THE BRYOLOGIST 



Vol. XIX January, 1916 No, i 



MOSSES OF COLORADO FROM TOLLAND AND VICINITY 



A. J. Grout 



For years I have had a desire to collect and study the mosses of the Rocky 

 Mountains, The summer of 19 14 gave me my opportunity at the laboratory 

 of the Summer School of Biology of the University of Colorado at Tolland. 

 Tolland is nearly fifty miles from Denver by the Moffat road and only about 

 twelve or fifteen from the continental divide as the crow flies. The village of 

 Tolland is largely a summer resort and there are numerous cottages to rent to 

 summer dwellers. Just north of the village runs South Boulder Creek, The 

 valley of the creek here expands into a meadow a mile or more in length and a 

 little less than half a mile in width. This is known as "The Park," In the 

 Park are at least two small lakes and several beaver dams. The creek is kept at 

 high water, comparatively speaking, by the melting snows of the neighboring 

 mountains, the snow clad summits of which are in full view from the town. 



The village is at an altitude of about 9000 feet and the surrounding moun- 

 tains were originally covered with a forest of lodge-pole pine, Englemann spruce 

 and other conifers, but miners and fires have destroyed most of the trees. Moist 

 ravines and cool, moist, north-facing slopes occur, but are not dominant. The 

 only locality visited that would compare to the cool, moist, heavily-wooded 

 localities of the mountains of New England and New York, localities which are 

 most favorable for moss growth, was a deep wooded swamp in the region above 

 Eldora Lakes, 



The region about Tolland has a good deal of rainy and foggy weather in sum- 

 mer. We stayed through the month of July and for the last two weeks there 

 was scarcely a day without rain. The region is one gorgeous alpine flower gar- 

 den. But even here conservation needs to have a say, for great bunches of the 

 beautiful blue and white columbine, the state flower, are brought to the trains 

 for sale and the plants are rapidly being depleted if not altogether destroyed. 



I have received much assistance from Miss H. A. Leonard, a student at the 

 summer school, who has collected in localities I could not reach and at other 

 seasons of the year. Dr. Ramaley, the Director of the school, placed the labor- 

 atory and its equipment at my service. Dr. Andrews, Mr, R. S. Williams, 

 Prof, Holzinger, and Dr, Best kindly assisted me in making determinations. To 

 each of these persons I acknowledge my indebtedness and hereby express my 

 appreciation. 



The November number of The Bryologist was published November 20, ipiS- 



