Family MNIACEAE 



A FAMILY containing only four genera, one of which 

 is common and conspicuous. 



30. MNIUM (Dill.) L. (Mni-um) 



A genus containing many species, several of which 

 are common and easily distinguished by the broad, fiat 

 leaves. Name derived from the Greek for '* moss." 



Plants usually growing close together, sometimes singly 

 and mixed with other mosses ; found in moist places on the 

 ground, on rocks, on decaying logs, and rarely on trees; 

 light to dark green; often fruiting abundantly; some 

 species common. 



Stems erect, in sterile plants sometimes prostrate or arched; 

 varying in length from % inch in the smallest species to 

 3 inches or more in the largest species; lower part often 

 thickly covered with a felt-like coating of reddish-brown 

 radicles called tomentum. 



Leaves of most species large, flat and broad, rounded or 

 more or less elliptical; narrower in M. hornum; of a thin, 

 gauzy texture; often separated, sometimes clustered in a rosette 

 at tip of stem; usually much crisped when dry; bright to dark 

 green; midrib and sometimes a thickened border can be 

 seen in the largest leaves when moist plants are held to the 

 light. 



Seta long, generally 1-2 inches ; sometimes two or three 

 on a single plant ; yellow or reddish. 



