90 



MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



F. FLAViCANS Mx. is found from New York southwards. 

 We are indebted to Mr. R. S. Williams for the fol- 

 lowing notes which are taken from the " Bryologist " of 

 January, 1901 : " The species grows in separate tufts as well as 

 mingled with hygrometrica, from which it may be distinguished 

 by the average smaller size, erect pedicel, more pointed leaves, 

 and mouth less oblique, as well as less furrowed capsule, which 

 matures a week or two earlier than in hygrometrica, in this 

 region at least, where the best specimens were collected from 

 the 1st to the loth of June. When well ripened, the capsules are 

 very dark reddish, with a low convex lid, not apiculate." Mr. 

 Williams also states that the mouth of the capsule is constantly 

 smaller in flavicans. 



PHYSCOMITRIUM. The Urn Mosses. 



P. TURBiNATUM (Mx.) Brid., the Common Urn Moss, is com- 

 mon on earth in conservatories, by roadsides and in old fields. 

 It is abundant in moist places by paths in the parks of Greater 

 New York. It must be collected in May to get the calyptra in 



position. Although a 

 very near relative of the 

 Cord Moss, it entirely 

 lacks the peristome 

 which is so conspicuous 

 in that species. 



A mtich rarer moss, 

 Pottia, may be found 

 and confused with the 

 Urn Moss, which it 

 closely resembles. Pottia, 

 however, is smaller, be- 

 ing about one-half as 

 large, matures its cap- 

 sules in winter, and un- 

 der a lens will be seen 

 to have the midrib ex- 

 current instead of end- 

 ing below the apex of 

 the leaf, as in the Urn Moss. 



There are several species of Urn Mosses, but this is much 

 the most common and most likely to be met with. 



Figure 3^- Physcomitriwm turbinaium 

 X 4; capsule X 15. 



