34 MOSSES WITH A HAND- LENS 



THE MOUNTAIN FERN MOSS* 



THE Mountain Fern Moss, although belonging to a different 

 genus from the other fern mosses, is best treated in connec- 

 tion with them because of its similarity in form. As will 

 be seen by the figures, it is much larger and has a very peculiar 



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Fig. 28. Hylocomium proliferum X 1. 

 and characteristic habit. Every year each of the main shoots of 

 the previous year develops a single fern-like shoot from the 

 middle of the upper side instead of branching out from the side 

 of the shoot as in the case of most mosses. This gives the plant 

 its peculiar habit and its botanical name of "■proliferum." It is 

 one of the too rare cases in which the botanical name is descrip- 

 tive of the plant to which it is applied. 



This moss grows abundantly in cool moist mountain woods 

 on stones and old logs. When found growing elsewhere it is so 

 stunted as to give no idea of its beauty in its favorite habitat. 

 The capsules, which mature in autumn, though not rare, are spar- 

 ingly produced in proportion to the number of plants. When a 

 patch does fruit, however, it often fruits heavily. 



* Hylocomium proliferum (L.) Lindb. =./'/. splendens of many authors. 



