Mosses and Lichens 



variable; with loose transparent cells. The spore-cases are pear- 

 shaped, erect and symmetrical, or oblique and curved on long 

 pedicels, straight or arched above. The pedicels twist one about 

 another when dry, a habit suggesting the generic name Funaria, 

 from the Latin funis, a cord. The lids are plano-convex. Some- 

 times there is a compound annulus which rolls back as the lid falls. 

 The teeth are sometimes rudimentary but more generally they 

 are double, the outer sixteen obliquely 

 curving to the right and connected at 

 the apex by a small mesh-like disk. 

 The outer surface of the teeth is pale 

 and granulose and the inner face is 

 marked with prominent purple cross- 

 bars. The inner membrane is divided 

 into sixteen more or less rudimentary 

 segments opposite to the outer teeth 

 and adhering at the base. They are 

 yellow and lance-shaped with longi- 

 tudinal median line. 



The spore-sac is much smaller than 

 the spore-case and is attached to it by 

 loosely entangled filaments. The 

 spores are often very large. 



Seventy-nine species are known in 

 all, fourteen being found in North 

 America. 



The Pale Funaria, Funaria flari- 

 cans, Michx. See Plate XVI. 



This species is found in the Middle 

 and Southern States. It differs from 

 Funaria hygrometrica in being paler in 

 colour. The leaves are more abruptly 

 narrowed into a long flexuous point, 

 the mouth of the spore-case is more enlarged and less oblique. 



The Water-measuring Cord-moss, Funaria hygrometrica, 

 Sibth. See Colour Plates III and XVI. 



Habit and habitat. Like Cinderella, the Cord-moss is to be 

 found among the ashes. One may look for it where picnic fires 

 have been, or in wood-lots which have been swept by flames. 

 One may also expect to find it in vacant lots used as dump 



210 



F. hygrometrica. Portion of 

 peristome with two inner teeth 

 and with two outer teeth attached 

 to a terminal disk. 



