196 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES 



Peristome white. 



Range, Eastern and Middle United States. 



Thelia hirtella (Hedw.) SuU. and Thelia asprella 

 Sull. are most frequently found in New England at the 

 base of trees. These two species often fruit abundantly. 

 They cannot be easily distinguished without the use 

 of a compound microscope. 



Thelia Lescurii Sull. is found on ledges, flat rocks, 

 and dry, sandy soil. It occurs from Connecticut 

 southward and westward. The branches are stouter 

 than in the two preceding species and are arranged 

 in clusters. The fruit is rare. 



The distinguishing characteristics of Thelia are the 

 numerous short cylindrical branches, with the stems so 

 interwoven that the plants form a close mat, the brown 

 radicles on the under side of the mat, and the long, 

 slender, erect capsule with white peristome. The color is 

 also characteristic, as it is a grayer green or more bluish- 

 green than most mosses. The stems running horizon- 

 tally are especially noticeable in young, thin mats. 

 See Leskea (p. 2oi\ 



54. MYURELLA Bryol. Eur. (My-u-rel-la) 



A genus of only a few species, two of which occur in 

 our range. Name derived from the Latin for '' mouse- 

 tail," referring to the slender, cylindrical branches. 



