Mosses and Lichens 



the same plant (paroicous) or in separate buds on the same plant. 

 Veil (calyptra), Resembling a bishop's mitre, thin, lobed, or 

 torn at the base. 



Spore-case. Not immersed in the leaves at the 

 base, egg-shaped with a neck (collum) shorter or equal 

 to the spore-sac, long-beaked. 



Pedicel. One-tenth to two-tenths of an inch long. 

 Lid (operculum). None. 

 Teeth (peristome). None. 

 Spores. Mature in the fall. 

 Distribution. Found in the central part of North America. 



Bruchia ftex- 



uoso. 

 Sporophyte. 



THE PRIMITIVE MOSSES 



Genus ARCHIDIUM, Brid. 



The species of the Genus Archidium are minute terrestrial 

 plants having stems with branches short and erect or long and 

 prostrate. 



The leaves are narrowly or broadly lance- 

 shaped ; with a vein ; the cells are loose and contain 

 but little leaf-green. 



The spore-cases are terminal, sessile and 

 globular, opening irregularly and 

 transversely for the exit of the 

 spores, which are few, smooth 

 and larger than those of any other 

 moss. 



There are thirty-five species in 

 all, five of them in North America. 

 Their structure is more simple 

 than that of most mosses; and 

 for this reason Bridel gave it the generic name Archidium from 

 the Greek apx^ or l> a beginning. 

 Archidium Ohiense, Schimp. 

 Habit and habitat. Moist meadows and waste fields. 

 Name. The specific name Obiense refers to the fact that this 

 moss was first found in Ohio. 



Plant (gametopbyte} . Minute; stems slender. 

 Leaves. Narrowly lance-shaped, spreading; apex awl-like, 

 finely toothed; vein extending into the apex of the leaf-blade. 



140 



Archidium Ohi- 

 ense. Vertical 

 section through 

 sporophyte to 

 showlarge spores, 

 foot immersed in 

 the upper part 

 (vaginule) of the 

 spore-pedicel. 



Archidium Ohiense. 

 Exit of spores. 



