MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



117 



light yellow-green. Its capsules are strongly curved and cer- 

 nuous ; they mature in autumn. 



H. IMPONENS Hedw., the Pinnate Hypnum, is a much more 

 common moss in the lowlands and grows almost exclusively on 

 rotten wood in moist shady places. It somewhat resembles the 

 Plume Moss, but is prostrate, forming dense* closely cohering 

 mats. It is also darker green; the capsules are nearly erect and 

 symmetric, and the pinnate branching stops short of the apex of 

 the shoots, as is shown in the figure. A careful examination will 

 show that there is a difference in the curvature of the leaves ; in 

 the Pinnate Hypnum the leaves curve towards the substratum at 

 right angles to the plane of the stem, while in the Plume Moss 

 they curve towards the branch next below on the stem. The 

 capsules of the Pinnate Hypnum are produced much the more 

 freely; they mature in winter, but persist in good condition for a 

 long time. 



HYPNUM CURVIFOUUM Hedw. is a much rarer moss that 

 somewhat resembles H. imponens when sterile. It is more con- 

 fined to the mountains, is larger, lighter colored, and has curved 

 cernuous capsules that are very strongly furrowed when dry. 

 The leaves when dry are so regularly arranged as to give a 

 characteristic appearance like a carefully dressed braid of hair. 



H. PATIENTIAE Lindb. has furrowed capsules almost like those 

 of the preceding and its general appearance is so similar that it 



FIGURE 54. Hypnum curvifolium X 2; tips of branches X 45 and 

 capsules X 4- 



