MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



WEBERAf 



MUCH more common than Buxbaumia and scarcely less in- 

 teresting, is the odd little Webera shown in figure 2. The 

 capsules have much the same one-sided tilt, but are less 

 irregular in outline and are partially incased in the fringed peri- 



ch;ctial leaves. The capsule is 

 almost sessile, the seta being so 

 short as to be scarcely apparent. 

 The leaves are persistent and the 

 non-fruiting plants are frequently 

 so abundant as to make a broad 

 mat of dark green, dotted here 

 and there with the lighter colored 

 capsules. In looking for Webera 

 search for a moist bank where 

 there is little or no tall vegetation, 

 and which at a little distance ap- 

 pears dark green mottled with 

 white. (The white is a lichen that 

 is nearly always found with the 

 Webera). Webera is so common 

 and so easily recognized that every lover of mosses should be 

 able to collect it in his home locality. The capsules persist for a 

 long time, but July is a good time to collect this species. 



t\Ve have but one species of Webera, IV. sdssilis (Schmid.) Lindb.— 

 Diphyscium folwsum of many authors. 



Fig. 2. a 

 b, Leaves 

 leaves X 4 



Webera sessilis X 4. 

 X 4- v, Perichaetial 

 d and e, Peristome 



and operculum X 10. 



*The species fierured is Buxbaumia aphylla L. The only other Eastern 

 species is /■>'. mdusiata Brid. The two are very much alike, but are sepa- 

 rated by Mrs. Britton, thus : 



On earth; capsule red-brown, shining B aphylla. 



On wood; capsule green or yellow, dull .... B.inausiata 



