818 MOSS HABITATS. 



MOSS HABITATS. 



BY JAMES E. BAGNALL. 



(Continued from page 272.) 

 A moss-grown tree is always an attractive object to me, and many a 

 pleasant hour has been spent looking over these mossy invaders in search 

 of some rare or local species. The trees most prolific in moss tenants 

 in Warwickshire, (better known to me than any other county,) are the 

 ash, elm, lime, Ontario poplar, sycamore, and apple. The oak is 

 often moss-gi'own, but not to the extent of the above-mentioned, nor are 

 its inhabitants so tridy tree-loving species. On the beech and the coniferas 

 I rarely find mosses. In other climates these also have their special 

 tenants. The mosses which I should designate tree-loving mosses are 

 Buch as the Orthotrichums, Crypluea, Leucodon sciuroides, Zijgodoii, Weissia 

 cirrhata, Leskea polycarpa, &c. 



The Orthotrichums are vei-y distinct looking mosses, occurring in 

 larger or smaller tufts. The fruit-stalks are very short and usually hidden 

 by the surrounding leaves. The capsules with one exception are striated 

 or streaked, and always erect, the calyptra bell-shaped, longitudinally 

 plaited, and more or less covered with erect hairs, the leaves in most 

 cases erect when dry, and more or less covered with minute papillae, and 

 the leaf margin in most cases turned over towards the upper surface or 

 involute, leaf cells roundish. If the above characters are borne in mind 

 they will be gi'eat helps. 



Ortliotrichum affine will be found frequently on the ash, ebn, and 

 poplar in large, loose, dark green tufts, a rather coarse-looking moss, 

 with a pale yellowish-green calyptra. The capsule is oblong, pale brown, 

 with a longish straight beak when ripe, but becomes whitish and some- 

 what spindle-shaped when dry. 



O. LycUii is abundant here on the elm and ash, forms large 

 yellowsh-green loose tufts, has the leaves much recurved when moist, 

 twisted when dry, the leaf margins plane, and both surfaces covered with 

 prominent papillao or minute elevations, and much clothed with browTiish 

 jointed conferva-like processes. The fruit very rare. 



0. diaphanum will be found on many habitats, trees, old palings, 

 •walls, &c. It grows in small bright-gi-een tufts, and has the leaves 

 terminated by translucent toothed whitish tips. 



0. leiocarpum is rare in the Midlands, and is readily known from the 

 other species by the capsule, whicli is quite smooth, i.e., without strias, 

 when dry. This I find on the Ontario poplar. 



The Ulotas have most of the characteristics of the Orthotrichums, 

 but have usually more hairy calyptras, and narrower leaves, much 

 crisped when dry. 



JJlota crixpa, which occurs on both elm and ash, forms little yellowish- 

 green tufts, and has the leaves much twisted when dry. From May to 

 July is the best season for all the above in perfect fruit. 



