NECKERACEAE 187 



Seta less than i inch long; reddish. 

 Capsule cylindrical, erect; reddish-brown; mature in 

 autumn. 



Operculum long-bcakcd. 



Range, Newfoundland to Pennsylvania, Washington. 



Homalia Jamesii Schimp. is our American species, 

 closely resembling the European //. irichomanoides 

 (Schreb.) Br>^ol. Eur. The single layer of leaves on 

 opposite sides of the stems and branches gives Homalia 

 the general appearance of Fissidens (p. 97), and some 

 of the hepatics (p. 7), but the leaves of Homalia are 

 much lighter colored, and they do not become crisped in 

 drying. The stems are more branched than in Fissi- 

 dens. Other mosses with a flattened appearance, com- 

 monly growing on rocks, have fine, pointed leaves, 

 usually in more than a single layer. The wavy surface 

 of the leaves of Neckera, the preceding genus, the 

 larger plants growing in larger patches, distinguish it 

 from Homalia. 



49. THAMNIUM Bryol. Eur. (Tham-ni-um) 



A genus of many species, one of which occurs in the 

 Middle and Eastern States. Name derived from the 

 Greek for '* bush " or '' tree," referring to the tree-like 

 branching. 



Thamnium alleghaniense (C. iMiill.) Br}'ol. Eur. 

 {Porotrichum alleghaniense (C. IMiill.) Grout) grows 

 on damp rocks, shaded ravines, and ledges, usually 



