192 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES 



pinnately branched; branches short, usually about Vi6 inch 

 long, straight or very slightly curved. 



Leaves straight, small, usually large 

 enough to be seen when moist and 

 spreading; closely folded when dry; a 

 ./^^^^ rather dark green. 



Seta reddish; %-! inch long. 

 Piatygyriumrepens Capsule erect, Cylindrical, slender; 



Branch enlarged. feddish-brown ; mature in autumn. 

 Operculum long-beaked. 



Range, North America, west to the Rocky Mountains; 

 Europe; Asia; Africa. 



The favorite habitat of Platygyrium is on decay- 

 ing logs. When the plants are moist, they very 

 closely resemble Pylaisia, the following genus, but 

 the latter is more commonly found on trees. As a 

 rule, Platygyrium is a darker green, the branches 

 are a little longer, and straighter when dry, and 

 the lea'oes fold straight and evenly around the stems 

 and branches, instead of turning to one side, as in 

 Pylaisia. 



The erect capsule, and the stems usually less regu- 

 larly pinnate, distinguish Platygyrium from other 

 mosses with short branches found in similar habitats. 



52. PYLAISIA Bruch & Schimp. (Py-lai-si-a) 



A genus of many species growing chiefly on trees in 

 the woods or in the open. Four species are found in our 

 region, but they are distinguished from each other by 



