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Cord Mosses

Genus FUNARIA, Schreb.

The species of the Genus Funaria are short, simple, or branching, growing in clusters on the ground. The leaves are variable; with loose transparent cells. The spore-cases are pearshaped, erect and symmetrical, or oblique and curved on long pedicels, straight or arched above. The pedicels twist one about another when dry, a habit suggesting the generic name Funaria, from the Latin funis, a cord. The lids are plano-convex. Sometimes there is a compound annulus which rolls back as the lid falls.

The teeth are sometimes rudimentary but more generally they are double, the outer sixteen obliquely curving to the right and connected at the apex by a small mesh-like disk. The outer surface of the teeth is pale and granulose and the inner face is marked with prominent purple crossbars. The inner membrane is divided into sixteen more or less rudimentary segments opposite to the outer teeth and adhering at the base. They are yellow and lance-shaped with longitudinal median line.

The spore-sac is much smaller than the spore-case and is attached to it by loosely entangled filaments. The spores are often very large.

Seventy-nine species are known in all, fourteen being found in North America.

The Pale Funaria, Funaria flaricans, Michx.--See Plate XVI.

This species is found in the Middle and Southern States. It differs from Funaria hygrometrica in being paler in colour. The leaves are more abruptly narrowed into a long flexuous point, the mouth of the spore-case is more enlarged and less oblique.

The Water-measuring Cord-moss, Funaria hygrometrica, Sibth.--See Colour Plates III and XVI.

Habit and habitat.--Like Cinderella, the Cord-moss is to be found among the ashes. One may look for it where picnic fires have been, or in wood-lots which have been swept by flames. One may also expect to find it in vacant lots used as dump grounds, or even on the crumbling mortar of old stone houses and neglected walls.

Name.--The specific name hygrometrica is a compound of two Greek words, water, and, measuring, and refers to the habit the plants have of twisting and untwisting their pedicels as they are alternately moistened or dried.

Plant (gametophyte).--The young plants are found in the fall. They are yellow-green with simple or branching stems, living but one year, or continuing by new growths.

Leaves.--Variable; tufted at the apex of the stem, usually erect and pressed together; oblong egg-shaped; apex short-pointed; margin entire; vein reaching the apex.

Habit of flowering.--Male and female flowers on the same plant (monoicous); terminal; the male on primary stems, the female on secondary.

Veil (calyptra).--Conical, shining, inflated at the base, split up one side, composed of bladder-like cells.

Spore-case.--When immature, erect, nearly symmetrical; when mature, pear-shaped, with the small end narrowed to an elongated and curved neck (collum). One side is more swollen than the other (gibbous); leathery, reddish, and deeply furrowed when old.

Spore-sac.--Much smaller than the spore-case, attached to it by loosely tangled threads.

Pedicel (seta).--Straight or arched above, 1 to 2 1/2 inches high, twisting and untwisting with the changes in the humidity of the air.

Lid (operculum).--Small like a flat saucer.

Annulus.--Compound, rolling back as the lid falls.

Teeth (peristome).--The outer teeth sixteen, obliquely curving to the right, with horizontal prominent purple cross-bars on the inner face (trabeculate): pale and granular on the outer face, connected at the apex by a small disk with mesh-like veins (reticulated); the inner teeth sixteen, lance-like or more or less rudimentary, opposite to the outer teeth and adhering at the base, yellowish with a line running from apex to base, distinctly beset with minute points (papillate).

Genus BARTRAMIA, Hedw.

The species of the Genus Bartramia live from year to year, their erect, two-forked stems with soft felted hairs toward the base forming extensive tufts on soil and rock, or occasionally on trees.

The leaves are long and narrow, opaque and yellowish-green; with a round vein which vanishes in the serrated apex or passes beyond to form a rough point.

The spherical spore-cases marked with parallel ridges are erect, or nodding, on long erect pedicels. The lids are small, convex or obtusely pointed.

Teeth are rarely absent or simple, usually double, the outer attached to basilar membrane. There is no annulus.

The genus contains one hundred and three species in all, thirteen of them being known in North America. The name was given by J. G. Hedwig in honour of John Bartram, one of the earliest American botanists.

The Apple-moss, Bartramia pomiformis, Hedw.--See cut on page 216.

Habit and habitat.--In soft bright or yellow-green tufts on shady banks and in clefts of rocks.

Name.--From the Latin pomum, apple, and forma, form, referring to the spore-cases.

Plant (gametophyte).--Stems 1 to 3 inches high with densely felted hairs below.

Leaves.--Long, open, and somewhat twisted when moist, more erect and crisped when dry. Narrowly linear and awl-like from a paler base; vein extending beyond the apex to form a spiny awn; margin sharply serrate above, rolled back from the middle downward.

Habit of flowering.--Male and female flowers on the same plant (monoicous).

Veil (calyptra).--Conical, split up one side, falling early.

Spore-case.--Spherical, grooved longitudinally.

Pedicel (seta).--Slender, 1/2 an inch high.

Teeth (peristome).--Outer teeth regular, densely cross-barred, inner segments shorter than the teeth and cleft, cilia imperfect or none.

Annulus.--None.

Spores.--Mature in spring.

Distribution.--Universal.