90 A MANUAL OF MOSSES 



1. Astomum crispum [Hedwig] Hampe. 

 (Systegium crispum Schimper ; Weisia crispa Mitten). 



Densely gregarious to sub-cespitose, pale to dark green : 

 stem 5-12 mm. high, usually branched above, erect; leaves 

 numerous, close, when dry crispate, the stem-leaves small, 

 lance-linear, the comal and perichaetial much larger, elongate- 

 linear from a narrowly oblong, concave, whitish base, usually 

 narrowly involute above, the apex acute ; costa strong, acutely 

 and shortly excurrent-mucronate, sometimes upturned so as 

 to make the leaf somewhat cucullate ; basal leaf-cells laxly 

 long-rectangular, hyaline, upper leaf-cells sub-quadrate, dense- 

 ly chlorophyllose, papillose: seta erect, shorter than the 

 capsule; capsule immersed, globose, small, brown- 

 ish; lid distinct but not separating from the 

 urn of its own accord, minute, conic-apiculate ; 

 exothecial cells laxly hexagonal to oblong-hexagonal, one to 

 three rows of cells being somewhat smaller at the junction of 

 the lid; calyptra cucullate; spores papillose, .014-.018 mm., 

 mature in spring: autoicous. 



In old sandy or clayey fields, principally in non-calcareous 

 districts, temperate Europe, Japan, Algeria, and, in North 

 America, from Saskatchewan to Pennsylvania, Kansas, and 

 Texas. Not yet reported from our region but to be expected. 



2. Astomum sullivantii Bryologia Europsea. 



(Systegium sullivantii Jaeger). 



Densely cespitose, green : stems simple or sparsely 

 branched above, erect ; leaves close, when dry spirally twisted 

 and crispate; capsule brownish to bright orange-colored, sub- 

 globose, immersed; spores .021-.027 mm., mature from 

 autumn to early spring. 



On the ground in old fields and in moist grassy spots, 

 "especially in new clover fields," in temperate North America. 



Beaver : James. (Porter's Catalogue). 



Indiana : James. (Porter's Catalogue). 



3. Astomum nitidulum Bryologia Europsea. 



(Systegium nitidulum Jaeger). 



Smaller than A. suUirantii, the stem-leaves narrowly linear- 

 lanceolate ; the perichaetial leaves broadly lance-ovate, long-acumi- 

 nate, over twice the length of the stem-leaves : seta longer, about 

 two-thirds as long as the capsule ; capsule ovoid, castaneous. lus- 

 trous ; lid obliquely rostellate ; calyptra smaller than in A. sulli- 

 rautii. (As has been suggested by Grout, this appears to be 

 merely a variety of A. sullivantii.) 



On the ground in old fields and grassy places, in Pennsyl- 

 vania and Ohio. Rare. 



Indiana : Derry, James. (Porter's Catalogue). 



