Tiny Cedar Moss
The Tiny Cedar Moss, Hypnum (Thuidium) minutulum,Hedw.Habit and habitat.-Tiny fern-like mosses growing in woods on decaying trees and stumps.
Name.-Hedwig, a great German botanist, gave this dainty moss its specific Latin name, minutuium, tiny, on account of its small size.
Plant (gametophyte).-Minute, twice pinnate; stem irregularly divided, densely covered with soft matted hairs ; branches pinnately branching.
Leaves.-Stem-leaves triangular, opaque ; apex taper-pointed or with an abrupt short point ; margins somewhat rolled back ; vein stout, vanishing near the apex ; branch-leaves oval, with taper point, concave ; vein shorter; leaves covered with tiny protuberances.
Leaves at the base of the pedicel.-Thin, nearly smooth, the inner lance-shaped with a taper point.
Leaf-like organs (paraphyllia). -Numerous, and of various shapes covered with tiny projections.
Habit of flowering. -Male and female flowers on the same plant ; monoicous.