142 



MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



Easily recognized by its perfectly round stems and smaller, 

 scarcely plicate, abruptly acuminate leaves. 



L. SCIUROIDES (L.) Schwaegr. Forming tufts or mats 

 of brownish green, lighter green at the tips of the secondary 

 stems, which are terete and julaceous, more or less drooping and 

 curved upwards at the ends, rarely 2 inches long, usually not over 

 i inch, frequently producing such a great number of nagelliform 

 small-leaved branches as to cause the plant to appear deformed. 

 Leaves of branches slightly secund, ovate-lanceolate, some- 

 what decurrent, very long and slenderly acuminate, entire, pli- 

 cate with several folds. Seta about inch long; capsule ex- 

 serted; teeth entire or split toward the base. Very rarely fruit- 

 ing. 



FIGURE 72. a, Plant of Leucodon brachypus XL b, Leaf 

 of Leucodon brachypus X 20. c, Sporophyte of Leucodon 

 brachypus X 10. d, Leaf of Leucodon julaceus X 20. e, 

 Sporophyte of Leucodon julaceus X 10. f, Capsule of Leucodon 

 julaceus X 10. 



This is distinguished from L. julaceus by the differ- 

 ent shape of its leaves. It fruits so rarely that it has to be 

 differentiated from L. brachypus, which it closely resembles, by 



