LESKEACEAE 201 



56. LESKEA Hcdw. (Les-ke-a) 



A widely distributed genus of several species, not 

 easily distinguished. Named after Leske, a professor 

 at Leipsic. 



Plants forming rather thin mats, usually at the base of 

 trees, less frequently on stones and decaying wood ; dark 

 or yellowish-green; not common; some- 

 times fruiting abundantly. 



Stems prostrate, irregularly branched ; 

 branches erect or ascending; usually less 

 than }4. inch long. 



Leaves straight, very small, sometimes " ^^ °^'^'^^ ^ 

 large enough to be seen when moist and spreading; dark 

 or yellowish-green. 



Seta about >2 inch long; yellowish or reddish. 



Capsule erect, cylindrical; yellowish; maturing in early 

 summer or autumn. 



Operculum cone-shaped. 



Range, Canada and the United States; Europe; Asia. 



The favorite habitat of Lcskea, like that of Thelia 

 (p. 195) and Anomodon, the preceding genus, is at the 

 base of trees. 



Leskea forms thinner, flatter mats than Anomodon, 

 the growth is finer, the leaves smaller, and the plants 

 often bear fruit quite abundantly. Leskea also grows 

 in thinner mats than Thdia. It is a browner or darker 

 green, the branches are longer and more slender, the 

 plants are not coated with brown radicles on the under 

 side, and the peristome does not show white as in 



