The Tortula Mosses 



peristome is sometimes absent; when present, it consists of thirty- 

 two thread-like teeth remotely cross-barred and covered with tiny 

 protuberances. The teeth are either straight, incurved, or spirally 

 twisted, all united at the base into a distinct tubular more or less 

 elongated basal membrane. The spores are small and nearly 

 smooth. 



The generic name Tortula, the diminutive of the Latin tortus, 

 twisted, refers to the teeth. 

 Tortula princeps, De Not. 



Habit and habitat. In tall, loose, red-brown tufts on rocks, 

 walls, and sometimes trunks of trees. A fine moss, easily known 

 by its interrupted stems and dense, 

 broad, rust-coloured leaves. 



Name. The specific name prin- 

 ceps, the Latin for "chief" refers to 

 the striking character of the moss. 

 It is described under the name of 

 Barbula Muelleri, Bruch and 

 Schimp., in Lesquereux & James 

 Manual. 



Plant (gametophyte) . Stems re- 

 peatedly interupted by new growths 

 with root-like fibres at their bases. 

 Leaves. Soft, dense, broad and 

 rust-coloured in interrupted rosettes 

 along the stem and at the summits 

 of the branches ; apex obtuse ; margin 

 rolled back to below the middle; 

 vein red, extending beyond the apex 

 in a slender transparent, faintly 

 spiny hair-point; cells at the base 

 loose, rectangular and transparent. 

 Habit of flowering. Male and 

 female organs in the same flower (synoicous). 

 Veil (calyptra). Split on the side. 

 Spore case. Cylindrical, brown, arched like a bow. 

 Pedicel Red. 



Lid (operculum). Long and conical. 



Teeth (peristome}. The lower half tubular and pale, the 

 teeth red. 



177 



T, prince ps. 

 Spore-case 

 with veiL 



T. princeps. 



T. princeps. 



Tip of 

 spore-case, 



