M< ISSE 5 WITH \ IIANl'-l ENS 



45 



RAPHIDOSTEGIUM 



Till-: Common Raphidostegium [/?. recurvans (Mx.) J. & S. | 

 looks very much like one of the true Hypnums with irregu- 

 lar branching. It is a bright yellow-green and grows in 

 dense mats on rotten stumps and logs in wet shaded places. It 





Fig- 37. Raphidostlgium rectirvans X 



2 ; capsules 



is common throughout our range, but I have rarely seen it in 

 fruit in the vicinity of New York City. The chief distinction 

 from the true Hypnums lies in the very short capsules with lid 

 very long beaked. Until one becomes familiar with it, it is hard 

 to recognize unless in fruit. The capsules mature in autumn and 

 are often produced in great profusion. 



THE BEAKED MOSSES 



AS has been previously stated, the Keakcd Mosses {Eurhyn. 

 cAi'um, Rhynchosiegium, and Cirriphyllum) are very 

 closely allied to Brachythecium, differing mainly in the 



long-beaked operculum. One of these, the Beaked Water Moss, 

 has already been described on page 42. 



