MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 2Q 



THE MNIUMS 



THE Mniums are closely related to the Bryums, but in habit 

 and general appearance are different enough so that they 

 can usually be distinguished without difficulty. As a rule, 

 the plants are larger and broader. The Giant Bryum, however, 

 looks very much like the Mniums. 



There are numerous species of Mnium, many of them com- 

 mon. We have about six that are common enough and suffi- 

 ciently well characterized to warrant description here. 



One of the first signs of vegetable life in early spring is the 

 array of upright green sporophytes of the Woodsy Mnium, which 

 is common in lawns and parks in moist shady corners, and is 

 to be found abundantly in moist woods everywhere, growing, 

 sometimes on the soil, sometimes on rotten wood. The capsules 

 mature in May, but can be found in recognizable condition until 

 August. 



The Toothed Mnium closely resembles the Woodsy Mnium 

 in many respects, but is easily distinguished by the leaves. The 

 leaves of the Toothed Mnium are serrate with very long and 

 slender teeth, which extend to the base of the leaf. In the 

 Woodsy Mnium the leaves are serrate with shorter teeth that do 

 not extend much below the middle of the leaf. Until one has 

 had some practice, it may be necessary to mount the leaves in 

 order to see the serration plainly. No reliance should be placed 

 on the shape of the leaves in distinguishing these two species, as 

 the leaves vary greatly in shape in different plants and on differ- 

 ent parts of the same plant. 



Drummond's Mnium is a very large single-toothed species, 

 not uncommon on moist rocky banks of brooks. It nearly always 

 produces several capsules from each fruiting plant. 



The-Red mouthed Mnium is a fourth species somewhat re- 

 sembling the Woodsy Mnium and growing in similar situations, 

 but less common and usually growing in woods. The peristome 

 is a very bright red, and after the operculum has fallen it makes 

 a very conspicuous red band about the mouth of the capsule. If 

 the leaves of the Red-mouthed Mnium be carefully studied, the 

 teeth on the margins will be seen to be in pairs. To see this 

 with a hand-lens requires considerable care, as the teeth are 

 small and hide one another. The capsules mature at least two 

 weeks later than those of the Woodsy Mnium. 



