144 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



moist woods, rarely on ledges or cliffs in similar situations. 

 Neckera rarely grows near the base of a tree, nearly always 

 growing well above that portion of the trunk occupied by Ano- 

 modon or Leskea, and extending upwards to a height of from 

 twenty-five to fifty feet, according to the size of the trees and 

 the density of the wood. Neckera is clearly characterized by its 

 flattened branches, having wavy leaves, and its immersed capsules 

 pendent from the lower side of the branches. The branches 

 usually extend out from the tree trunk at an angle of from 45 to 

 75 degrees. The capsules are produced on the older portions of 

 the plant, often in great numbers. They mature in summer. 



HOMALIA. 



HOMAUA TRICHOMANOIDES (Schreb.) B. & S. var. JAMESII 

 (Scimp.) Holz. Homalia is a very pretty moss frequent on 

 moist rocks in the mountains. I do not find it fruiting freely, 

 but it is easily recognized by its flattened branches which look like 

 a Fissidens or an hepatic. A close examination readily shows 

 that it is neither, as the leaves are not double at base, and the 

 midrib is well developed. A favorite place of Homalia is the 

 underside of overhanging rocks at the base of ledges in cool 

 mosit ravines, where it often grows in single strands, the pendent 

 and flattened branches producing a very pretty effect. 



FAMILY 21. FONTINALACEAE* Water Moss Family, 



LTHOUGH mosses belonging to several other families 

 are aquatic, the mosses of this family are most 

 emphatically entitled to the name of Water Mosses. 

 By some the scientific name is translated more exactly, 

 and they are called the Fountain Mosses. The mem- 

 bers of the family are either submerged all the time or attached 

 to objects that are submerged at some seasons of the year. They 

 are very dark and usually slender. The midrib is present in 

 Dichelyma, but lacking in Fontinalis. The seta is usually short 

 and wrapped up in the perich?etial leaves. The peristome is 

 double, the inner forming a regular net through the meshes of 

 which the spores gradually escape. 



PLATE XXXVII. Homalia trihomano'.des (From Bry. Eur.). i. Plants nat- 

 ural size. 



