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The Exquisite Feather-moss

HYPNUM, Sub-genus CALLIERGON

The species of the Sub-genus Calliergon are large, erect, or prostrate plants growing in wide mats on the ground, or on rocks; the branches are simple or compound and have but a few rooting filaments.

The sub-generic name is the Greek word ?, beautifully made.

The leaves are heart-shaped, oval or oval-oblong, deeply concave, spreading or overlapping, rarely turned to one side; the apex is obtuse, the vein variable, and the cells linear above and four-sided at the basal angles.

The spore-cases are borne on variable pedicels; they are oblong and incurved with convex-conical lids. An annulus is sometimes present, and the teeth are as in the genus Hypnum.

The Red-stemmed Feather-moss, Hypnum (Calliergon) Schreberi, Willd.--See Plate XXX.

Habit and habitat.--On shaded ground of hills and mountains. The specimen photographed grew on the dry knolls of a swamp in Lake Placid.

Name.--The specific name was given by Karl Ludwig Willdenow in honour of D. J. C. Schreber.

Plant (gametophyte).--Stems rigid, dark-red, branching, the branches with somewhat regularly arranged branchlets; branches and branchlets obtuse at the apex.

Leaves.--Pale-green or yellow, loosely overlapping, broadly oval-oblong, slightly concave; apex obtuse or obtusely pointed, incurved; base recurved on the borders; vein double, short; margin entire; base extending down the stem; cells narrow, four-side, orange at the base and the basal angles.

Leaves at the base of the pedicel (perichoetial leaves).--The inner sheathing, erect, not plaited; apex short-pointed; vein none.

Leaf-like organs among the leaves (paraphyllia).--None.

Habit of flowering.--Male and female flowers on separate plants (dioicous).

Veil (calyptra).--Thin, split up one side.

Spore-case.--Oblong, dark-coloured, incurved.

Pedicel (seta). -- Dark-red, long, twisted above.

Lid (operculum).--Red, conical, with a sharp point.

Annulus.--None.

Teeth (peristome).--Long, with lamellae on the inside, inner segment split nearly the whole length; hair-like segments three, slightly shorter.

Spores.--Mature in autumn.

Distribution.--North and South America, Europe and Asia.