Mosses and Lichens 



Fissidens adiantoides, Hedw. 



Habit and habitat. In bright or dark-green mats on moist 

 shady ground, wet rocks and roots of trees. Varying according 

 to locality. 



Name. The specific name is compounded of aSiavros, maiden- 

 hair, and the suffix olB, like, referring to the habit the leaves of the 

 maidenhair have of shedding water, aSiairo?, being compounded 

 of a, without, and Statvw, wet. 



Plant (gametophyte) . Stems I to 5 inches long ; branches 

 growing from the apex or base of 

 the stem, with root-like fibres at 

 their base. 



Portion of peristome. 



Empty spore-case. 

 F. adiantoides. 



Stem with male flower- 

 cluster at the base and 

 female cluster above on 

 the right. 



Leaves. Numerous, close, overlapping like shingles, linear- 

 oblong, clasping at the base ; apex taper-pointed and tipped with 

 a short point continuous with the vein, the wing long and con- 

 tinuous ; margins transparent, irregularly and minutely serrate. 



Habit of flowering. Male and female flowers on different parts 

 of the same plants (autoicous)] male flower-clusters small, 

 axillary, bud-like. 



Veil (calyptrd). Split on one side. 



Spore-case. Oval, red-brown, much constricted under the 

 orifice when empty. 



Pedice. Red, % to I inch long, appearing as if attached to the 

 side- of the stem. 



160 



