nature lover are the so-called cushion mosses and fern mosses. 
Among the most beautiful of the cushion mosses are the broom 
mosses (Dicranum) , which are readily told by their beautiful 
velvety appearance and one-sided development of the leaves. 
Another very beautiful cushion moss is the white moss, so called 
because of its very light color, quite in contrast with the deep 
green of other mosses. One of the most interesting of all the 
cushion mosses is the peat moss or Sphagnum which grows only 
in bogs or wet acid soils. This also is of a light green color. On 
account of its antiseptic properties and its high absorptive 
capacity, the peat moss was much used in war time as a 
substitute for cotton in bandages. Among the most beautiful of 
the shade mosses are Bryum and Mnium, which have relatively 
large leaves that glisten beautifully when wet. Perhaps the most 
beautiful of all the mosses are the fern mosses (Thuidium) which 
trail over the ground and branch abundantly in a fern-like way. 
A great number of trailing mosses grow on the ground in woods, 
on fallen logs, and on the bark of trees. A few mosses may be 
found even on the lawns and along the sidewalks or the streets. 
In lawns particularly, they are not welcome because they are 
thought to crowd out the grass. This is not true however. The 
ordinary lawn grass requires a good deal of sunlight. Mosses 
take their place on shady lawns, not because they crowd 
out the grass, but because the shade is too great. The common 
cord moss grows not only along sidewalks and in woodlands, but 
even on ash heaps and on cinder piles. Along with it, in waste 
places, is the delicate little silver moss, so called because of its 
silver-tipped leaves. 
The lichens are commonly classified by the nature of their 
growth into crustose, foliose and fruticose lichens. Crustose 
lichens are those that seem to form a crust over the bark or rock 
on which they grow. Foliose lichens have a flat thallus somewhat 
resembling a Liverwort and it is usually easily detachable from 
the substratum by a knife. Fruticose lichens are erect and 
branching, somewhat resembling little shrubs, hence the name 
Fruticose or shrub-like. The best known lichens perhaps, are 
such foliose lichens as Parmelia, which commonly make a 
conspicuous gray growth over trees, rocks and old fences. The 
best known fruticose lichen is perhaps the Reindeer lichen which 
is very common in all cold countries and furnishes a large part 
of the food of the reindeer and other grazing animals in frigid 
countries. The Reindeer lichen is sometimes found in rocky 
places even in the central and southern states. Lichens are found 
in most situations where mosses occur but are rarely found in or 
near large cities. While they can endure any amount of cold 
or drought, they are extremely sensitive to atmospheric impuri- 
ties. Henry C. Cowles. 
University of Chicago. 
266 
