58 FUNARIACEAE 



a bud-like cluster of leaves enclosing the subglobose cleisto- 

 carpous capsule. Leaves minute, leaf cells rhomboid-hexagonal, 

 longer below, shorter above, smooth, or slightly papiilose in 

 one or two species of Ephemerum; costa present, except in 

 Nanomiirium and some species of Ephemerum. 

 Growing on bare, moist earth. 



Key to the Genera 



i — Green protonema persistent, leaves lanceolate 2 



Green protonema not persistent, leaves ovate Acaulon 



2 — Cnpsule wall colorless, of a single layer of cells, without stomata; 

 rudimentary operculum well differentiated and easily separating 



when mature capsules are pressed Nanomitrium 



Capsule wall colored, of more than one layer of cells, with stomata; 

 operculum not differentiated, capsules dehiscing irregularly. Ephemerum 



NANOMITRIUM Lindb. (Micromitrium Aust.) 



Resembling Ephemerum,, but differing in the characters 

 mentioned in the key and in the usually smaller capsule almost 

 without apiculus and the minute persistent calyptra. The 

 leaves are ecostate and the columella lacking in mature cap- 

 sules. Salmon's figures show a single row of transversely elong- 

 ated cells extending around the capsule between lid and urn. 

 These cells are almost linear in shape and break upon pressure, 

 thus causing the lid to separate and open the capsule. The 

 plants of this genus are said to be rather rare, but this probably 

 is because of their small size, which renders them so incon- 

 spicuous that they are rarely collected. Apparently the spores 

 mature in late autumn to early spring. 



N. Austinii (Sulliv.) Lindb. "On wet broken ground in 

 woods, Closter, N. J.," Muse. App. 45; Rockland Co., N. Y., 

 Austin, Bx!; Hamden, Ct., Nichols, Bx! 



N. synoicum (James) Lindb., distinguished from Austinii by 

 the entire leaves, has been found at Camden and Swedeboro, 

 N. J., and probably will be found nearer. 



EPHEMERUM Hampe 



Minute plants developed on a persistent, much-branched, 

 green protonema. Leaves lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceo- 

 late, costa te except in E. serratum and E. megalosporum; capsules 



