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Herbarium — Part 9

The species of the Genus Bruchia are minute, with simple or two-forked stems. They are found growing in loose clusters on the ground.

The stem-leaves are small and distant, those toward the apex being longer and crowded to form a rosette. The vein of all leaves is distinct to the apex.

The spore-cases are emergent, oval and beaked, with a base which tapers into a long solid neck (collum). They open irregularly for the emission of the spores as they have no lid.

There are eighteen species in all, two in Europe and eleven in North America.

The generic name Bruchia was applied by D. Fridericus Schwaegrichen in 1824, in honour of the distinguished bryologist Ph. Bruch, one of the authors of "The Bryologia Europaea."

Bruchia flexuosa, Muell.

Habit and habitat.-Found on clay or on base soil in fields or under old willows and along brooks.

Name.-The specific name flexuosa, the Latin for "crooked," refers to the curving of the stems near the bases.

Plant (gametophyte).-In loose tufts, stems comparatively long, curved downward at the base.

Leaves.-Stem-leaves distant, very small, nearly smooth, narrowly lance-shaped and prolonged into an awn; apex obscurely serrate.

Habit of flowering.-Male and female flowers close together on the same plant (paroicous) or in separate buds on the same plant.

Veil (calyptra).-Resembling a bishop's mitre, thin, lobed, or torn at the base.

Spore-case.-Not immersed in the leaves at the base, egg-shaped with a neck (collum) shorter or equal to the spore-sac, long-beaked.

Pedicel.-One-tenth to two-tenths of an inch long.

Lid (operculum).-None.

Teeth (peristome).-None.

Spores.-Mature in the fall.

Distribution.-Found in the central part of North America.