158 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES 



h. I 



Catharinaea angustata Brid. is one of our common- 

 est mosses. It often grows quite extensively on lawns 

 or banks, in a low, close mat, sometimes with a reddish 

 tinge. It is smaller than C. undulata and 

 usually grows on drier, more sandy soil, 

 although the two may be found not far 

 apart. The stems are about %-i inch long. 

 The leaves are generally }i-% inch long, 

 sometimes forming a rosette at tip of stem, 

 not at all or only slightly wavy; usually dull 

 green, sometimes with a reddish tinge. 



Catharinaea 07 



angustata The midrib is wide, occupying ^-yi width 

 Leaf enlarged, ^^f i^^i. The capsulc is usually shortcr and 

 narrower than in C. undulata, more nearly erect, and 

 less curved. 



In their distinct typical forms C. angustata and C. 

 undulata are easily distinguished, but puzzling varie- 

 ties sometimes occur; for instance, one may find a tall 

 growth of C. angustata with leaves slightly wavy and 

 midrib narrow for the species, or a short growth of C. 

 undulata with leaves not so wavy as usual and midrib 

 broad for the species. In such cases it is safest for the 

 beginner not to try to determine species. 



Range, throughout temperate North America; Europe; 

 Asia. 



