^8 



MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



Figure 13. a, b, and c, D^trichum pallidum, vaginalis and tortile 

 respectively, X 2. d, Capsule of D. pallidum X 20. e, Capsules of 

 D. vaginans X 10. f, Capsule of D. tortile X 20. 



soil, which as yet have not become occupied witli other vegeta- 

 tion. The young sporophytes sometimes bend over towards the 

 Hght until they are parallel with the incident solar rays, so that 

 the young green capsules with their abundant assimilative tissue 

 are equally illuminated on all sides. Such plants remind one 

 very strongly of house plants in a window. Its spores mature 

 in autumn. It is a most variable species in pretty nearly every 

 character. 



These two species often grade into each other and the Dark 

 Ditrichum is probably only a variety of the Brown. 



The Red Didymodon [D. rubellus (Hoffm.) B. & S.] some- 

 what resembles the Dark Ditrichum, but is more red than brown 

 and its leaves are two or three times as long and somewhat 

 curled when dry. It belongs in the Tortula family, although 

 evidently related to the Ditrichums. 



D. PALLIDUM (Schreb.) Hampe, the Yellow Ditrichum, is 

 more abundant southwards and in the lowlands, and is much 

 larger than the other two species. It is easily recognized by its 

 bright yellow setae and unsymmetric capsules, which mature in 

 late spring. It is most frequent in dry sandy soil. 



