40 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES 



Stems with leaves always some shade of green, never gray. 

 Leaves arranged in two opposite rows, rounded, lobed, or 

 cleft, often curved under at tips, usually dark green; 

 midrib absent; under or back side of stem toward 

 which leaves curl sometimes bearing what appear to 

 be rootlets .... Hepatics {Jungermanniales or Scale 

 Mosses), p. 6. 

 Leaves usually arranged equally around stem (in only 

 two rows in Fissidens, p. 97), sometimes flattened on 

 two opposite sides of stem, never lobed or cleft and 

 when rounded not curved under at tips, varying from 

 light to dark green; midrib present or absent, rarely 

 seen without a lens. 



Plants usually growing in bogs or very wet places; 

 stems erect, much branched (branches at tip of 

 stem forming a thick head) ; leaves usually light, 

 green or tinged with red .... Sphagnum or Peat 

 Moss, p. 73. 

 Plants growing on rocks in mountainous regions; 

 stems erect, short and inconspicuous; leaves very 

 dark, almost black .... Andre aea, p. 75. 

 Plants growing in all sorts of places, on wet or dry 

 ground, rocks, trees, decaying wood, and in 

 streams or ponds. 



Stems generally erect, and often not branched; 

 or if slightly branched by forking, usually with 

 not more than two or three branches; fruit 

 at apex of stem or of well developed branch, 

 sometimes appearing lateral by new growth 

 of plant .... Acrocarpous Mosses, p. 77. 

 Stems prostrate or ascending, rarely erect, 

 usually much branched (with more than two 

 or three branches) ; fruit on side of stem or 

 on a very short lateral branch .... Pleuro- 

 CARPOus Mosses, p. 172. 



