Mnium Mosses 



Habit of flowering. Male flowers in separate tufts from the 

 female flowers (dioicous), arranged at the apex of the stems and 

 surrounded with radiating leaves. 



Veil (calyptra). - - Split up 

 one side. 



Spore-case. Single or in clus- 

 ters, oblong-conical, pendent, 

 and slightly incurved, solid and 

 not constricted under the mouth 

 when dry. 



Pedicel (seta). Dark purple, 

 i to \\ inches 



With lid. Without lid. 



B. roseum. 



long and solid. 



B. roseum. Portion 

 of peristome. 



high. 



B. roseum. 

 Annulus. 



Lid (operculum}. Slightly convex with a tiny nip- 

 ple in the centre, dark-purple. 



Teeth (peristome). --Very long, inner segments 

 orange-coloured, perforated along the keel. 

 Annulus. Compound, rolling back as the lid falls. 

 Spores. Mature in autumn. 



Distribution. On the Eastern and Western slopes of North 

 America, also in Europe, Asia and Africa. 



Genus MNIUM, Linn. 



The species of the Genus Mnium are handsome mosses, usu- 

 ally tall and robust, with large, translucent leaves. They may 

 be looked for about the bases of trees, on lawns, along roadsides, 

 and in damp woods. They are especially attractive on the banks 

 of mountain brooks or in the cool water of bubbling springs. 

 The beginner may recognise some members of the genus 

 by the dainty rosettes on the summits of the male plants, 



M. punctatum. Var. elaturru 



225 



M. afjine. Apex of leaf- 

 spiny border, single. 



