Mosses and Lichens 



The spore-case is erect, oval-oblong, symmetrical or rarely 

 incurved on an erect exserted pedicel. There is but one row of 

 sixteen teeth, often imperfect or wanting, granular and trans- 

 versely barred. 



The generic name Weisia was given in honour of Frederigo 

 Wilhelm Weiss, a German professor of botany. 

 About twenty-four species are known in all. 



Weisia viridula, Brid. 

 Habit and habitat. Common, 

 forming more or less compact cush- 

 ions on the ground in meadows, 

 broken fields, borders of ditches 

 and grassy roadsides, where it is 

 conspicuous for its bright green 

 colour. Very variable. 



Name. The specific name viri- 

 dula is the Latin diminutive of 

 viridis, green. 



Plants (gametophyte). Stems 

 about \ of an inch long,- simple or 

 branched. 



Lid in veil. 

 Weisia viridula. 



Spore-case 

 with veil. 



Leaves. The lower minute ; the upper much larger, narrowly 

 lance-shaped and curled when dry; base enlarged, pale, concave; 

 vein (costd) stout and extending beyond the apex into a short 

 sharp point ; margin inrolled in the upper part to form a tube, 

 flat toward the base ; cells opaque, dot-like, with tiny pro- 

 jecting points. 



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