i86 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES 



Range, Nova Scotia to Manitoba and Yukon Territory, 

 south to North Carolina; found in most temperate regions. 



Neckera pennata (L.) Hedw. is common in moun- 

 tainous or hilly woods. It grows chiefly on deciduous 

 trees, usually a few feet above the base, often extending 

 well up the trunk. It is easily recognized by the flat- 

 tened appearance of the stems and branches, the wavy 

 leaves lying flat on either side of the stems and branches 

 as though pressed, and the capsule almost hidden in the 

 surrounding leaves. See following genus. 



48. HOMALIA (Brid.) Bryol. Eur. (Ho-ma-li-a) 



A large genus, with only one species occurring in our 

 region. Name derived from the Greek for " flattened," 

 referring to the flattened appearance of the moss. 



Plants growing in flattened mats on rocks; more rarely at 

 the base of trees in mountainous or hilly districts; light 

 or yellowish- green; often glossy; fruit 

 rare. 



Stems slender, branched, branches 

 flattened or curved; stems easily seen 

 through the thin leaves. 



Eomalia Jamesii y ^ • i ^ i 1 ^ . 1 1 



Leaves straight, rounded at the ends, 



Portion of branch ^i • . •. i 



enlarged. apparently m two opposite rows, and 



in only one layer; flattened or depressed 

 on either side of the stems and branches, with leaf-edges often 

 so closely and evenly overlapping that the separate leaves 

 are hardly distinguishable; light or yellowish-green; glossy; 

 not changed when dry. 



