Cord Mosses 



The differences resulting from changes in environment were 

 shown in an interesting manner by plants examined from pots 

 which were under steam-pipes in comparative darkness in the 

 New York Botanical gardens. In September the plants were 

 small with pedicels only about half an inch long. In January the 

 pots were removed to benches with bottom heat and more light 

 and then plants were developed with pedicels twice as long, paler 

 of colour, and with spore-cases more top-shaped and smaller. 



Name. The specific name, turbinatum, the Latin for "pointed 

 like a top," refers to the top-shaped spore-case. 



Plants (gametoplyte). Light-green, stems short and simple, or 

 taller and branching, T \ to i inch long. 



Leaves. Broadly-lance-shaped or egg-shaped with the broad 

 end tapering toward the stem (obovate) ; margin serrate above the 

 middle; vein vanishing below the apex or extending beyond to 

 form a tapering point. Cells, the lower oblong, the upper rhom- 

 boidal or hexagonal, the marginal longer and narrower, often 

 yellow and inflated at their upper ends. 



Veil (calyptra). Conical, oblique, and cleft unequally 5- to 

 8-lobed and beaked, covering about half the spore-case. 



Spore-case. Erect, green and round pear-shaped when fresh; 

 becoming dark-brown, and urn-shaped, often contracted below 

 the rim, when dry and empty. 



Pedicel (seta). Erect or twisted, sometimes arched, ^ to ^ 

 of an inch long. 



Lid (operculum). Convex or tipped with a small nipple 

 (mammillaie) occasionally with an acute point (apiculate). 



Teeth (peristome).None] the rim is bordered by 8 to 12 rows 

 of transversely, elongated cells, the uppermost very narrow and 

 orange-coloured. 



Annulus. Persistent, of transparent, bladder-like cells 

 incurved after the falling of the lid. 



Spores. Rough, maturing in spring. 



Distribution. Ontario to Florida, west to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. 



CORD MOSSES 

 Genus FUNARIA, Schreb. 



The species of the Genus Funaria are short, simple, or 

 branching, growing in clusters on the ground. The leaves are 



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