POLYTRICHACEAE 163 



Mosses," on account of the hairy calyptra. In some 

 localities known as *' bird wheat." Name derived 

 from the Greek for '* many " and " hair," referring to 

 the hairy calyptra. 



Plants growing in dense or loose patches on moist or dry 

 soil, earth-covered rocks, old stumps, and upturned roots; 

 bright to dark green, or bluish-green; often fruiting abun- 

 dantly. 



Stetns erect, ^-10 inches long, stifT, rarely branched, 

 sometimes coated toward the base with whitish or brown 

 radicles (tomcntum). 



Leaves long and narrow, in one species ending in a long, 

 whitish, hair-like tip; wide-spreading when moist; closely 

 folded when dry; bright to dark green, or bluish-green; 

 opaque. The male flowers at the tip of the stem surrounded 

 by modified leaves called "bracts," in the form of a rosette. 

 These bracts are red or deep orange. (Plate VII, Fig. la.) 



Seta 1-4 inches long; orange or reddish; shining. 



Capside erect at first, finally inclined, horizontal or droop- 

 ing; usually 4-6 angled; cylindrical in one species; yellowish 

 or reddish-brown; mature in summer. A whitish membrane 

 across the mouth of the capsule joined at the edge to the 

 tip of the teeth as in the related genera, Catharinaea and 

 Pogonatum. (Plate VII, Fig. 4.) 



Calyptra covered with corn-colored or light golden-brown 

 hairs, wholly or partly covering the capsule. (Plate VII, 

 Fig. lb.) 



Operculnm short or long-beaked; sometimes red or 

 orange, or with a red or orange rim. 



a. Leaves glaucous or bluish-green; leaf-margins folded 

 in (more easily seen toward base of leaf). (Plate 

 VII, Fig. 2a.) 



