XIOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



123. 



strongly wrinkled or undulate crosswise, with a single costa 

 running 2-3 the length of the leaf. Small depauperate specimens 

 may not be recognized at first sight, but the peculiarities of the 

 leaves are well marked. It never fruits in this part of the world. 

 Its favorite habitat is on bluffs. 



Hylocomium triquetrum (L.) B. & S., the Shaggy Moss, 

 is common on shaded banks that are neither extremely wet nor 

 very dry. Its branches usually come out irregularly as illus- 

 trated in the figure and its leaves stand straight out from the 



stem, giving it its- 

 characteristic ragged 

 appearance. S o m e- 

 times in moist moun- 

 tain woods it branches 

 regularly and grows 

 to a height, or rather 

 length, of five or six 

 inches, so that one is- 

 with difficulty p e r- 

 stiaded that it is the 

 familiar moss uf every- 

 day acqu a i n t a n c e. 

 The stems are very 

 stout and stiff but 

 elastic, or " springy."^ 

 Because of this elas- 

 ticity this moss is 

 sometimes used for 

 packing china and 

 other brittle objects. 

 Although the Shag- 

 gy Moss is common, 

 its capsules are rather 

 infrequent. They ma- 

 ture in winter or early spring ; when dry they are often regularly 

 furrowed with deep wide furrows. The leaves have two slender 

 parallel nerves reaching about 54 the length of the leaf. 



Hypnum chrysophyllum Brid., the Spreading-leaved 

 Hypnum, is a moss common on soil, storfts, bases of trees, etc., in 

 shaded swampy places, and on wet cliffs. It is highly variable, 

 but always has the leaves spreading at nearly right angles whether 



Figure 58. Hylocomium triquetrum 

 stem leaf X 4. 



