38 HANDBOOK OF MOSSES. 



side, crisped when dry, leaf-cells minute and opaque ; the 

 capsule is terminal, borne on a short, straight foot-stalk, 

 has a long straight beak, and a fringeof sixteen rudimentary 

 teeth. 



Leskea polycarpa I have found most frequently on the 

 roots of willows, especially near water, but it also occurs in 

 drier habitats. It forms matted yellowish-green tufts ; the 

 stem is creeping, somewhat divided with pinnate branches, 

 leaves spreading, somewhat oval in shape, slightly roughened 

 or papillose on the back, leaf-cells roundish. The fruit- 

 stalk is lateral, the capsules erect and the lid conical, the 

 fringe consisting of an outer and an inner row of sixteen 

 teeth. 



Woods will yield many of our most beautiful mosses,, the 

 bordenTwliere the shade is not too great being usually the 

 most prolific spots. Many of the species already mentioned 

 will be found, "but the most characteristic are such mosses as 

 Mnium undulatum, Polytrichumformosum, Hypnum tamaris- 

 cinum, H. triquetrum, Dicranum scoparium, Mnium hornum, 

 etc. 



Mnium undulatum is a very noble-looking moss, not un- 

 frequent in shady woods and on shady banks in a marly 

 soil (fig. 2i, i). It grows in large green patches, and has 

 a very tree-like habit ; the leaves are tongue-shaped, obtuse, 

 with a slightly thickened margin, which is toothed with 

 distinct simple teeth ; towards the top of the stem the leaves 

 form a rosette, and from this arise arched or pendulous 

 whip-shaped branches. The leaves are undulated when 

 moist, crisped when dry. The fruit, which is rare, is ter- 

 minal, the fruit-stalks are long, and the capsules pendulous. 



Mnium hornum, a denizen of like places, is far more fre- 

 quent (fig. 21, 2). This grows in dense green tufts, the 

 stems being matted together with reddish rootlets. The 

 leaves are lance-shaped, the margin thickened and bordered 

 by a double row of teeth ; fruit-stalk terminal and arched at 

 the top like a swan's neck ; capsule oblong, slightly droop- 

 ing ; lid convex, with a small point ; in both these mosses 

 the fringe is double, and forms a beautiful object for the 

 microscope. Fruiting in May or June. . 



