Moss Habitats.
By James E. Bagnall.
The habitats or natural homes of mosses are very varied. In fact mosses may be found everywhere in country districts, so that banks, trees, woods, fields, heath lands, walls, marshes, bogs, and other watery places all have their several massy inhabitants. Though in many instances mosses show some degree of preference for particular habitats, no positive line of demarcation can be drawn with regard to the habitats of some species. Ceratodon, for example, seems to be at home in every locality, whilst others, such as the Sphagnunms and many of the Orthotrichans, &c., are truly selective with regard to their haunts. Hence, I can only indicate the most likely mosses to be found in particular habitats. In many instances the same plants may be found flourishing in equal abundance in a variety of habitats. I have already mentioned Ceratodon purparens, as a moss to be found everywhere. It is abundant on heathy waysides and on old walls, thatched roofs, and even on trees it is no less plentiful.
Banks, whether sandy, marly, or calcareous, are the favourite haunts of many mosses, and if we examine a damp sandy bank between February and April we shall be almost sure to find the dark green silky masses of Dieranella heteronalla, easily known by its terminal fruitstalk, which is pale in colour and is abruptly bent back just below the capsule. The leaves will be found to be very narrow and all curved in one direction, and the capsule surmounted by a lid having a longish beak,[1] [Plate IV., fig. 13 a,] the peristome or fringe [Fig. 12 b] consists of sixteen teeth, each of which is split half way down.
In like places we shall also find Welssia controversa, which has straighter leaves, with the margins rolled over towards the upper surface, erect oval capsules, lid with a long straight beak, and a fringe of sixteen rudimentary teeth; when dry the leaves will be found to be much twisted. Smaller tufts of the apple moss, Bartramia pomiformis, may also be found, and may be known even when barren by its glaucous green foliage. The capsules of this moss are apple shaped, and surmounted by a slightly convex lid. The fruit ripens in early summer.
Hypnum prælongum will be frequently seen fruiting about November, but very often barren. In the barren state it may be known by its long trailing feathery stems, which, however, vary very much in habit. When in fruit it will be known by its long roughened fruit stalks, (which are lateral as in all Hypnums,) [Fig. 5 a,] curved capsules, and lid with a long curved beak, [Fig. 13 a,] the fringe is in two rows, an cuter one formed of sixteen teeth, and an inner palor membranous one, divided into sixteen tooth-like processes, Hypnum rutabutum, another of the feather mosses, is more robust, has heart-shaped leaves, roughened fruit-stalk, and a shorter conical lid. Hypnu velutinum is much smaller, and has narrower lance-shaped leaves, and is more velvety looking; whilst Hypnum confertum, which is constantly associated with the above,
- ↑ All the references in this article are to Plate IV., facing page 193.
