i8o 



MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS 



L. HETEEOPHYLLA (Schrad.) Dum., the Variable Lophocolea, 

 is a very common plant, bright green in shaded places, yellow- 

 ish-green when exposed to the sunlight. Like Kantia and Geo- 

 calyx it is found on rotten logs and on soil, but its ovate to 

 oblong-ovate leaves are not all alike ; 

 many of the leaves, especially on 

 young and tender stems, are as 

 deeply two-toothed as in Geocalyx, 

 but with a more rounded notch. On 

 other parts of the same stem some 

 of the leaves are only slightly notched 

 or are entire. This variation of the 

 leaf shapes is so constant as to afford 

 a good means of recognizing the 

 species. The leaves are usually some- 

 what ascending. The under leaves 

 are deeply cleft, but are too small to 

 study readily with the lens. The 

 perianth is deeply three-lobed and 

 each lobe again lobed and toothed. 

 The capsules are a little longer 

 than broad and mature in May. 

 It is more frequent in the lowlands 

 than at higher altitudes. 



L. MINOR Nees. is more fre- 

 quent, southwards. It is almost 

 sure to be mistaken for Geocalyx 

 when sterile. The underleaves are 

 larger, f as long as the leaves are 

 wide, and the edges of the leaves 

 frequently bear minute gemmK which 

 make the margin look darker and less 

 distinct. The perianths are situated 

 on the ends of the stems and 

 branches. Another species, L. Aus- 

 tinii Lindb. occurs with this, but 

 cannot be distinguished with a lens. 

 Bases of trees in woods and moist 

 limestone rocks are said to be good 

 places to collect these two species. The perianths are present 

 in November and the spores probably mature in spring. 



Figure hi. Lophocolea 

 heterophylla : plant natural 

 size; portion of stem with 

 leaves and perianth; two 

 portions of stem with leaves 

 and underleaves, one show- 

 ing an antheridium, etc. 

 (After Sullivant.) 



Figure 112, Lophocolea 

 minor. Portion of stem X 

 2 ; another portion X 4 ; a 

 portion viewed from the 

 underside X 16, and a leaf 

 bearing gemmie. 



