Mosses and Lichens 



February and March. At this time the pedicels are often numer- 

 ous and well-grown and their wine-red colour makes the moss 

 conspicuous even while the spore-cases themselves thus early in 

 the season are but little larger in diameter than the pedicels and 



are concealed by their veils. With the 

 approach of warmer weather they mature 

 rapidly still carrying their transparent veils. 

 These are discarded before a great while 

 and then the spore-cases and their conical 

 short-beaked lids are glossy and wine-red. 

 Later the lids fall, exposing a fringe of horn- 

 like teeth about the rim. The spore- 

 cases finally become deeply furrowed, 

 inclined, and contracted below the 

 mouth and in this condition may be 

 found during most of the year. 



Name. The specific name pur- 

 pur eum is the Latin for "purple," It 

 refers to the colour of the spore-cases 

 and pedicels. 



Plant (gametophyte). 

 Slender, erect, branch- 

 ing from the base of the 

 pedicels ; stems $ to 3 

 inches long. 



Leaves. Lan ce- 

 shaped, keeled ; vein ex- 

 tending to or beyond the 

 apex ; margin somewhat 

 irregularly toothed re- 

 flexed, opaque ; surface 

 with slight protuber- 

 ances; cells distinct. 



Habit of flowering. Male and female flowers on 

 separate plants (dioicous). 



Veil (calyptrd). Smooth, transparent, split on 

 one side. 



Spore-case. Long, egg-shaped with a short neck, dark-red, 

 erect, somewhat arched ; four- or five-angled and deeply 

 furrowed when dry. 



1 68 



C. purpureum. 



C. purpureum. 



