HYPNACEAE 9 1 



endostome adhere to the teeth as in Pylaisia intricata (Hedw.) 

 R. & C. One cannot help wondering if the similarity between 

 Pylaisia, Platygyrium and this species is not due to the fact of 

 their having a similar habitat. May it not be that their ap- 

 proach in capsule to Leskea, Leucodon, Anomodon, etc., is due to 

 the same cause? 



H. subcapillata (Hedw.) Card. (Homalothecium siibcapillatiim 

 Sull.). "On trees, common," Muse. App. 295; Palisades, 

 N. J., Austin, Bx! 



Subfamily Climaceae 



Characterized by the dendroid habit, strongly costate leaves, 

 erect symmetric capsules and well developed peristome, lacking 

 both cilia and the fine transverse markings on the base of the 

 peristome. We have but one genus. 



CLIMACIUM Web. & Mohr. 



Large handsome mosses with a tree-like habit of growth 

 from underground creeping stems. Sometimes prostrate, or 

 floating in very wet places. Stem and branches bearing para- 

 phyllia. The leaves are all somewhat decurrent but vary greatly 

 in shape and structure. The leaves of the main upright stems 

 are very large, thin, with little chlorophyll, closely imbricated 

 and clasping. Branch leaves smaller, of a different shape and 

 texture, chlorophyllose. All our species are dioicous. The seta 

 is long and smooth, twisted to the right when dry. Calyptra 

 split on one side, long, reaching to the base of the capsule. 

 Capsule erect, cylindric; operculum conic-rostrate with the 

 beak often oblique; annulus none; peristome double; teeth 

 linear-lanceolate, very long, closely articulate, minutely papil- 

 lose; segments as long as the teeth, keeled, split between the 

 articulations, often split to the apex when old, united at the 

 base into a continuous narrow basal membrane, minutely papil- 

 lose. 



Mosses of swampy woods and fields; fruiting with comparative 

 infrequency. The systematic position of this genus is as yet 

 doubtful. It certainly does not belong in the Entodonteae, 

 where it has previously been placed. 



