Bazzania Trilobata Lichen
Bazzania trilobata, L.Habit and habitat.-On damp shady banks, forming extensive cushions.
Name.-The specific name trilobata is compounded of tres (tri-), three, and lobatus, lobed, referring to the apex of the leaf.
Plants (gametophyte).-Shining olive-green; stems simple or once- or twice-forked, 3 to 5 inches long; procumbent or creeping, rootlets few, beset on the under side with minute leafy scales; and numerous thread-like whips (flagella) about an inch long.
Leaves.-Olive-green, the upper about 1 1/2 times longer than broad and placed at right angles to the stem in two rows, the sides of the leaves overlapping like shingles, the anterior margin of one leaf overlapping the posterior margin of the leaf in front, apex with three acute teeth, texture firm; the under leaves (amphigastra) broad, four-sided, apex three- to five-toothed.
Habit of flowering.-Female flowers on short branches on separate plants. Male flower-clusters minute aments, with folded and toothed bracts, antheridia solitary.
Perianth.-Highly exserted, nearly white, oblong, narrower upwards; mouth slit on one side and with a few teeth. Bracts at the base oval, fringed at the apex and delicate in texture.
Spore-case.-Dark shining-brown, ovate, on a long, slender, white pedicel, the valves slit to the base to form a Roman cross; elaters twice spiral.