Mosses and Lichens 



begun to develop, leaving the spore-case and pedicel behind 

 on the apex of the main stem. The felt of hairs on the 

 stems serves as a sponge through which water may creep to 

 the upper parts of the plants. 



" How glorious are the summer woods, 

 Where the bright Broom Fork-moss grows, 

 With their gush of love-born melody, 

 And their world of verdant boughs." 



Perforated Portion of leaf to show 

 leaf -cells. basal leaf -cells. 



D. scopariutn. 



D. undulatum. 



Whip Fork-Moss, Dicranum flagellare, Hedw. See Plate 

 XIV. 



Habit and habitat. Growing in bright green, dense tufts 

 producing fragile, small-leaved branches (flagelke) in the axils of 

 the upper leaves. Common on decayed trunks in deep woods. 



Name. The specific name flagellum, the Latin for "whip," 

 refers to the young branches, which are so small as to be easily 

 overlooked. They fall away as the plant dries. 



Plant (gametopbyte). Repeatedly branching ; stems I to 2 

 inches high ; covered with a thick felt of hairs. 



Leaves. Forming little clusters on the summits of the stems ; 

 lance-shaped, convolute ; apex toothed, turned back from the 

 stem, the upper twisted when dry ; margin below entire, 

 incurved ; vein broad, compressed, extending to the apex ; 

 cells inflated at the basal angles, yellow-brown, four-sided. The 

 leaves of the "whips" have no vein. 



Leaves at tie base of the pedicel (pericbcetial leaves). Rolled 

 about the pedicel. 



Habit of flowering. Male and female flowers on separate 

 plants (dioicous). 



154 



