78 FIRST FORMS OF VEGETATION. 
of form and colour. On either side of the thread- 
like stem arise in a more or less oblique position 
the membranous overlapping leaves ; while the 
fruit-vessel springs from the end of the stem, and 
is produced upon little silvery foot-stalks. It 
bursts into four valves, and when fully expanded 
spreads out into the form of a cross. All the 
species of this group may be known at once, and 
distinguished from the true mosses by the im- 
bricated and peculiarly flattened appearance of 
the leaves. One of the commonest representa- 
tives of the Fungermannie is the F. drlatata, which 
is found in every wood covering the trunk of 
almost every tree with its rich chocolate-coloured 
masses. If it does exhibit any preference, it is 
for the smooth stem of the poplar and the 
mountain-ash, to which it imparts a singularly 
picturesque appearance. A kindred form often 
confounded with it, the ¥ Zamarisci, spreads in 
large loose tufts upon the ground, and over low 
bushes in sub-alpine countries, and is of a glossier 
texture and richer colour, brightening into pale 
maroon and amber at the edges. It is exceed- 
ingly beautiful even to the naked eye. Con- 
trasting strikingly with these brown species, are 
the pale green orbicular patches closely pressed to 
the bark of trees, of the equally common ¥. com- 
planata, which fruits throughout the year. One 
