FISSIDENTACEAE. 



435 



straight or curved; ealyptra eucullate; lid conic often beaked, peristome 

 red, single, of 16 bifid teeth, often thickened at joints and either papillose 

 or spiral at apex. A large family of 4 genera, containing some 570 

 species, abundant in temperate and tropical regions of which three are 

 known to occur in Bermuda. 



1. FISSIDENS Hedw. 



Characters the same as the family. [Latin, in reference to the split teeth 

 of the peristome.] Type species: Hypnmn hryoides L. 



Fruit nearly basal ; leaf-margins serrate. 

 Fruit terminal ; leaf-margins entire. 



Leaves bordered tliroughout, cells smooth. 



Leaves bordered only on duplicate blade of uppermost leaves, 

 cells papillose. 



1. Fissidens taxifdlius (L.) Hedw. 

 Yew-leaved FissiDENs. (Fig. 474.) Plants 

 seldom more than V high, usually in dense 

 cushions; stems erect, branching from the 

 base; leaves 7-10 pairs, oblong-lingulate, 

 broadly pointed, apiculate with vein per- 

 current, margins minutely serrate, one row 

 of cells often paler, but not bordered ; cells 

 intlated, mamillose ; pedicel red, from 

 lateral buds near the base of the stem ; 

 capsule at length nodding; lid beaked; 

 peristome red, teeth papillose. 



On the ground in woods near Walsingham 

 Caves, only known sterile. Not uncommon in 

 temperate regions of North America. Also 

 Europe, Asia and Africa. 



1. F. taxifoUus. 



2. F. minutulus. 



3. F. Garberi. 



2. Fissidens minutulus Sull. Small FissmENs. (Fig. 

 175.) Plants minute, about 2" high, growing usually on 

 stones in caves and gulleys. Stems erect or decumbent 

 branching by basal innovations ; leaves 5-8 pairs, increasing 

 in size upward, oblong-lanceolate, acute; vein ending in the 

 apex; margins bordered by 1-2 rows of narrower longer 

 cells generally disappearing below the minutely toothed 

 apex; cells small, smooth. Pedicel short, terminal, becoming 

 erect; capsule minute ovoid to cylindric; lid beaked; teeth 

 spirally thickened and papillose at apex. 



On rocks in shaded gulleys and caves ; also in North Amer- 

 ica and Europe. 



