22 



MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



THE CORD MOSS 



THE Cord Moss \Funhrza hygromttrica (L.) Sibth.] is so 

 called because of the twisted seta, which is very hygro- 

 scopic and untwists when moist. Its Latin name, Funaria, 

 is derived from fum's, a rope. This twisting of the seta is not 



peculiar to this 

 moss, however, 

 but is a very 

 common thing 

 in nearly all 

 moss families. 



The Cord 

 Moss is to be 

 found every- 

 where, being 

 especially 

 abundant i n 

 waste places 

 and on soil re- 

 cently burned 

 over. I have 

 seen it com- 

 pletely cover 

 the soil i n a n 

 old strawberry 

 bed. When 

 mature it is 

 easily recog- 

 nized by the 

 peculiar look- 

 ing curved capsule with its mouth on one side. When immature 

 it is much harder to recognize, because the capsule is erect and 

 nearly symmetric and the calyptra has not assumed the charac- 

 teristic position indicated in the figures. 



This moss has perhaps been given a more careful study than 

 any other species; it is described in nearly every text book on 

 botany. There are several other species in the United States, 

 but this is the only one commonly found. The capsules mature 

 early in June. 



Fig. 17. Funaria hygrometrica X 2, with capsules 

 of various ages and degrees of magnification. 



