76 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



The various kinds of Fork Moss have been 

 grouped together into several genera. Mention 

 has already been made of the White-leaved 

 Fork Moss (Leiicohryum glaucum), which is so 

 common in dry woods. The Flat Fork Mosses 

 may be distinguished from the fact that their 

 leaves are placed alternately on either side of 

 the stem, in such a way that they almost 

 resemble minute ferns. The Common Flat 

 Fork Moss {Fissidens bryoides) is abundant in 

 moist woods and also on shady banks. In this 

 instance the spore cases are produced at the 

 end of the stem, but this is not the case with 

 all the Flat Fork Mosses. A species called 

 F. adiantioides produces its spore-bearing stalks 

 about half-way down the stem. The Broom 

 Fork Mosses are somewhat larger plants, some 

 of the species being four or five inches in height. 

 These mosses are grouped together under the 

 name Dicranum and Dicranella. The Lily Fork 

 Moss [Dicranella heteromallum) is common al- 

 most everywhere. It covers the earth with 

 large patches of bright green, from which arise 

 the brown spore cases. The stalk bearing the 

 spore case is very much bent, and the case itself 

 is furrowed. 



