Mosses and Lichens 



Georgia 



fellucida. 

 Spore-case 

 with veil. 



FOUR-TOOTHED MOSSES 



Genus TJETRADONTIUM, Schwaegr. 



This genus was established by Schwaegrichen, but 

 differs so little from the genus Georgia that many think 

 it should not be considered a separate genus. 

 There are two species in all, one in North 

 America. 



It differs from Georgia in having both 

 teeth and stems shorter, in having the 

 spore-case oval instead of cylindrical and 

 in having the veil cover the spore-case. 

 The name is derived from the Greek 



Tetradontium TCTpa, four, and 68a>V, 3. tOOth. 



repandum Tetradontium repan- 



Spore-case 



with veil. dum, Schwaegr. 



Habit and habitat. 



small, growing 

 shaded rocks. 



in loose 



Very 

 clusters on 



Name. The specific name repan- 

 dum, the Latin for "curved," refers to the 

 margin of the mouth of the spore-case. 



Plant (gametophyte) . Stems very 

 short, bearing little gemmae at the base 

 of thread-like leafy branches. 



Leaves. Ovate-lance-shaped, rigid, 

 red-brown, closely overlapping like 

 shingles. 



Leaves at the base of the pedicel (peri- 

 chcetial leaves). Ovate and oblong, very 

 concave, vein obscure; scales about the 

 male flowers (perigonium) smaller, 

 thinner, vein absent. 



Habit of flowering. Male and female 

 flowers on the same plant (monoicous). with male branch 



Veil(calybird). Conical, resembling ntheri htattl > e 



x * * & D3.sc unci tnrcso- 



a bishop's mitre and covering the spore- like branch on 

 case to the base. 

 Spore-case. Thick, oval, the margin of the orifice somewhat 

 notched between the teeth. 



T. rcpandum. 

 Female branch 



male plant with 

 thread- like 

 branch at the 

 base. 



