Family ENTODONTACEAE 



A FAMILY of several genera, found in most temperate 

 and warmer regions. 



50. ENTODON C. Mull. (Ent-o-don) 



A very large genus, two species of which are occa- 

 sional in most localities. Name derived from the 

 Greek for ''within" and ''tooth," referring to the 

 insertion of the peristome. 



Plants growing in low, close mats on decaying wood, roots 

 of trees, rocks, or ground; glossy; light or yellow-green, some- 

 times golden, rarely darker; not rare; fruit occasional. 



Stems prostrate, irregularly branched, branches usually 

 %-%v[iQh. long; cylindrical in E. seductrix; more or less 

 flattened in E. cladorrhizans. 



Leaves, straight, usually large enough to be seen when 

 moist; in E. cladorrhizans flat and spreading; in E. sedtic- 

 trix erect and closely folded; glossy; usually light or yellow- 

 ish-green. 



Seta >^-i inch long; reddish-brown. 



Capsule erect, long-cylindrical; reddish-brown; mature in 

 autumn. 



Operculum short-beaked. 



a. Branches usually flattened, leaves flattened and 



spreading ....£. cladorrhizans. 



b. Branches cylindrical, leaves erect and closely folded 



....£. seductrix. 



