MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



147 



DICHELYMA. 



D. CAPiLLACEUM (Dill.) B. & S. is usually found attached 

 to the stems of bushes that grow in swamps and on the edges 

 of ponds. The stems of Cephalanthus are favorite attachments. 

 The plants are not so long as in Fontinalis, and the branches 

 are usually curved at the ends as shown in figure 4 of the 



plate. The leaves are very long 

 and narrow and the costa stout 

 and excurrent. The capsules are 

 much like those in Fontinalis. 

 The spores mature in late summer. 



Figure 84. Branch of Po 

 tinalis dalecarlica. 



FONTINALIS. The Water 

 Mosses. 



In the genus Fontinalis all 

 the species are aquatic and sub- 

 merged. Some grow attached to 

 stones and sticks in swift brooks. 

 Others are found attached to 

 objects in ponds and sluggish 

 streams. Rarely, if ever, are they 

 found in stagnant water. The 

 Water Mosses are so distinct 

 from all others in their long 

 slender floating stems andbranches 

 that no one can fail to recognize 

 them. The species are, however, 

 very difficult to determine, with 

 two or three exceptions. 



Fontinalis gigantea SuUiv., 

 the Giant Water Moss, is common 

 in cool brooks and is most dis- 

 tinct by reason of its large turgid 

 three-cornered stems and branches. 

 The branch shown in the plate is 

 a very short one ; the branches are 



Plate XXXVIII. Dichelyma capillaceum (From Bry. Eur.), r-4. Plants 

 natural size. 



