256 HOW TO KNOW THE MOSSES 



80. RHYNCHOSTEGIUM Bryol. Eur. 

 (Rhyn-cho-ste-gi-um) 



A genus containing a great many species, one of 

 which occurs in our range. Name derived from the 

 Greek for " beak " and " roofed chamber," referring to 

 the long beak of the operculum. 



Plants growing in loose, flattened mats on the ground, on 

 logs, and on roots of trees in the woods; bright or yellowish- 

 green ; quite common ; 

 fruit frequent. 



Stems prostrate, ir- 

 regularly branched; 

 branches flattened; 

 broad. 

 Leaves large, straight y 



Rhynchoslegium serriuatum , ^ , . _ , 



Wide-Spreading both 



Portion of branch enlarged. . 



when moist and when 

 dry; apparently in two opposite rows; usually yellowish- 

 green; slightly glossy. 



Seta about i inch long; reddish-brown. 



Capsule long-cylindrical, inclined, curved; mature in 

 autumn. 



Operculum long-beaked. 



Range, Newfoundland to Wisconsin, south to the Gulf of 

 Mexico; Alaska; British Columbia. 



Rhynchostegium serrulatum (Hedw.) Jaeg. {Eu- 

 rhynchium serrulatum (Hedw.) Kindb., Hypnum ser- 

 rulatum Hedw.) has ih^ flattened appearance of Plagio- 

 thecium (p. 240), Isopterygium (p. 238), and Br achy- 



