PLEUROCARPI 



The pleurocarpous mosses are prostrate or ascend- 

 ing, rarely erect, and usually much branched (with 

 more than two or three branches) . The fruit is borne on 

 the side of the stem or on a very short lateral branch. 



Family HEDWIGIACEAE 



A small family widely distributed; only one genus 

 common in our range. 



42. HEDWIGIA Ehrh. (Hed-wig-i-a) 



A cosmopolitan genus containing only a few species, 

 only one of which occurs in our range. Named after 

 Hedwig, Professor of Botany at Leipzig in the eight- 

 eenth century, called the " Father of Bryology." 



Hedwigia albicans (Web.) Lindb. (H. ciliata Ehrh.) 

 is found on rocks, boulders, and stone walls, but never 

 on limestone; common in most localities; fruit occa- 

 sional. 



Plants growing in patches of varying size; glaucous or 

 grayish-green, brownish or blackish below; especially 

 hoary when dry, due to the colorless tips of the leaves. 



Stems prostrate, sometimes ascending and curved at tips, 

 varying in length; slightly forked with shorter lateral 

 branches; when dry, stiff and easily broken. 



