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In general the leafy hepatics can be distinguished from the 

 mosses by the flattened appearance of the plant, due to a marked 

 differentiation of the upper (dorsal) and the lower (ventral) sur- 

 face. The leaves also are apparently arranged in two rows over- 

 lapping like shingles (imbricated). An exception to this is Gym- 

 nomtrium before mentioned. The leaves of hepatics consist of a 

 single layer of almost regularly hexagonal cells, without even 

 the rudiment of a mid-rib (except in one or two rare forms,) and 

 they are often bifid or multifid. 



If in fruit, the leafy hepatics can easily be recognized by the 

 dark, globular, four-valved capsule borne on a slender, delicate, 

 white fruitstalk and having spiral elaters mixed with the spores. 



The true mosses, on the other hand, possess stem and leaves 

 arranged in ranks and while often flattened have a much less 

 marked dorso ventral differentiation. The leaves are never bifid or 

 multifid and the leaf-cells are usually much elongated, seldom 

 regularly hexagonal and in three-fourths of the species possess 

 well-defined mid-rib. 



Xo moss except the rare AndrecEa has a capsule splitting into 

 four valves but nearly all moss capsules open by a lid {operculum), 

 and most have a characteristic fringe of teeth {peristome) about 

 the mouth. No true moss has spiral elaters mixed with its spores. 

 In color, mosses, excepting the peat mosses, are nearly all of some 

 shade of green ranging from almost black to a light yellow green. 



Any good text-book of botany will give these distinctions with 

 more detail and usually with helpful illustrations. 



HERE are several common and interesting allies of the Di- 



cranums that would make profitable study, but for variety's 



sake we will turn our attention to a moss with a double 

 peristome and other characters not before treated in The Bry- 



ologist. 



The cord moss {Funaria hygrometrica) is so called because 

 of the twisted seta which is very hygroscopic and untwists when 

 moist. Its Latin name, Fu?iar/a, is derived from fimis, a rope. 

 This twisting of the seta is not peculiar to this group, however, 

 but is common in many other groups. The cord moss is to be 

 found everywhere, being especially abundant in waste places and 

 on soil recently burned over. I have seen it completely cover the 



THE CORD MOSS AND ITS ALLIES. 



