MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 141 



habit. It has previously been called a variety of the American 

 Tree Moss (C. Americanum var. Kindbergii R. & C.), or Kind- 

 berg's Tree Moss. It is named after Dr. N. Conrad Kindberg, of 

 Linkoeping, Sweden, who has determined Prof. Macoun's Can- 

 adian Mosses. This form is very abundant in the swamps of 

 Long Island. It looks like a very coarse Hypnum with large 

 erect symmetric capsules. It fruits freely, the capsules maturing 

 in early autumn. 



LEUCODON. 



The various species of Leucodon grow almost exclusively 

 on the bark of deciduous trees ; very rarely are any found on dry 

 rocks. The Leucodons are seemingly able to. do without moisture 

 for considerable periods, as they rarely or never grow at the 

 base of trees, but at a height of five or six feet and above. The 

 main stems are long, slender, branching, almost filiform, with 

 minute leaves and abundant rhizoids. The branches are numer- 

 ous, suberect, horizontal, or hanging downward and curved out- 

 ward, usually julaceous and nearly simple. The leaves are con- 

 cave, with margins recurved below, ecostate, entire, closely 

 appressed when dry, spreading when moist. The calyptra is 

 cucullate, often attached below the capsule by the clasping base. 

 The capsules are exserted or emergent, erect and symmetrical; 

 peristome apparently simple, teeth 16, bifid or occasionally trifid ; 

 inner peristome reduced to a narrow inconspicuous membrane. 



We have three species, only one of which, L. sciuroides, is 

 European. There is considerable difference of opinion as to what 

 other genera of mosses should be grouped with Leucodon. More 

 careful study of its development and structure is needed to de- 

 termine whether its natural relationship is with the Necker- 

 aceae or the Hypnaceae. 



L. JULACEUS (Hedw.) Sulliv., the Southern Leuco- 

 don. This species is typically southern, extending north to 

 Southern New England and corresponding latitudes of the East- 

 ern United States. The secondary stems are typically shorter 

 than in the other two species, the branches very round and 

 julaceous when dry; the leaves closely appressed and imbricate, 

 not at all secund, ovate-elliptical, abruptly short acuminate, very 

 concave and scarcely plicate. Capsule long exserted as in L. 

 sciuroides; teeth bifid at apex. 



