WATER MOSSES 



shaded swamps, and along shores of lakes and edges of 

 streams. 



Some of the hypnums grow on stones in the beds of 

 brooks, where they are under water except when it is 

 very low. All but the youngest part of the plant is very 

 dark, almost black. 



None of the hj^pnums that we have described, 

 except the hooked mosses, has a midrib. A magnify- 

 ing glass will show you that these have. 



The members of this family are so much alike that 

 it is not easy to tell them apart. If j^ou learn to know 

 the ones we have been talking about it is enough for the 

 present. 



WATER MOSSES 



" Mark ye the ferns that clothe the dripping rocks. 

 The crosier-headed ferns most fresh and rare; 

 And velvet mosses, fostered by the flow 

 Gain a luxuriance all unknown elsewhere." 



In mountain regions there are many small streams 

 which wind their way down to the valleys. Sometimes 

 they make sudden leaps over the rocks, as if in a hurry 

 to get to the end of their journey. 



The picture shows you one of these mountain 

 streams just at the place where it is taking a long 



109 



