MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 139 



B. ACUMINATUM (Hedw.) Kindb., the Erect Brachythecium, 

 is often mistaken for the Round-stemmed Entodon. It has a 

 similar habitat and very nearly the same range. It also has 

 julaceous light-green branches and erect symmetric capsules. 

 A careful examination of tlie leaves will enable one to decide 

 at once to which of the two any given specimen belongs. The 

 leaves of the Brachythecium are somewhat smaller, scarcely con- 

 cave, ovate-lanceolate and gradually acuminate, and strongly 

 costate. The Erect Brachythecium is an anomaly in the genus 

 and it and its allies should probably be placed in a separate 

 genus. It is not related to Entodon, but is treated in connection 

 with it because of its similarity in appearance. Its capsules are 

 occasionally somewhat curved. They mature in autumn. 



CLIMACIUM. The Tree Mosses. 



The Tree Mosses are perhaps the largest of the pleurocarpous 

 mosses. They are very markedly tree-like in habit and this, to- 

 gether with their size, has always brought them to the notice 

 of those accustomed to country life. They are often 

 mistaken for small forms of the Running Pine (Lyco- 

 podium). These mosses are common in moist or wet soil, 

 particularly in wooded swamps, where their favorite habitat is 

 around the bases of stumps, trees or other similar elevations. 

 They are also found in moist grassy places, but rarely fruit in the 

 latter habitat, and infrequently in the former. The erect tree- 

 like shoots grow from stolons that are partially or wholly under 

 ground. These continue to grow horizontally, producing new 

 shoots each year. 



C. DENDROIDES (L.) Web. & Mohr., the European Tree Moss, 

 and 



C. AmEricanum Brid., the American Tree Moss. The leaves 

 of the American Tree Moss are usually much more closely 

 appressed when dry and are much more conspicuously auricled; 

 its capsules are nearly twice as long as those of the European 

 Tree Moss. Both species mature their capsules in autumn. The 

 European Tree Moss is a native of America as well as of Europe, 



Plate XXXVI. a. Entodon cladorrhizans X i. b. Branch X 5- ^' 

 IvCaves X 20. d. Capsules X 10. c. £. seductrix X I. f. Branch X S. 

 g. Leaves X 20. h. Capsules X 10. i. Leaves of Brachythecium acumina- 

 tum X 20. j. Capsules of the same X 10. 



