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Tree Mosses

Genus CLIMACIUM, Web. & Mohr

The species of the Genus Climacium are large, resembling miniature evergreen trees. They are common in shady woods, in damp places on decayed logs, on roots of trees and on hummocks in swamps, and will be easily recognised from the photograph.

The primary stem is creeping, and the secondary erect and robust, with stout branches. The stem-leaves are scale-like; the branch-leaves oblong lance-shaped with a thin vein, and the leaves at the base of the pedicel are long and sheathing.

The spore-cases are clustered on long, erect pedicels; they are cylindrical with a beaked lid and a long calyptra split up one side and embracing the base.

The peristome is double, the outer teeth large and united at the base; the inner keeled and perforated.

The generic name Climacium is derived from the Greek ??, a little ladder, referring to the appearance of the inner teeth.

Six species are known at present, two in North America.

Climacium dendroides, Web. & Mohr.--See Colour Plate IV; also Colour Plate XV.

Habit and habitat.--Bright green, tree-like, found in wet places.

Name.--The specific name is from the Greek ??, a tree, and ??, like.

Plant (gametophyte).--Primary stem creeping, secondary simple, erect, often sharp-pointed at the apex, 2 to 4 inches high; branches clustered at the summit.

Leaves.--Stem-leaves broad, clasping; branch leaves narrower, oblong, folded lengthwise; base only slightly growing down on the stem at the hollow basal angles; apex sharply serrate; vein vanishing below the apex.

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

Veil (calyptra).--Thin, smooth, extending below the spore-case.

Spore-case--Erect, cylindrical, red-brown.

Pedicel (seta).--An inch long or more, deep-red.

Lid (operculum).--Straight, acutely beaked, remaining for some time attached to the central column of the spore-case.

Teeth (peristome).--As in the genus.

Annulus.--None.

Spores.--Olive-green, small, mature in the autumn and winter.

Distribution.--Common in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Climacium Americanum, Brid.--See Colour Plate XV.

This species closely resembles the last, but may be distinguishedby the long decurrent stem-leaves broadly eared at the base and coarsely serrate at the apex, as well as by the longer and more narrowly cylindrical spore-cases with more abruptly, longer beaked lids.