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Genus Diphyscium

Genus DiphysciumGenus DIPHYSCIUM, Mohr.

The species of the Genus Diphyscium are minute stemless plants growing scattered on the ground and on rocks. The leaves are strap-shaped or lanceshaped with a vein. The cells are 2 to 3 layers deep. The leaves at the base of the spore-cases are large, saw-toothed or cut into a ragged fringe.

The spore-cases are immersed or exserted on an inconspicuous pedicel, they are oval and taper-pointed, oblique and swollen on one side, with a conical lid. The outer teeth are none, or rudimentary and the inner membrane forms a pale blunt cone of 16 twisted folds.

The name, from the Greek for; twice, and; a vesicle, refers to the double wall of the spore case, which is due to the spore-sac being widely separated from the outer wall.

There are eleven species known in all, one of them being found in North America.









Leafy Diphyscium Moss