HYPNACEAE 



229 



69. HYPNUM Dill. (Hyp-num) 



A genus containing but one species. Name derived 

 from the Greek for " moss " or some cr^^ptogamic 

 plant. 



Plants growing loosely together, usually on the ground in 

 woods, more rarely on earth-covered rocks and decaying 

 logs, or at the base of trees; yellowish- 

 green ; glossy ; common ; fruit occa- 

 sional. 



Stems ascending or erect, rigid; 

 usually 4-5 inches long; usually red; 

 somewhat distantly pinnatcly branched. 



Leaves straight; easily seen when 

 moist and spreading; when dry, more 

 erect and folded ; yellowish- green; 

 glossy. 



Seta 1-1 j4 inches long; reddish. 



Capsule short-cylindrical, inclined; 

 mature in spring. 



Opercuhwi cone-shaped. 



Range, Arctic America, Canada, 

 and the northern United States ; 



Europe; Asia. Ilypnum SchrebeH 



Hypnum Schreberi Willd. is one of the commonest 



mosses of dry, open ivoods. The distinguishing charac- 

 teristics are the bright-red stems, icith the pinnate 

 branches somewhat separated, and straight, glossy leaves. 

 The plants sometimes grow quite extensively. If the 

 sterile patches arc examined carefully, an occasional 



