MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



45 



DICRANUM. 



The Dicranums have leaves that are narrowly to broadly lance- 

 olate with lower cells rectangular, angular conspicuously dilated. 

 The capsules are on straight erect setae, erect or inclined ; teeth 

 red, cleft half-way into two or occasionally three segments. (See 

 Plate II). 



The Dicranums of our region are one of the most common 

 and beautiful elements in woodland scenery. They are, for the 

 most part, bright yellow-green and grow in wide thick tufts or 



mats. The leaves are fre- 

 quently more or less se- 

 cund, as though the wind 

 had blown therri all in one 

 direction. They are com- 

 mon on the ground, 

 stones, rotten wood, and 

 sometimes they occur on 

 the base and trunks of 

 trees. Most Dicranums 

 mature their spores in 

 autumn, but more obser- 

 vations are needed to give 

 exact dates for each 

 species. 



There are eighteen or 

 Cap- twenty species of Dicra- 

 b . num within our range, but 

 only seven are common 

 enough for treatment here. These seven are best treated in three 

 groups. The first group contains two species with single curved 

 capsules, the Broom Moss and the Fuscous Dicranum. 



The second group contains two species with curved clustered 

 capsules and undulate leaves, the Wavy Dicranum and Drum- 

 rnond's Dicranum. 



In the third group are three species with single erect cap- 

 sules, the Flagellate Dicranum, the Fulvous Dicranum, and the 

 Long-leaved Dicranum. 



D. SCOPARIUM (L.) Hedw., the Broom Moss. The plants 

 are large, sometimes four inches in height, and grow in rather 

 dense tufts on decayed wood, stones or soil. The lower part of 



FIGURE 20. 



a. Dicranum scoparium X i. d. 

 sule X 5. b. D. fuscescens X 

 Capsule and calyptra X 5- 



