MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS III 



our range. It grows almost exclusively on the bark of stumps and 

 the bases of trees. It forms thin closely adherent mats, easily 

 recognized by their whitish-green color, erect symmetric capsules 

 with whitish peristome, julaceous branches, and concave sub- 

 orbicular leaves. The capsules mature in autumn. 



THELIA ASPREU.A (Schimp.) Sulliv. has a range and habitat 

 very similar to that of T. hirtella, but is even lighter in color; 

 when fresh, light glaucous-green. T. Lescurii Sulliv. is very 

 similar to the above named species, but grows in rather dry 

 soil. It is confined to the more southern coast regions (northern 

 limit Connecticut). It rarely produces capsules, while the other 

 species fruit freely. 



THUIDIUM. The Fern Mosses. 



The Fern Mosses have been noted by every lover of out-of- 

 door life because of their delicate and beautiful fern-like 

 form. The branches are given off very regularly like 

 the pinnse of a fern, and the branches themselves often give 

 off branchlets as regularly as the pinna of a fern is divided into 

 pinnules. 



T. SCITUM (Beauv.) Aust, the Smaller Fern Moss, is the 

 one most likely to be met with, especially in the northern por- 

 tion of our range. The capsules, besides being much smaller than 

 in the Common Fern Moss are only slightly cernuous and are 

 nearly symmetric. The capsules mature in autumn. 



T. ABIETINUM (L.) B. & S., Wiry Fern Moss, is another 

 simply pinnate species that is common. This moss is most fre- 

 quently found in dry sterile places on the ground among the 

 grass, and on ledges. It varies considerably in appearance ac- 

 cording to habitat and its immediate condition as to moisture. 

 Usually it is very evenly and regularly pinnate. Though fre- 

 quent, it is very rarely found ifruiting in our latitude. Mr. R. S. 

 Williams, however, found it fruiting freely in Alaska. Mr. 

 Williams also reports several other similar cases, one of the 

 most conspicuous being Hypnum rugosum L. 



T. DELICATULUM (L.) Mitt., the Common Fern Moss, grows 

 in damp shady places over stones and earth, rotten logs and the 

 like. It is very regularly twice or even thrice pinnate. It grows 

 abundantly in suitable situations throughout our range, but pro- 

 duces capsules rather sparingly. These mature in early autumn 



