Mosses and Lichens 



Genus BUXBAUMIA, Hall. 



The species of the Genus Buxbaumia are tiny stemless 

 plants growing scattered over decayed wood or on the ground. 

 The leaves are extremely minute, some broadly 

 oval or oblong terminating in broad, spread- 

 ing cilia. 



The spore-cases are the conspicuous part 

 of the plant, they are egg-shaped with a con- 

 ical cap, depressed above, swollen on the 

 lower side, and are borne obliquely on a thick 

 pedicel covered with wart-like protuberances. 

 The outer skin at the margin of the mouth is 

 split into irregular fragments which roll back 

 from the thickened rim which is formed of 

 several layers of cells (the pseudo-annulus). The teeth are in 

 several rows, the outer short and rudimentary; the inner mem- 

 brane (endostome) is conical tubular, of 32 fan-like plaits, slight- 

 ly twisted to the right. 



There are five species known at present, three of them in 

 North America. 



Albrecht von Haller, the founder of the genus, named it 

 Buxbaumia in honour of its discoverer, J. C. Buxbaum. 



B. aphylla. Young 

 plant with spore-case 

 with a veil and sur- 

 rounded by leaves. 



B. aphylla. Sporophyte 

 with depressed spore-case ; and 

 hairy vaginule at the base of a 

 rough pedicel. 



B. aphylla. Inner membrane. 



