MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 

 KEY. 



Capsule 4:1; leaves not at all wavy on the margins when 



moist, Crisped Catharinea, 



{Catharinea cr v 'spa James). 



Capsule 6-8 : 1 ; leaf margins wavy when moist, ... 2. 



Midrib constituting A - T V of leaf, Wavy Catharinea. . . 

 . [C unduldta (L.) Web. & Mohr.] 



Midrib constituting J, - } of leaf, Narrow-leaved Catha- 

 rinea, (C angustata Brid. ) . 



T 



FISSIDENS 



HE genus Fissidens is most distinct and easily recognized, 

 but to recognize the species with certainty requires a com- 

 pound microscope and considerable experience in the study 



of the genus. 



The leaves of Fis- 

 sidens are in two 

 ranks on opposite 

 sides of the stem, 

 and as both ranks 

 lie in the same plane, 

 it gives the plants a 

 peculiar appearance 

 not possessed by any 

 other moss and re- 

 minding one strong- 

 ly of the Hepatics. 

 The leaves of Fissi- 

 dens have a very 

 peculiar structure, 

 the exact meaning 

 of which is still a 

 puzzle. If a small 

 plant be mounted in 

 water between two 

 glass slips and ex- 

 amined with the 

 lens, the basal por- 

 tion of the upper 

 margin will be seen 

 Fig..;. 1. Fruiting Fissiden s cristatu s (WilsO to be considerably 



2. Capsule with calyptra removed. 3. Leaf and 



portion of stem to which it is attached. 4. darker than the rest 



Leaves, showing how they overlap each other , , . ,. . 



and sheath the stem. ot tne ieai » as 1S 



