FUNARIACEAE 123 



Pkyscomitrium turhinatum is conspicuous, especially 

 in the spring, on account of the light color of the 

 leaves and fruit. The capsule is the distinguishing char- 

 acter. It is contracted below the mouth and again at 

 the base making it urn-shaped. In some specimens this 

 is much more clearly seen than in others. There will be 

 no diflkulty in distinguishing Physcomitrium when 

 fruited from other mosses except Pottia. For compari- 

 son with that genus see p. 106. If the plants are not 

 fruited, they are not likely to be collected. The light 

 color of the leaves is not a sufficient characteristic to go 

 by, as the very young growth of any moss may be light 

 green. For instance, the early sterile growth of Cathari- 

 naea (p. 158), when the stems are short and the leaves 

 broader and lighter green than when well developed, 

 might be mistaken for Physcomitrium, but Catharinaea 

 occurs much more frequently and grows more exten- 

 sively, and the leaves have a broader midrib, which 

 can usually be seen when the plants are held to the 

 light. 



25. FUNARIA Schreb. (Fu-na-ri-a) 



A cosmopolitan genus of a great many species. Name 

 derived from the Latin for " cord," referring to the 

 twisted seta. 



Funaria hygrometrica (L.) Sibth. is very common 

 and fruits abundantly. 



