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notes ON HEPATICAE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
C. C. Kingman 
[Presented at the SiilHvant Moss Society Meeting, Minneapolis, Dec. 28, 1910.] 
Dr. M. A. Howe, in his “ Hepaticae and Anthocerotes of Cali- 
fornia " mentions over eighty species of hepatics as occurring in the 
state. Only a small number of these species however are to be found 
in the southern portion of the state. In Southern California the 
country is for the most part very dry except during the winter months 
and there are no meadows and swamps, and but few trees. Even the 
mountain streams are dry the greater part of the year. Under these 
conditions one would not expect to find a great number of hepatics, 
yet certain species seem to thrive quite abundantly. 
During my past year in California I have explored quite thoroughly 
the region about Pasadena, Cal., including the canyons of the San 
Gabriel Mountains, besides visiting Catalina Island and Santa Barbara. 
Just outside the city the foothills begin to rise. The soil is a 
coarse gravel, and during the winter months this gravel is thickly 
covered with large patches of Fossombronia longiseta Aust. This species 
fruits quite freely in March, and a few weeks later, after the rains 
cease, the plant dries up and disappears. Often one will find Riccia 
irichocarpa M. A. Howe, mixed with the Fossombronia. This is the 
commonest of our Riccias and may be recognized by its grayish 
appearance, due to the small white cilia on the margin of the thallus. 
I found this species quite abundant last July at the Avalon golf links 
on Catalina Island, although the plant was hardly recognizable on 
account of its dried up condition. Riccia glauca is a larger species with 
wider and less divided thallus and the margins are without cilia. It is 
occasionally found growing on shady banks. 
The San Gabriel Mountains are cut up by numerous canyons. 
These canyon walls are often very steep, and there is usually a moun- 
tain stream running down through the canyon and forming a series of 
pretty waterfalls and cascades. Here, on the damp rocks, Porella 
Bolanderi (Aust.) Pearson grows in great profusion, often covering 
large areas. Occasionally this species is found growing on trees. It 
is a variable species, with some forms resembling Porella rivularis. 
In the smaller canyons, among the ferns, are a number of interest- 
ing hepatics. ThQTQis Cryptomitrium tenerum (Hook. ) Aust., which in 
early spring sends up its stalked receptacles resembling tiny umbrellas ; 
also Targionia hypophylla L., which bears its fruit on the under side of 
the thallus at the apex. This is our commonest hepatic, and may be 
found at all seasons of the year on any shady bank. I found it 
abundant this summer at Santa Barbara and Catalina Island. 
Shady banks will also yield several species of Anthoceros. These 
species, which are similar in appearance, are most easily determined 
by their spores. Anthoceros fusiformis Aust. is the largest species and 
