Mosses and Lichens 



Toot> 



CATHARINE MOSSES 



Genus CATHARINEA, Ehrh. 



The members of this genus will always attract attention from 

 their habit of growing in extensive patches in partly shaded 

 places. The leafy part of the plant is erect and large enough to 



form soft and luxuriantly 

 green areas very conspicuous 

 when beset with slender ped- 

 icels bearing either pale im- 

 mature spore-cases or shining 

 rich-coloured mature ones. 

 The genus was founded by 

 Friedrich Ehrhart in honour of 

 Catharine II, Empress of Rus- 

 sia. The leaves are strap- 



P. commune. Teeth sixty-four, summit 



of spore-case. (See page 239.) Shaped Or OVal-Oblong, HCh in 



leaf-green and wavy when fresh, and curled 



or twisted in various directions when dry; 



the apex is acute or obtuse and the base is 



not sheathing; the vein bears a few lamellae 



toward the apex. 



The veils are split up one side and are 



sometimes rough. 



The spore-cases are oval cylindrical, nodding, or arched, with 



long-beaked lids and are borne on long exserted pedicels. 



The little column (cohimella) within the spore-case is termin- 

 ated by a disk-like mem- 

 brane (epiphragm). 



The peristome is 

 simple, of 32 tongue- 

 like teeth united at the 

 base; the tips are united 

 by their inner faces to 

 processes on the edge of 

 the epiphragm so that 

 theepiphragm hangs 

 down from them by 

 the length of the pro- 

 cesses. 



Pogonatum. Teeth 

 thirty-two. (Seep. 239.) 



C. -undulata. Apex of leaf 

 with lamellae. 



With lid. With veil. 

 C. angustata. Spore- 



cases. 



24O 



