The Sub-genus Amblystegium 



A. varium. Leaves. 



The leaves spread in all directions. They are narrowly lance- 

 shaped to broadly egg-shaped, concave, or flat, never eared at 

 the base and never with the cells 

 narrowly linear. The base may 

 or may not grow downward on the 

 stem. Vein absent or prominent, 

 margins entire or serrate. 



The spore-cases are oval to cylin- 

 drical, symmetrical or unsymmetrical, 

 erect to horizontal and usually con- 

 stricted under the mouth when dry. 

 The base tapers into a large or small 

 collum. The colour varies from 

 uniformly purple or brown through 

 two shades to pale throughout. The 

 peristome is normal, with usually 2 to 

 4 cilia, although in a few cases they 

 are absent or rudimentary. The 

 generic name from the Greek 



/i/3Xu?, blunt, and arejof, a cover, refers to the character of the 

 lid, which is convex or conic, usually bluntly pointed, rarely 

 sharply pointed. The annulus consists of from i to 3 rows of 

 cells. The calyptra is small and falls early. Sixteen species are 

 known in North America, ten of them being found in both 



America and Europe. 



Amblystegium varium, (Hedw.) 



Lindb. See Plate XXVII. 



Habit and habitat. This species is 



found growing in extensive loose or 



crowded tufts, bright green, dull dark- 

 , green or pale yellow-green, on ground, 

 ? decayed wood, bases of trees and 



rocks in moist, wet or shady places. 

 Name. The specific name, varium, 



refers to the variable character of the 



plant. 



Plant (gametophyte) . The plants are of small or medium size, 

 the stems obscurely angled, prostrate and branched, the branches 

 slender, irregular, erect or ascending, never plume-like, straight 

 or with tips incurved. 



293 



Base. Apex. 



A. varium. Leaf-cells. 



