. Mosses with a hand-lens; a non-technical handbook of the more common and more easily recognized mosses of the north-eastern United States. Mosses. 102 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS BLASIA. B. pusiLLA L. is one of the most common of the Thalloid Scale Mosses having a distinct midrib; the midrib is not, however, quite so conspicuous as some of the books indicate. It grows fiat on the ground when the plants are few and scattered, but when crowded they become ascending and grow in thick curly tufts like miniature lettuce. The plants are dark green, or even purple, with very distinct almost leaflike lo
. Mosses with a hand-lens; a non-technical handbook of the more common and more easily recognized mosses of the north-eastern United States. Mosses. 102 MOSSES WITH A HAND-LENS BLASIA. B. pusiLLA L. is one of the most common of the Thalloid Scale Mosses having a distinct midrib; the midrib is not, however, quite so conspicuous as some of the books indicate. It grows fiat on the ground when the plants are few and scattered, but when crowded they become ascending and grow in thick curly tufts like miniature lettuce. The plants are dark green, or even purple, with very distinct almost leaflike lobes along the sides, occupying from Yn-Yi the entire width of the thallus. If the plants be held up to the light two dark dots will usually be seen at the base of each lobe. These are peculiar structures known as " leaf-auricles.'' The spores mature in early spring, but in July and August the young capsules can be seen inclosed in the end of the midrib in the female shoots. When ripe the capsule is elevated on a seta J^-i inch in height. There is no perianth except the broken tissue of the thallus. A fluffy mass consisting of spores and elaters often remains for some time in the center of the capsule. Flask-shaped bodies like those shown in the illustration are usually abundant on sterile stems; these bear large numbers of gemmae. Pellia often grows mixed with Blasia and as its midrib is frequently as plain as that of Blasia it may be confused with it, but the margins of Pellia are sinuate and less plainly lobed y^^ ''^^Sf^/^^f^^^^^ ^"'^ ^^ roothairs are brown. iiP'^'' Mf^fw^ while in Blasia they are white. Vfy'p'â p/'Vutr ^ "^'""^ dark dots at the base of the lobes distinguish Blasia ââ â, . , from Pellia and from all other Figure 88. Blasia pusilla, a. 1., , t a Fertile plant in August natural plants likely tO be COnfUSed size, showing capsule in position. -^, â ^ lUnict snrino-v rnaH- At the side is shown the capsule ^Itll It. MOlSt sprmgy roao
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectmosses, bookyear1905
