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The Glittering Feather-moss

HYPNUM (PLEUROZIUM) splendens, Hedw.

Habit and habitat.--The Glittering Feather-moss is one of the most beautiful species. It is common on rocks in deep woods, in swampy places, on stumps, and on fallen trees.

"Glittering with yellow, red and green,

As o'er the moss, with playful glide,

The sunbeams dance from side to side."

Name.-- J. G. Hedwig showed his appreciation of its beauty when he called it splendens.

Plant (gametophyte).--In loose tufts, rigid, pale olive-green; stems glittering, 4 to 8 inches high, increasing by annual arched branches, or by rigid, upright branches; branches once or twice feather-branched.

Leaves.--Stem-leaves, at the base, distant, small and scale-like; above, loosely overlapping, slightly concave, broadly oval-long, often narrowed into a long wavy point; vein (costa) faintly double; margin finely toothed; branch-leaves smaller, oval-oblong, shorter pointed.

Leaves at the base of the pedicel (perichoetial leaves).--Narrowly pointed, sub-erect or recurved at the apex.

Leaf-like organs (paraphyllia).--Numerous, large, varied in form.

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

Veil (calyptra).--Thin, transparent, pointed, split on one side, large and persistent.

Spore-case.--Egg-shaped, horizontal by a curve of the pedicel under the base.

Pedicel (seta).--Curved under the spore-case, about one inch high, smooth.

Lid (operculum).--Large and beaked.

Teeth (peristome).--Double, as in the genus Hypnum.

Annulus.--Single.

Spores.--Fruit not common, mature in spring.

Distribution.--Common in mountains or northward, America, Europe, northern Asia and Africa.