MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS 77 



A very abundant species, which is familiar 

 in appearance, if not by name, to almost every- 

 body, is the Common Cord Moss [Funaria 

 hygrometrica). This plant is of low growth, 

 but as it is nearly always in fruit it is of dis- 

 tinctive appearance. It is to be found most 

 frequently of all, perhaps, on tracts of moor- 

 land which have undergone the fire ordeal. 

 The Cord Moss seems to be peculiarly happy 

 wherever there is charcoal about, and some- 

 times the ground is quite golden with the clus- 

 ters of little fruits on the burnt patches. A 

 distinguishing feature of this moss is the beha- 

 viour of the stalks bearing the spore case. In 

 dry weather the stem is coiled, but under the 

 influence of moisture (which may be applied 

 in any way) this stalk twists in a curious 

 fashion, moving the capsule from side to side. 

 The purpose of this movement does not seem 

 to be very clear, for it only occurs when there 

 is moisture about, and in such conditions a 

 distribution of the spores would be almost 

 impossible. 



The Common Hair Moss already men- 

 tioned is, of course, only one out of a 

 number of species, some of which are now 



