MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 25 



P. BEACHYPHYLLUM (Mx.) Beauv. is found on sandy and 

 loamy soil, in the New Jersey pine barrens and southwards. It 

 is very much like P. brevicaule, but is easily distinguished from 

 it by its entire leaves. It need not be looked for in the northern 

 part of our range. 



P. ALPiNUM (L.) Roehl. is common in woods and shady places, 

 especially in elevated regions ; thus it is at once recognized by its 

 larger size and longer curved capsule with long-beaked oper- 

 culum. The leaves, also, are much longer and more slender. 

 Without the capsules this species is most likely to be mistaken 

 for some of the Hair-caps. Its capsules mature in June or early 

 July. 



P. uenigErum (L.) Beauv., the Urn-like Pogonatum, grows 

 in woods and shady places, preferring elevated regions. It is 

 not uncommon and in some localities may be even more com- 

 mon than either of the species mentioned above. I, however, 

 have met with it much less frequently. It is at once distingushed 

 from P. alpinum by it^ straight erect capsule, which is scarcely 

 to be distinguished from that of P. brevicaule. It is usually 

 smaller than the P- alpinum and much larger than the P. brev- 

 icaule, but is so variable that this is not to be depended upon. 

 Its leaves, however, will serve to distinguish it readily from P. 

 brevicaule, when its size is deceptive. The capsules mature in 

 autumn. 



P. CAPILLAEB (Mx.), Brid. will be found on most of our 

 higher mountain-tops. It has broad leaves like those of P. 

 urnigerum, but they are much more strongly curved when dry. 

 It is also much smaller, with simple unbranched stems arid 

 shorter capsules. 



CATHARINEA. 



The Catharineas are very closely related to the Hair-caps, 

 but have the calyptra nearly bald. It is merely roughened with 

 a few vestigial hairs. For this reason it has been called 

 Atrichum, meaning without hairs. Polytrichum means many 

 hairs. The leaves are not sheathing and but slightly 

 embrace the stem. Ungulate or ovate-oblong, crisped when dry; 

 margins bordered, serrate, teeth often in pairs. Capsule cylindric, 

 often somewhat curved ; operculum long rostrate ; peristome of 

 thirty-two teeth. 



