-green .... 3, 41.
Leaves usually conspicuously dark or olive-green ....
19, 20, 21, 22, 28, 36, 38.
Leaves sometimes with a reddish tinge .... 39. See also
Sphagnum (p. 73).
Color of seta
The seta of most mosses is reddish-brown.
Seta yellowish .... i, 2, 6, 8, 24, 25, 30.
Seta dark red .... 4, 27, 41.
Setae clustered .... 8, 29, 30, 39.
Most mosses have a single seta.
Seta very short or apparently absent, so that the capsule is
partially concealed by surrounding leaves 19, 22, 36.
Position of capsule
Capsule erect 2, 6, 8, 10, 20, 22, 23, 24, 38, 39, 40, 41.
Capsule inclined (between erect and horizontal) ....
I, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 31, 33, 34, 39, 41.
Capsule horizontal .... 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 41.
Capsule hanging down .... 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 41.
25 and 27 are especially conspicuous in the spring
and early summer on account of the capsules being
thickly crowded together; they are bright green at first
and then change to brown.
Capsule partly concealed by leaves .... 19, 22.
APPENDIX 265
Shape of operculum
The operculum of most mosses is convex, cone-shaped, or
short-beaked, and not especially conspicuous.
Operculum conspicuously long-beaked .... i, 2, 6, 8, 39, 41.
Calyptra hairy and conspicuous .... 22, 23, 40, 41.
The calyptra of most mosses is smooth and inconspicu-
ous, often falling off long before the capsule is mature.
B (Pleurocarpous Mosses)
Fruit on the side of the stem or on a very short lateral branch.
Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect, usually much
branched (with more than two or three branches).
Manner of growth
Pleurocarpous mosses usually grow in rather flat mats
with stems and branches prostrate or creeping and
often closely interwoven, so that no great length of stem
can be easily separated.
Plants with stems usually ascending or erect and easily
separated 45, 58, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71.
Plants tree-like (with erect stems and erect or spreading
branches only toward the tip of the stem) .... 45, 49.
V\(mts fern-like (branches bipinnate, tripinnate,or closely
pinnate) 57, 68, 70.
Plants plume-like (branches closely and regularly pin-
nate) .... 70.
Plants with long stems floating in streams or pojids
43, 62.
Color of stem
Stems of most mosses are either covered with leaves, and
show only the color of the leaves, or are brown and
inconspicuous.
266 APPENDIX
Stems and branches showing red through the leaves when
moist plants are held to the light .... 45, 68, 69,
Position and shape of leaves
The leaves of most of the pleurocarpous mosses are more
or less ovate at the base and end in a straight or curved
tip, but they are often too small or too closely folded
to show the entire outline. They are erect or spreading
and usually arranged equally around the stem and
branches, sometimes flattened and apparently in two
rows.
Leaves straight and flattened on two opposite sides of the
stem, apparently in only two rows, giving the plants a
pressed appearance .... 47, 48, 72, 73, 75, 80.
Leaves curved and turned in two opposite directions, appar-
ently in only two rows, giving a braided appearance
along the stems and branches .... 71.
Leaves strongly curved and more or less turned in one
direction .... 62, 66, 70, 71.
Color of leaves
The color of the leaves of most mosses varies from light
or yellowish-green to dark green.
Leaves usually light, yellowish-, or golden-green.
Capsule erect .... 44, 47, 50, 52.
Capsule not erect .... 58, 63, 67, 69, 70, 76.
Leaves usually very dark or olive-green.
Capsule almost concealed by the surrounding leaves
42.
Capsule erect 43, 55, 56.
Capsule not erect .... 77.
Color of seta
The seta of the pleurocarpous mosses is nearly always
reddish-hrown.
APPENDIX 267
Position of capsule
Capsules of most genera are more or less inclined.
Capsule erect 43, 44, 45. 46, 47, 48, 5°, 5i, 52, 53, 54-
Capsule partially concealed by leaves . . . . 42, 43, 46, 47.
Shape of operculum
The operculum of most mosses is convex, cone-shaped,
or short-beaked, and not especially conspicuous.
Operculum conspicuously long-beaked ....
73, 76, 77, 78, 80.
GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
Acrocarpi. Acrocarpous mosses.
Acrocarpous. Having the fruit at the tip of the stem or of a
well-developed branch. (Plate I, Pigs, i, 2, 3.)
Barren. Not bearing fruit.
Bipinnate. Twice pinnate. Having the pinnate branches
branched again. (Plate II, Fig. 3.)
Calyptra. The thin veil or hood covering the operculum or
lid of the capsule. (Plate IV, Fig. i.)
Capsule. The small sack containing the spores, often
spoken of as the fruit. (Plate I, Fig. i ; Plate IV, Fig. i.)
Cleft. Cut into or divided.
Clustered. Collected into a bunch. When two or more
setae arise from the same perichaetium they are de-
scribed as clustered.
Costa. Midrib of a moss leaf.
Crisped. Curled up, twisted or wTinkled.
CucuUate. Hood-shaped. (Plate IV, Fig. 17.)
Drooping. Hanging down.
Erect. Upright. Leaves are described as erect when they
are nearly parallel to the stem.
Exserted. Projecting beyond some other part.
Fertile. Bearing fruit.
Flagella. Very fme string-like branchlets. (See Dicranum
Jla(^cllare, Plate V, Fig. 2a.)
Forked. Divided at the tip. (Plate II, Fig. i.)
Fruit. Same as capsule, the sack containing the spores.
Fruited. Bearing fruit.
Fruit-stalk. The seta or stem of the fruit. (Plate I, Fig. i.)
272 GLOSSARY
Gemmae. Small bud-like bodies capable of reproducing
the plant.
Glaucous. Whitish, covered with a bloom.
Habitat. The natural locality of a plant.
Hair-like. Without perceptible width.
Inclined. Between erect and horizontal.
Irregularly-branched. Not regularly pinnate, bipinnate,
tripinnate, or tree-like. (Plate II, Fig. 6.)
Lamellae. Thin plates of tissue. (Plate VII, Figs. 2b, 3.)
Lateral. Coming from the side.
Lobed. Divided into broad parts.
Mature. Ripe. A plant, capsule, or fruit is described as
mature when the spores are ready to be dispersed to
develop new plants.
Mitrate. Like a beaked cap, symmetrical. (Plate IV,
Fig. 18.)
Mouth. In reference to the capsule, the opening under the
operculum.
Neck. In reference to the capsule, the lower portion just
before it joins the seta.
Obsolete. Not distinct, rudimental.
Operculum. The Hd or cap of the capsule that covers the
peristome and that becomes separated and falls off when
the spores are mature. (Plate IV, Fig. i.)
Perichaetium. Special leaves or bracts enclosing the fertile
flower and often surrounding the base of the seta.
Peristome. The fringe surrounding the mouth of the cap-
sule beneath the operculum. (Plate IV, Fig. 2; Plate V,
Fig. 6; Plate VI, Fig. 2; Plate VII, Fig. 4.)
Pinnate. With branches on either side of the stem in two
opposite rows. (Plate II, Fig. 2.)
Pleurocarpi. Pleurocarpous mosses.
Pleurocarpous. Having the fruit lateral on the stem or
branch. (Plate I, Figs. 4, 5.)
GLOSSARY 273
Primary. In reference to the stem, the first growth that is
usually prostrate, with more or less erect branches called
secondary stems that are usually again branched. (Plate
11, Fig. 8.)
Protonema. The first growth that is produced from the
spore. A felted mass of green threads that sometimes
forms a conspicuous coating on the surface of the soil.
(See Pogonatum brevicaule, p. 161.)
Pseudopodium. Leafless branch resembling a fruit-stalk,
often producing brood bodies or gemmae (see Atdacom-
niiim palustre, p. 141); in Sphagnum taking the place of
the seta, p. 73.
Radicles. Rootlets growing on the stem.
Regularly-branched. With branches on both sides of the
stem, quite evenly arranged.
Secondary. In reference to the stem, the more or less
ascending or erect branches that arise from the prostrate
primary stem. (Plate II, Fig. 8.)
Secund. Turned to one side. (Plate III, Fig. 13.)
Sessile. Without a stem, or stalk.
Seta. The stem or stalk of the capsule. (Plate I, Fig. i.)
Setae. Plural of seta.
Spore. A minute, dust-like body produced in the fruit of
the lower plants and taking the place of the seed of the
higher plants.
Spreading. In reference to leaves, standing more or less at
right angles to the stem. (Plate III, Fig. 12.)
Sterile. Not producing fruit.
Substratum. The substance upon which a plant grows.
Symmetrical. Both sides alike.
Teeth. The outer divisions of the peristome. (Plate IV,
Fig. 2; Plate V, Fig. 6; Plate VI, Fig. 2.)
Terminal. In reference to the fruit or capsule, coming at
the end of the stem or branch.
274 GLOSSARY
I
Tomentum. A felted mass of radicles that sometimes cov-
ers a considerable part of the stem. ^
Tripinnate. Three times pinnate. When the bipinnate 1
branches are again branched. (Plate II, Fig. 4.)
Undulate. Waved up and down, same as wavy.
Vegetative. Growing in some way other than from the
spore.
Wavy. Same as undulate. In reference to leaves, with the
surface not flat and smooth, but with more or less regular
depressions. (See Dicranum undulatwn, p. 93, and
Catharinaea uftdulata, p. 157.)
Whorled. In reference to branches, arranged in a circle
about the stem. (See Fhilonotis, p. 145.)
INDEX
INDEX
Synonyms are italicized
Acrocarpi 77
Acrocladium Mitt 217
cuspidatum (L.) Lindb 218
Alga 5
Algae 5
AmblystcgieUa adnata (Hedw.) Nichols 210
Amblystegium Bryol. Eur 208
fiuitans De Not 215
fluviatile (Sw.) Bryol. Eur 212
irriguum (Wils.) Bryol. Eur 212
riparium (L.) Bryol. Eur 209
serpens (L.) Bryol. Eur 209
varium (Hedw.) Lindb 209
Andreaea Ehrh 75
petrophila 75
Andreaeaceae 75
Andreaeales 75
Anomodon Hook. & Tayl 198
apiculatus Bryol. Eur 200
attenuatus (Schreb.) Hiiben 200
minor (Palis.) Fiirn 199
ohtusijolius Bryol. Eur 199
rostratus (Hedw.) Schimp 199
AULACOMNIACEAE 139
Aulacomnium Schwaegr 139
heterostichum (Hedw.) Bryol. Eur 139
palustre (L.) Schwaegr 141
Barbula Hedw 105
caespitosa Schwaegr 103
convoluta Hedw 105
unguiculata (Huds.) Hedw 105
Bartramia Hedw 144
Older i (Gunn.) Schwaegr 143
pomiformis (L.) Hedw 144
278 INDEX
Bartramiaceae 143
Bazzania 7
Bird Wheat 163
Brachytheciaceae 243
Brachythecium Bryol. Eur 244
acuminatum (Hedw.) Kindb 249
laetum (Brid.) Bryol. Eur 246
novae-angliae (Sull. & Lesq.) Jaeg. & Sauerb 254
oxycladon (Brid.) Jaeg 246
plumosum (Sw.) Bryol. Eur 247
populeum (Hedw.) Bryol. Eur 247
reflexum (Stark.) Bryol. Eur 248
rivulare Bryol. Eur 247
rutabulum (L.) Bryol. Eur 246
salebrosum (Hoffm.) Bryol. Eur 246
Starkei (Brid.) Bryol. Eur 248
velutinum (L.) Bryol. Eur 248
Bryaceae 126
Bryales 77
Bryhnia Kaur 254
novae-angliae (Sull. & Lesq.) Grout 254
Bryophytes 73
Bryum Dill 1 29
argenteum L 130
bimum Schreb 130
caespiticium L 130
roseiim Schreb 131
silvery 130
Buxbaumia Hall 152
aphylla L 152
BUXBAUMIACEAE I52
Calliergon (Sull.) Kindb 216
cordifolium (Hedw.) Kindb 216
cuspidatum Kindb 218
giganteum (Schimp.) Kindb 217
Camptothecium Bryol. Eur 243
nitens (Schreb.) Schimp 243
Catharinaea Ehrh 156
angustata Brid 158
INDEX 279
Catharinaea crispa James 15Q
uiuluUila (L.) Web. & JMohr 157
Ceratodon Brid 81
purpureus (L.) Brid 81
Cirriphyllum Grout 250
Boscii (Schwaegr.) Grout 250
Cladonia cristatella 4
rangiferina 4
CLmACIACEAE 1 79
Climacium Web. & Mohr 179
americanum Brid 180
dendroides (L.) Web. & Mohr 180
Kindbergii (Ren. & Card.) Grout 180
Ctenidium (Schimp.) Mitt 221
molluscum (Hedw.) Mitt 222
Cynodontium virens var. Wahlenbergii Schimp 86
Dichelyma Myr 177
capillaceum (Dill.) Schimp 177
DiCRANACEAE 77
Dicranella Schimp 84
heteromalla (Dill., L.) Schimp 85
var. orthocarpa (Hedw.) E.G.B 85
Dicranum Hedw 87
Bergeri Bland 92
Bonjeani De Not 92
Drummondii C. Miill 94
flagellare Hedw 89
f ulvum Hook 89
fuscescens Turn 93
longifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw 90
majus Smith 94
montanum Hedw 90
Schradcri Web. & Mohr 92
scoparium (L.) Hedw 91
undulatum Ehrh 93
viride (Sull. & Lesq.) Lindb 90
Didymodon Hedw 104
rubellus (HofTm.) Bryol. Eur 104
Diphyscium Joliosum Mohr 150
28o INDEX
Distichium Bryol. Eur 83
capillaceum (Sw.) Bryol. Eur 83
Ditrichum Timm 78
pallidum (Schrad.) Hamp 80
tortile (Schrad.) Lindb 79
vaginans (Sull.) Hamp 79
Drepanocladus (C. Miill.) Roth 213
fluitans (Dill.) Warnst < 215
uncinatus (Hedw.) Warnst 214
Drummondia Hook 116
claveliata Hook 116
Encalypta Schreb 108
ciliata (Hedw.) Hoffm 109
contorta (Wulf .) Lindb 109
streptocarpa Hedw 109
Entodon C. Mull 189
cladorrhizans (Hedw.) C. Miill 190
seductrix (Hedw.) C. Miill 190
Entodontaceae 189
Eurhynchium Bryol. Eur 252
rusciforme (Neck.) Milde 252
serrulatum (Hedw.) Kindb 256
strigosum (Hoffm.) Bryol. Eur 253
var. robustum Roell 253
Fissidens Hedw 97
adiantoides 97
FiSSIDENTACEAE 97
FONTINALACEAE 175
Fontinalis (Dill.) L 175
antipyretica var. gigantea Sull 176
novae-angliae 175
Funaria Schreb 123
hygrometrica (L.) Sibth 123
FUNARIACEAE 122
Georgia Ehrh 154
pellucida (L.) Rabenh 154
Georgiaceae 154
INDEX 281
Grimmia Ehrh i
apocarpa (L.) Hedw i
var. rivularis (Brid.) Web. & Mohr i
conferta F'unck i
Grimmiaceae I
Gymnostomum curvirostre Hedw i
Hedwigia Ehrh 172
albicans (Web.) Lindb 172
ciliata Ehrh 172
Hedwigiaceae 172
Helodium (Sull.) Warnst 205
lanatum (Stroem) Broth 206
paludosum (Sull.) Aust 206
Hepaticae 8
Hepatics 6
leafy 8
Homaha (Brid.) Bryol. Eur 186
Jamesii Schimp 187
trichomanoides (Schreb.) Bryol. Eur 187
Homomallium (Schimp.) Loesk 210
adnatum (Hedw.) Broth 210
Hygroamblystegium Loesk 211
fluviatile (Sw.) Loesk 212
irriguum (Wils.) Loesk 212
Hygrohypnum Lindb 218
dilatatum (Wils.) Loesk 220
eugyrium Bryol. Eur 220
var. Mackayi (Schimp.) Broth 220
ochraceum (Turn.) Broth 220
palustre (Huds.) Loesk 221
Hylocomium Br>^ol. Eur 225
brevirostre (Ehrh.) Bryol. Eur 228
proliferum (L.) Lindb 226
splendens (Hedw.) Bryol. Eur 226
squarrosum (L.) Bryol. Eur 224
triquetrum (L.) Br>'ol. Eur 224
umbratum (Ehrh.) Bryol. Eur 227
Hymenostylium Brid loi
curvirostre (Ehrh.) Lindb loi
282 INDEX
Hypnaceae 208
Hypnum Dill 229
aduncum L 214
Boscii Schwaegr 250
hrevlrostre Ehrh 228
cordifolium Hedw 216
crista-castrensis L 231
cupressiforme L 235
curvifolium Hedw 234
cuspidatum L 218
dilatatum Wils 220
eugyrium var. Mackayi Schimp 220
fluitans L 215
giganteum Schimp 217
Haldanianum Grev 237
imponens Hedw 233
micans Sw 239
molluscum Hedw 222
ochraceum Turn 220
palustre Huds 221
Patientiae. Lindb 236
reptile Michx 233
recurvans Beauv 235
Schreberi Willd 229
serrulatum Hedw 256
umhratum Ehrh 227
uncinatum Hedw 214
Illustrations, Scale of x
Isopterygium Mitt 238
elegans (Hook.) Lindb 239
micans (Sw.) Broth 239
Miillerianum (Schimp.) Lindb 239
turfaceum Lindb 239
Jungermanniales 6
Leptobryum (Bryol. Eur.) Wils 126
pyriforme (L.) Wils 126
Leskea Hedw 201
polycarpa 201
INDEX 283
Leskeaceae 195
Leucobryaceae 95
Leucobryum Hamp 95
glaucum (L.) Schimp 95
Leucodon Schwacgr 182
brachypus Brid 183
julaceus (L.) Sull 183
sciuroides (L.) Schwaegr 184
Leucodontaceae 182
Lichens 4
Liverworts 6
leafy 6
Lycopodiaceae 5
Lycopodium lucidulum 5
obscurum 5
Marchantia 7
Marchantiales 7
Mniaceae 134
Mnium (Dill.) L 134
cinclidioides (Blytt) Hiiben 137
cuspidatum (L.) Leyss 135
hornum L 136
punctatum (L.) Hedw 137
var. elatum Schimp 137
sylvaticum Lindb 135
Moss, Beard 5
Florida 6
Flowering 6
Irish 5
Long 6
Red-tipped S
Reindeer 5
Scale 7
Stag's-horn 6
Tree 179
White 95
Mosses, Acrocarpous 77
Club 5
Hair-cap 162
284 INDEX
Mosses, Land 5
Peat 73
Pleurocarpous 172
Scale 6
Sea 5
True 77
Musci 73
Myurella Bryol. Eur 196
careyana Sull 197
gracilis (Weinm.) Lindb 197
julacea (Vill.) Bryol. Eur 197
Neckera Hedw 185
pennata (L.) Hedw 186
Neckeraceae 185
Oncophorus Brid 86
Wahlenbergii Brid 86
Orthotrichaceae 116
Orthotrichum Hedw 117
anomalum Hedw 118
Braunii Bryol. Eur 119
sordidum 118
strangulatum Sull 119
Oxyrhynchium (Bryol. Eur.) Warnst 251
rusciforme (Neck.) Warnst 252
Philonotis Brid 145
fontana (L.) Brid 145
Physcomitrium (Brid.) Fiirnr 122
pyriforme 122
turbinatum (Michx.) Brid 122
Plagiopus Brid 143
Oederi (Gunn.) Limpr 143
Plagiothecium Bryol. Eur 240
denticulatum (L.) Bryol. Eur 241
elegans (Hook.) Sull 239
Muhlenbeckii Bryol. Eur 242
Miillerianum Schimp 239
striatellum (Brid.) Lindb 242
INDEX 285
Plagiothecium sylvaticum (Huds.) Bryol. Eur 241
iurjaccum Lindb 239
Platygyrium Bryol. Eur 191
rcpens (Brid.) Bryol. Eur 191
Plcurocarpi 172
Pogonatum Palis 160
alpinurn var. arcticum (S\v.) Brid 167
brachyphyllum (Michx.) Palis 16 r
brevicaule Brid 161
capillare (Rich.) Brid 161
te7iue (Menz.) E.G.B 161
urnigerum (L.) Palis 161
Pohlia Hedw 127
nutans (Schreb.) Lindb 127
POLYTRICIIACEAE 1 56
Polytrichum Dill 162
alpinurn var. arcticum (Sw.) Wahl 167
commune L 168
var. perigonialc (Michx.) Br>'ol. Eur 168
gracile Dicks 170
juniperinum Willd 165
ohioense Ren . & Card 167
piliferum Schreb 164
strictum Banks 166
Porotrichiim alleghanicnse (C. Miill.) Grout 187
Pottia Ehrh 106
truncatula (L.) Lindb 106
POTTIACEAE lOO
Ptilium (Suil.) De Not 230
crista-castrensis (L.) De Not 230
Pylaisia Bruch & Schimp 192
Schimperi Card 193
Pyxidanthera 6
Rhacomitrium Brid 113
aciculare (L.) Brid 113
Rhodobryum (Schimp.) Hamp 131
ontariense (Kindb.) Paris 131
roscum (Wcis) Limpr 131
Rhynchostegium Bryol. Eur 256
286 INDEX
Rhynchostegium rusciforme Bryol. Eur 252
serrulatum (Hedw.) Jaeg 256
Rhytidiadelphus (Lindb.) Warnst 223
squarrosus (L.) Warnst 224
triquetms (L.) Warnst 224
Saelania Lindb 80
glaucescens (Hedw.) Broth 81
caesia Lindb 81
Scale of illustrations x
Sematophyllum recurvans (Michx.) E.G.B 235
Sphagnaceae 73
Sphagnales 73
Sphagnum (Dill.) Ehrh 73
cymbifolium 73
Stereodon (Brid.) Mitt 231
arcuatus Lindb 236
cupressiformis (L.) Brid 235
var. filiformis Brid 235
curvifolius (Hedw.) Brid 234
Haldanianus (Grev.) Lindb 237
imponens (Hedw.) Brid 233
Lindhergii (Mitt.) Warnst 236
recurvans (Schwaegr.) Broth 235
reptilis (Rich.) Mitt 233
Swartzia montana Lindb 83
Tetraphis pellucida Hedw 154
Thamnium Bryol. Eur 187
alleghaniense (C. Miill.) Bryol. Eur 187
Thelia Sull 195
asprella Sull 196
hirteUa (Hedw.) Sull • 196
Lescurii Sull 196
Thuidium Bryol. Eur 202
abietinum (Dill., L.) Bryol. Eur 203
Blandowii (Web. & Mohr.) Bryol. Eur 206
delicatulum (Dill., L.) Mitt 203
paludosum (Sull.) Rau. & Herv 206
recognitum (L., Hedw.) Lindb 203
INDEX 287
Tillandsia 6
Timmia Hedw 148
cucullata Michx 148
mcgapolitana Hcdw 148
TiMMiACEAE 148
Tortella (C. Miill.) Limpr 102
cacspitosa (Schwacgr.) Limpr 103
tortuosa (L.) Limpr 103
Tortula Hcdw 107
muralis (L.) Hedw 108
papillosa Wils 108
Trematodon Michx 77
ambiguus (Hedw.) Hornsch 77
Ulota IMohr 119
americana (Palis.) Limpr 120
crispa Brid 1 20
Hutchinsiac (Sm.) Hammar 120
Ludwigii Brid 1 20
phyllantha Brid 1 20
ulophylla (Ehrh.) Broth 120
Usnea barbata 4
Webera Ehrh 1 50
nutans Hedw 127
sessilis (Schmid.) Lindb 150
Weberaceae 1 50
Weisia Hedw 1 00
viridula (L.) Hedw 100
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