244 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES 



coated with dark-brown radicles and the shining, yellow- 

 ish-green leaves. Hypnum Schreheri (p. 229) also has 

 erect stems more or less pinnateiy brancned, but it 

 grows in drier locations and the stems lack the coating 

 of radicles. 



75. BRACHYTHECIUM Bryol. Eur. 

 (B ra-chy- the-ci-um) 



A genus containing a great many species, several of 

 which frequently occur in our range. Name derived 

 from the Greek for '' short " and a " little vessel/' 

 referring to the short capsule. 



Plants growing in loose or dense mats on earth, rocks, 

 trees, decaying wood, and in streams; light, dark, or yel- 

 lowish-green ; com- 

 mon; fruit frequent. 

 Stems prostrate, ir- 

 regularly branched ; 

 branches prostrate, 

 ascending or erect. 

 Leaves straight; large 



„ , , . , , enough to be seen, 



Brachytheaum sdebrosum • -n, r, 



except m B. reflexum; 



usually erect or erect-spreading ; more closely folded when 



dry; in B. Starkei, wide-spreading both when moist and 



when dry; light to dark green; sometimes slightly glossy. 



Seta usually nearly i inch long; red or reddish-brown. 



Capsule cylindrical, usually short and stout, inclined; 

 straight in B. acuminatum; reddish-brown; mature in 

 autumn or winter. 



Operculum cone-shaped. 



