Weisia Viridula Moss
Habit and habitat.-Common, forming more or less compact cushions on the ground in meadows, broken fields, borders of ditches and grassy roadsides, where it is conspicuous for its bright green colour. Very variable.Name.-The specific name viridula is the Latin diminutive of viridis, green.
Plants (gametophyte).-Stems about 1/4 of an inch long; simple or branched.
Leaves.-The lower minute ; the upper much larger, narrowly lance-shaped and curled when dry; base enlarged, pale, concave; vein (costa) stout and extending beyond the apex into a short sharp point ; margin inrolled in the upper part to form a tube, flat toward the base ; cells opaque, dot-like, with tiny projecting points.
Habit of flowering.-Male and female flowers on the same plant (monoicous).
Veil (calyptra).-Smooth, split on one side and reaching to the middle of the spore-case.
Spore-case. - Light-brown, oval, oblong, of thick texture, slightly constricted under the mouth, wrinkled lengthwise when dry.
Pedicel (seta).-1/6 to 2/6 of an inch long and twisted to the right.
Lid (operculum).-Beak, long, straight or bent obliquely.
Teeth (peristome).-Orange-red, variable, slender or broad, often ending abruptly (truncate) or split into two parts with 2 to 5 cross bars, sometimes rudimentary.
Annulus.-Narrow, persistent.
Spores.-Mature from March to May.
Distribution.-Universal.