MOSSES WITH A IIANH-LKN 



ANOMODON 



THE bases of trees in cool moist woods frequently wear an 

 apron of dark green, extending from the roots to three or 

 four feet above the ground and often entirely encircling the 

 trunk. This "apron " is usually composed of one or more species 



of Anomodon, often mixed with 

 an Hepatic (Porella). The 

 mats of Anomodon are quite 

 thick and are composed of a 

 network of nearly leafless stems, 

 growing close to the bark and 

 sending out the crowded 

 branches that compose the 

 " pile " of the mat. TheAnomo- 

 dons are nearly all rather large 

 coarse mosses with the sporo- 

 phy te arising from the branches. 

 The capsules are conic-cylin- 

 drical, straight, and erect. 



Some species of Leskeagrow 

 in similar situations and have a 

 very similar sporophyte, but 

 the Leskeas are much smaller, 

 do not produce such dense 

 mats, and the spofophyte arises 

 from the stem. 



There are three species of 

 Anomodon growing on trees as 

 described above: The Com- 

 mon Anomodon (A. apiculatus B. & S. ), the Blunt-leaved 

 Anomodon [ A. minor(P. Beauv.) Fuern.=-. / obtusifolius B. & S. | , 

 and the Slender Anomodon [A. attenuatus (Schreb.) Hueben. ]. 

 The Common Anomodon and the Blunt-leaved Anomodon re- 

 semble each other so closely that it is not easy to distinguish 

 them without a compound microscope. Both have simple blunt 

 branches and grow almost exclusively on trees. The Slender 

 Anomodon grows freely on rocks as well as on trees, its branches 

 are slender and tapering, and freely branched. It almost never 

 fruits. 



There are several other rock-growing species too difficult for 

 treatment here. 



Fig. 25. a, . Xnomodon apiculatus 

 X 2. b, Capsules X .10. c. Leaf 

 X 10. d, Branch of .-/. attcnuatits y 

 moist, X 2. 



