CHAPTER II 



HOW TO KNOW THE LICHENS AND MOSSES --WHAT 

 THEY ARE DOING ON ROCKS AND TREES 



Under the name of moss, in the popular mind, are included 

 all small flowerless plants which grow in cushion-like tufts on 

 stone or wood or bark. The name " moss " is made to do duty 

 for the lichens, the mosses and their near relatives, the Hepatics, 

 plants which differ widely in structure and appearance, 

 as those will see who give more than a passing glance. 



LICHENS 



If a small plant, rootless, of almost any colour 

 except bright green, grows as a dainty mat a ihal- 

 lus flat (Colour Plate V) or ruffled (Plate II) on 

 its support, one may suspect that it is a lichen. 

 If in addition to this habit of growth, it bears its 

 fruits in flattened coloured disks (Colour Plate 

 VII) one may know it is a lichen, also if the 

 plants branch like corals (Colour Plate XI), or 

 hang in fringes (Colour Plate I) from the trees, 

 and are without leaves, one may suspect 

 that they are lichens and may be pretty 

 sure of it if the fruits are little coloured 

 disks or cushions on the tips of the 

 branches. The "Florida Moss," which 

 grows in long gray fringes from the 

 trees in the South, is neither a lichen 

 nor a moss, but is a true flowering 

 plant with stamens and pistils, the 

 old seed capsules are often 

 found still clinging to this 

 moss-appearing plant, 

 in the season when it 



Aulacomnium Heterostichum, 

 Moss. 



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