A Synopsis of the British Mosses / Containing Descriptions of All the Genera and Species, (With Localities of the Rarer Ones) Found in Great Britain and Ireland, Based Upon Wilson's "Bryologia Britannica," Schimper's "Synopsis," Etc.

1. ANDREÆA. Ehr.

a. L. nerveless.

1. A. petrophila. Ehr. (A. rupestris Hedw.) St. ¼ inch loosely tufted, with fastigiate branches; l. erect imbricate, with a sheathing base, generally secund, ovate or ovate-subulate, tapering above, and rather obtuse; papillose, areolæ dotted; per. l. larger; all reddish brown.

Sub-alpine rocks, frequent. V. VI.

2. A. alpestris. Schimp. St. taller, densely tufted, with slender branches; l. crowded, very small, patent on all sides when moist, ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, areolæ quadrate at margin; per. l. shorter and more obtuse.

Damp alpine rocks. Glen Callater; Perthshire.

3. A. obovata. Thed. “Densely tufted, blackish brown, tall and robust; l. somewhat like those of alpina, from an imbricate base ovate-panduriform, gradually lanceolate, nearly smooth, glossy, quite entire at margin, areolæ much laxer.” Dr. Braithwaite, Jour, of Bot., VIII. p. 95.

Glen Callater.

4. A. alpina. Turner. St. tall 1–3in. densely tufted, with long fastigiate branches; l. imbricate, spreading, reddish or purplish brown, obovate, almost panduriform concave; per. l. larger elliptic sheathing, acute, areolæ dot-like.

Alpine rocks. V. VI.

5. A. rupestris. Turn. (A. Rothii W. & M.) St. scarcely ½ inch, loosely tufted; l. imbricate, falcato-secund, longly subulate from an ovate base, thickly nerved to apex, rigid almost black; per. l. larger convolute.

Alpine and sub-alpine rocks. V. VI.

6. A. Grimsulana. Bruch. Much more robust than the last, rufous black; l. lanceolate acute broader, more solid, falcato-secund; per. l. broadly ovate not acuminate.

Brandsley Falls, Yorkshire, J. G. Baker 1858. Herb. Kew.—Ingleborough.

7. A. crassinervia. Bruch. Tufts depressed deep black, st. prostrate ascending, fragile; l. shining falcato-secund, subulate from an oblong base; nerve thick excurrent into the round papillose subula, margin entire, cells quadrate; per. l. erecto-patent convolute nerveless.

Alpine rocks; Hebden Bridge 1865; Scotland; Snowdon 1853.

8. A. falcata. Schimp. Smaller than last, very fragile black; l. falcato-secund, opaque, from a dilated obovate base abruptly lanceolate-subulate, nerve flattened, ending at or below the apex, which is erose at margin.

Snowdon 1865 and Cader Idris (Schimper); Perthshire (McKinlay).

9. A. nivalis. Hooker. St. longer tufted slender, l. reddish brown, falcato-secund, lanceolate-subulate, acute, gradually tapering and nerved to apex.

Alpine rocks at limit of perpetual snow; Ben Nevis, &c. Summer.

[Dr. Braithwaite is at present publishing in the “Monthly Microscopical Journal” a Monograph of this genus, but as he has only got some three or four species described, I regret that I cannot avail myself of his valuable researches, and can only publish such species as are known to me. His division of species is as follows:—

Sect. I. Leaves obtuse roundish or elliptical.

a. Utricles of branches lined with spiral fibres.

10. S. cymbifolium. Ehr. St. 3–12 inches robust tufted solid, covered with a cortical web. Stem l. lingulate-spathulate with a rounded apex; br. l. imbricate broadly ovate concave cucullate and muriculate at apex; caps. large globose on a short seta: dioicous.

Bogs, common. VI. VII.

b. Branch cells without spiral fibres.

11. S. compactum. Brid. St. erect, 2–4in. dichotomous, densely cæspitose; branches crowded short, almost erect, br. l. ovate-subulate, obtuse, concave, slightly cucullate and smooth at apex, præmorse with 3–4 teeth; st. l. small elliptical: dioicous.

Wet moors. VII. VIII.

12. S. tenellum. Ehr. (S. molluscum. Bruch.) Stems rarely 2in. slender, soft, fragile, branches similar; l. erecto-patent reflexed, ovate-oblong, with a broadish border, very concave on the branches, pale yellowish white; utricles of the branches between the leaves recurved at points; caps. small orange-red, on a long pedicel: dioicous.

Wet hollows on peat bogs. V. VI.

13. S. rubellum. Wils. St. 2–5in. slender loosely tufted with slender deflexed sometimes curved branches; st. l. large ovate-oblong concave obtuse sub-secund with a minutely toothed apex; br. l. ovate or oblong-ovate, margins indexed, capsule almost included: dioicous.

Peat mosses, fr. rare. VI. VII.

Sect. II. Leaves acuminate, ovate, or ovate-lanceolate.

a. Leaves erecto-patent.

14. S. acutifolium. Ehr. St. 3–6in. with slender attenuated branches; stem. l. small ovate acute erect; branch l. ovate-lanceolate slightly præmorse with a 3–4 toothed apex, erecto-patent, often with a pinkish tinge, sometimes almost white; pedicel long; monoicous.

Bogs and marshes. VI. VII.

15. S. fimbriatum. Wils. St. slender 6–12in. loosely cæspitose, with slender deflexed branches; st. l. obovate broad very obtuse, and fringed at the summit; br. l. ovate-lanceolate acute erecto-patent, whitish, never reddish; p. l. very large obtuse, cucullate; caps. on a short pedicel, nearly enclosed in the per. leaves: monoicous.

Bogs and marshes. VI. VII.

16. S. cuspidatum. Dill. Ehr. St. 3–12in., flaccid with distant deflexed attenuated branches, the younger ones cuspidate; st. l. ovate acute, br. l. lanceolate acute præmorse slightly fringed and bordered; per. l. broadly ovate, acute, ped. short: dioicous.

Wet bogs. VI. VII.

17. S. recurvum. P. Beauv. “Distinguished from the last by its branch leaves, recurved when dry, elliptical, not attenuated towards the apex; usually growing out of the water, whilst S. cuspidatum is almost submerged.”—G. E. Hunt.

Common in bogs.

var. δ.

laricinum. Spruce. l. loosely imbricated, slightly undulate when dry, areolæ very minute.

18. S. contortum. Schultz. St. 3–6in. rigid blackish, “with a single layer of cortical cellules”, and with crowded generally contorted attenuated branches; leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute concave, frequently 3–toothed at the apex, the cellules bordered with a row of small pores at the back of the leaf: dioicous.

Bogs and ditches. VII.

var. γ.

obesum; stem more robust, branches thicker and longer, leaves larger.

19. S. subsecundum. Nees & H. Allied to contortum, but more lax in habit, stems more slender, with shorter branches and with the branch leaves generally more or less secund.

20. S. curvifolium. Wils. MS. Allied to the last; stem with a cortical layer of two or three rows of cellules, leaves without marginal pores, entire, acute.

21. S. squarrosum. Pers. St. 4–12in. rigid, often forked, with long deflexed attenuated branches; l. ovate-acuminate acute, recurved; caps. large on a longish pedicel.

Bogs. VI. VII.

3. ARCHIDIUM. Bridel.

22. A. phascoides Brid. St. ¼in., second year branched sometimes 1in.; fertile branches short, barren ones longer, slender, and with more distant leaves; l. lanceolate pointed, upper ones longest, entire, nerved nearly to or beyond apex; p.l. ovate-lanceolate, toothed near the apex, nerve excurrent.

Moist clayey or chalky banks, &c. III. IV.

4. PHASCUM. Linn.

Sect. I. (Ephemerum.) Almost stemless, capsule immersed, barren fl. gemmiform at base of, or near to, fertile fl.

a. Growing from a conferva-like thallus, columella fugacious.

23. P. serratum. Schreb. “Stemless, leaves lanceolate, nerveless (?) serrated, connivent; capsule large roundish ovate, sub-sessile.” (Wils.)

Sandy banks or fallows. Spring or Autumn.

var. β.

angustifolium. “Leaves narrower, linear-lanceolate, obscurely toothed; caps. smaller.”

24. P. cohærens. Hed. Stemless, very minute; l. ovate-lanceolate, keeled, erect, nerved to apex, and serrated about half way from summit; capsule immersed sub-sessile.

On the ground. Winter.

25. P. tenerum. Bruch. Inconspicuous; l. broad ovate-lanceolate, slightly denticulate at apex, very flaccid; caps. small, pale yellow, calyptra conical. Bry. Europ. vol. I.

On the mud of dried-up pools. Winter.

Weald of Sussex, Mr. Mitten.

26. P. sessile. B. & S. Very minute, almost stemless; l. lanceolate-subulate, denticulate more than two-thirds from summit, rigid, with an almost excurrent nerve; caps. sessile small, rounded, brownish: monoicous.

Clay and chalky heaths, rare. Autumn, Winter.

var. β.

stenophyllum. l. shorter, linear-lanceolate, slightly serrulate.

27. P. recurvifolium. Dicks. Minute, st. almost none; l. lingulate, rarely linear-lanceolate, erect, frequently recurved, denticulate at the apex, with a strong generally excurrent nerve; caps. roundish ovate, nearly sessile.

Heaths and fallows. Autumn, Winter.

b. Mature plants without confervoid shoots.

28. P. muticum. Schreb. Minute, almost stemless; l. convolute, broadly ovate, tapering pointed, concave, toothed above, nerved nearly to the apex; caps. round, reddish, erect, sub-sessile.

Moist banks and fallows. Autumn, Spring.

var. β.

minus, leaves entire.

29. P. triquetrum. Spruce. Almost stemless; l. in three rows, lowest minute ovate nerveless, three uppermost (perichætial) cucullate, pointed, obovate, keeled, margins reflexed, denticulate above, nerve excurrent; caps. spherical, horizontal or drooping, pedicel long, slender, suddenly bent near its union with the capsule.

Cliffs, Sussex coast. III.

Sect. II. Barren fl. axillary, antheridia naked.

30. P. Floerkeanum. Web. & M. Almost stemless, very minute; leaves broadly ovate, tapering to a point, lower ones small nerveless, upper ones larger nerve excurrent, margins reflexed; caps. ovate-spherical, shortly beaked, immersed with sub-conical curved-pointed calyptra.

Clay or chalky fields, rare. IX.–XI.

31. P. rectum. Sm. Stem short; l. closely crowded, erecto-patent, elliptic-lanceolate pointed with an excurrent nerve, often reddish, margins recurved; caps. exserted, roundish ovoid, on a longish straight pedicel.

Fields and banks near the coast, frequent. Winter.

32. P. curvicollum. Hedw. St. short reddish; l. erecto-patent, lanceolate, tapering, pointed with an excurrent nerve, entire, margin reflexed; caps. roundish, blunt-pointed, cernuous, exserted, on a longish curved pedicel; cal. dimidiate.

Moist banks and fields.

Sect. III. Barren fl. axillary, gemmiform.

33. P. cuspidatum. Schreb. From ⅛ to ¼in. high, st. simple or branched; l. ovate-lanceolate, cuspidate, erect concave, keeled, with the nerve prominently excurrent; caps. roundish, immersed on a short pedicel.

Moist banks, hedges, and fields, common. III.

var. β.

leaves longer, lanceolate; caps. smaller.

γ.

Schreberianum. St. elongated, branches dichotomous; leaves distant spreading.

δ.

piliferum. Pedicel curved; leaves with long white filiform points.

ε.

curvisetum. Caps. laterally exserted, on a longish curved pedicel.

ζ.

elatum. Upper leaves lanceolate, cuspidate caps. sub-pendulous, similar to the last.

34. P. bryoides. Dicks. St. ⅛–¼in. simple or branched; l. lower, ovate pointed, upper elliptic ovate concave erect, margin reflexed, pointed with the excurrent nerve; caps. elliptical, with an oblique blunt point, brown, exserted. Barren fl. sometimes terminal on a short branch.

Banks and fields, rare. Spring.

var. β.

leaves piliferous.

γ.

curvisetum. Pedicel curved, longer.

δ.

caps. roundish, pedicel very short.

ε.

smaller, with piliferous leaves. (P. pusillum Schleich.)

ζ.

Thornhillii. “l. spreading sub-reflexed spathulato-lanceolate, margin plane, nerve slightly excurrent; caps. narrowly elliptical, rostrate, pedicel elongated.”

Sect. IV. Barren fl. naked in the axil of a perichætial leaf.

35. P. patens. Hedw. St. ⅛in. l. more or less spreading, sometimes recurved, obovate-lanceolate, serrulate near the apex, concave, nerve ceasing below apex; caps. immersed spherical pointed, pale brown, sub-sessile.

Clay banks and fields. Autumn.

36. P. nitidum. Hedw. L. generally erect, linear-lanceolate, keeled, sub-denticulate near apex, nerved (thin) nearly to summit; caps. elliptical, with a short oblique point, sometimes pendulous, on a short pedicel.

Moist banks, &c. Autumn, Spring.

37. P. subulatum. L. St. ⅛in. l. lanceolate, sharply tapering from a broadish base, not keeled, with a broad nerve ceasing near the apex; per. l. almost setaceous; caps. roundish-ovoid pale brown, immersed, on a very short pedicel.

Banks and fields, common. Spring.

38. P. alternifolium. Bruch. & S. St. sometimes with innovations, ½in. long, or more; st. l. lanceolate acuminate from a broad base; per. l. subulate-setaceous, with a thick nerve, excurrent and forming nearly the upper half of the leaf; caps. ovoid immersed, brownish, with an oblique point.

Banks and fallow ground. Spring.

Sect. VI. Stems perennial branched; leaves linear-lanceolate firm strongly nerved; caps. with traces of a dehiscent lid; barren fl. gemmiform, terminal on a branch or sometimes axillary.

39. P. crispum. Hedw. St. ¼in. cæspitose; with fastigiate branches; l. lanceolate-subulate, grooved erect or spreading, margins involute, nerve excurrent; per. l. very long, concave at base, sometimes almost secund; caps. roundish, immersed, pale brown, with an oblique beak.

Banks and fields, chiefly limestone. Spring.

40. P. multicapsulare. Smith. St. ½in., loosely tufted; leaves distant, alternate, spreading, lanceolate, somewhat obtuse, with an excurrent nerve and plane margin; per. l. longer and broader, erect, incurved; capsule ovoid tapering to an oblique short beak, on a longish pedicel, sometimes two together.

Fields, &c., rare. III.

var. β.

Mittenii. Stems fragile, l. shorter, acute, recurved; p. l. smaller; caps. on a longer pedicel.

41. P. rostellatum. Brid. St. ⅛–¼in., tufted; l. linear-lanceolate, spreading obtuse, nerve excurrent, margin plane; caps. olive-brown ovoid elliptical with a straight beak; pedicel equalling caps. in length: a smaller plant than the last.

Dried beds of pools, &c. Autumn, Spring.

5. GYMNOSTOMUM. Hedw.

Sect. I. Infl. dioicous, margin of l. reflexed or plane, not incurved.

a. St. short, per. l. sheathing; caps. elliptic-oblong, narrow at mouth, lid conical, annulus large persistent.

42. G. tenue. Schrad. St. tufted; l. lingulate, sub-erect, upper ones longest entire, nerved nearly to apex; caps. pale brown, lid obtuse.

Sandstone rocks and walls. VII. VIII.

43. G. rupestre. Schw. St. ½in. densely tufted, slender, dichotomous; l. linear-lanceolate, spreading obtuse keeled, nerved nearly to apex; capsule erect oval, lid flattish, suddenly rising to a longish scarcely bent beak.

Wet alpine rocks. Autumn.

var. β.

ramosissimum. densely tufted, leaves shorter, capsule smaller on a shorter pedicel.

γ.

stelligerum. loosely tufted, l. fasciculate and stellato-patent at the ends of the branches, linear-lanceolate acute.

δ.

compactum. leaves fascicled, longer and more obtuse.

44. G. curvirostrum. Hedw. St. ½–1in. cæspitose branches fastigiate; l. linear-lanceolate, spreading keeled, margins recurved, nerved nearly to apex; caps. broadly ovoid, lid adhering to columella, conical battened, with a long suddenly bent beak.

Moist sub-alpine rocks. Autumn.

var. β.

pomiforme. leaves narrow, caps. more spherical.

γ.

microcarpon. l. broader, erecto-patent, caps. smaller, roundish obovate.

δ.

pallidisetum. st. long slender, l. fascicled, caps. small obovate, with a shorter pedicel and beak.

Sect. II. Infl. monoicous; margins of l. incurved or plane, not reflexed.

a. Caps. contracted at mouth; sporangium adherent to columella forming a closed sac.

45. G. squarrosum. Wils. St. ¼in. loosely tufted, l. linear-lanceolate, squarrose, distant, blunt, nerve running out into a mucro; caps. elliptical, sometimes oblique and unequal; lid with a blunt beak.

Clay fields and banks. Autumn, Spring.

46. G. microstomum. Hedw. St. ⅛ to ¼in. densely tufted; l. linear-lanceolate, acute, upper ones longest, nerve excurrent; capsule elliptical, sometimes oblique and gibbous, olive-brown, much contracted, lid with a longish curved beak.

Fields, &c. Spring.

var. β.

obliquum. caps. oblong, oblique, lid sub-rostrate.

γ.

brevirostre. caps. oblong symmetrical, lid short conical.

δ.

brachycarpum. caps. roundish, gibbous.

ε.

elatum. innovations overtopping fruit, caps. roundish small, lid sub-rostrate.

b. Caps. scarcely contracted; sporangium not adherent.

47. G. tortile. Schw. St. ⅛–¼in. densely tufted with fastigiate branches; l. oblong-lanceolate, spreading or sub-erect curved, obtuse, pointed with the excurrent nerve; caps. elliptical, with a purple mouth and an inclined beaked lid.

Limestone rocks. Spring.

var. β.

subcylindricum. l. linear-lanceolate, caps. oblong.

6. WEISSIA. Hedw.

a. Monoicous.

48. W. controversa. Hedw. St. ⅛–¼in. branched; l. lower lanceolate, upper linear-lanceolate, margin incurved, with a slightly excurrent nerve; caps. oval, erect, lid conical, beak half-length of capsule; barren fl. gemmiform.

Frequent. Spring.

var. β.

stenocarpa. caps. sub-cylindrical narrow.

γ.

densifolia. densely tufted; l. crowded narrower.

δ.

amblyodon. teeth of peristome variable, short and truncate, acute or cleft at apex., yellowish.

ε.

gymnostomoides. teeth of peristome almost wanting.

49. W. mucronata. B. & S. Smaller than last; l. linear-lanceolate, with plane margins, the nerve slightly excurrent and forming a mucro; caps. oblong, scarcely striated; teeth of per. short truncate, perforated, lid with a longish beak; barren fl. gemmiform.

Fallow (clay) ground. III. IV.

50. W. cirrhata. Hedw. St. ½–1in. loosely tufted; l. linear-lanceolate, spreading entire concave, keeled, margin reflexed, not nerved to apex; per. l. slightly sheathing, shorter; caps. oval-oblong; lid with a long beak; monoicous.

Posts and rocks in mountainous districts.

51. W. crispula. Hedw. St. shorter than last, branched; l. spreading, frequently falcato-secund, lanceolate-subulate, base wide, concave; margins plane, not nerved to apex; caps. oval or oblong without annulus; lid beaked. Barren fl. gemmiform.

Mountainous rocks. VI. VII.

Sect. II. Infl. dioicous; terminal.

52. W. verticillata. Brid. St. ¼–¾in., branches fastigiate; l. linear-lanceolate, rigid, denticulate at base, sub-erect, margin plane, with a strong slightly excurrent nerve; teeth of per. incurved, not barred, sometimes perforated; caps. erect, reddish; lid beaked.

Dripping limestone rocks. VI. VII.

53. W. calcarea. Müll. St. short, simple; densely tufted, radiculose at base; l. lower small ferruginous, erecto-patent, narrowly lanceolate; upper larger deep green lineal-lanceolate, rather obtuse concave, stoutly nerved nearly to apex, margin minutely crenulate; per. l. lanceolate concave acute; caps. oblong sub-cylindric short-necked erect, on a pale yellow seta, lid conical subulate.

var. δ.

brevifolium. Schpr. Slender branched; l. lower very minute distant, upper crowded ovate-lanceolate, recurved above; caps. oval.

Damp rocks and walls. Blackhall, nr. Banchory, Dee side. Mr. Sim. var. δ. only and barren. [Dr. Braithwaite.]

54. W. commutata. Mitt. “L. from a sub-oblong base lanceolate, narrowed, keeled with the nerve, which vanishes below apex, cells nearly all elongated and pellucid; per. l. similar”; caps. turbinate, lid with a very oblique longish beak.

Alpine rocks, Nant-y-Fydd, Wrexham (Mr. Bowman.)

55. W. truncicola. De Not. In large dense bright green tufts; st. 1–2in. dichotomous, reddish, radiculose below; l. erect when moist and often secund on the young shoots, rather soft, papillose at back, from a narrowly lanceolate base gradually subulate channelled, thinly nerved nearly to apex, margin not revolute, sharply denticulate above and on the back of the nerve; strongly cirrhate and twisted when dry; basal cells large cylindraceo-vesicular, the rest small quadrate or sub-hexagonal, filled with chlorophyll. [Dr. Braithwaite, Jour. Bot., IX., 290.]

Base of an oak trunk in Sutton Park, Birmingham. J. Bagnall, 27th Aug., 1870.

7. RHABDOWEISSIA. Bruch. & S.

56. R. fugax. B. & S. St. ¼–½in. tufted; l. linear-lanceolate, acute, toothed near apex, margins plane; caps. ovate, somewhat striated; teeth of per. subulate, fugacious; lid with an oblique beak longer than capsule.

Sub-alpine rocks, in crevices. VI. VII.

57. R. denticulata. B. & S. St. longer than last, loosely tufted; l. lingulate or linear-lanceolate, strongly toothed half way from apex; caps. more distinctly striated when dry, teeth of per. lanceolate, persistent.

Alpine and sub-alpine rocks.

8. CAMPYLOSTELIUM. Bruch. & S.

58. C. saxicola. B. & S. Minute; l. elongate, linear-lanceolate, crowded entire, twisted, nerved nearly to summit; caps. elliptical drooping, on a geniculate pedicel, annulus double, calyptra 5–cleft. at base.

Sandstone rocks, rare. XI.

9. BRACHYODUS. Nees. & H.

59. B. trichodes. N. & H. Very minute; l. lanceolate-subulate, almost setaceous; erect, with an excurrent nerve forming half the leaf; caps. erect, furrowed; per. very short, annulus large, lid flattish with a long beak.

Sub-alpine sandstone rocks. Spring.

10. SELIGERIA. Bruch & S.

60. S. pusilla. Bruch. & S. Minute, ⅛in. stems loosely tufted, simple or dichotomous; l. lanceolate-subulate, very narrow, thinly nerved nearly to apex; per. with teeth distantly barred; caps. on an upright pedicel, turbinate when dry, with a flattish beaked lid.

Shady limestone rocks. IV. V.

61. S. tristicha. Brid. Densely cæspitose, rigid; l. exactly tristichous, crowded, rigid, narrowly lanceolate, muticous, base whitish; caps. yellowish brown sub-spherical, with a tumid neck, lid large with a long oblique or arcuate beak; per. teeth narrower than in calcarea.

Calcareous stones and rocks. Summer.

Blair Athol, Glen Tilt, and Ben-y-Gloe. Rev. J. M. Crombie.

62. S. paucifolia. Carruthers. (S. subcernua, Schp.; S. calcicola, Mitt.) Densely gregarious, low; leaves crowded erecto-patent, lower ones lanceolate, upper subulate from a narrow oblong base, margins plane, nerve exserted, areolæ dense, rectangular; caps. elliptical sub-cernuous on a long seta, unsymmetrical, lid with a long beak; male fl. at base of female plant.

Limestone rocks and stones. VI.

Chalk Downs, Sussex, Mr. Mitten; Near Wetherby, 1801, Dickson.

[63. S. acutifolia. Lind. Very small; l. and per. l. from a more or less sheathing base abruptly narrowed into a subterete setiform acute pointed awl, formed by the excurrent nerve, crenulate; seta 1 mm. long; caps. small, scarcely exserted, pyriform with a short neck, lid with a short scarcely oblique beak];—type not British but

var. β.

longiseta, Lindb. Plant larger, seta 2–3 mm. long, caps. exserted, beak of lid longer and more oblique—gathered by Mr. Wilson, 14th May, 1831, and sent by him to Dr. Lindberg.

64. S. calcarea. B. & S. St. short, more robust, than No. 60, l. ovate-subulate, obtuse, dull green with a thicker nerve; caps. turbinate, shortly beaked, on a short stiff pedicel; peris. teeth, broader obtuse, closely barred.

Chalk cliffs. IV. V.

65. S. recurvata. B. & S. St. minute gregarious; l. lanceolate-subulate, somewhat flexuose, acute, nerve excurrent generally; caps. obovate elliptical; pedicel curved drooping.

Sandstone rocks, rare. IV. V.

11. ANODUS. Bruch. & S.

66. A. Donianus. B. & S. St. minute, ⅛in. gregarious; l. almost setaceous, lanceolate-subulate, very minutely toothed; per. l. bluntish and rather shorter; caps. cup-shaped or turbinate, mouth wide; Cal. dimidiate; perist. none, lid with a short beak.

Sandstone rocks, rare. IX.

12. STYLOSTEGIUM. Wils.

67. S. cæspiticium. B. & S. St. ¼–½in. densely tufted; branches fastigiate; l. somewhat falcate and secund, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate; per. l. larger with a sheathing base entire, nerve predominant; caps. roundish-pyriform glossy; lid obliquely beaked, adherent to columella.

Alpine rocks, in crevices. VII.

13. BLINDIA. Wils.

68. B. acuta. B. & S. St. ½–3in. tufted; l. subulate or lanceolate-setaceous, rigid, glossy, sub-secund, nerve thick; per. l. sheathing; caps. roundish-pyriform, on a short reddish pedicel; lid with a longish beak.

Moist alpine or sub-alpine rocks. Summer.

var. β.

breviseta. “Stem shorter, caps. on a very short pedicel.” Wils.

γ.

rupincola. pedicels arcuate.

δ.

trichodes. Braithwaite. l. longer and more falcate. Wet rocks, near Bolton.—Whitehead.

14. ARCTOA. Bruch. & S.

69. A. fulvella. B. & S. St. ½–2in. densely tufted; l. somewhat secund, often falcate, subulate-setaceous dull green, sometimes slightly toothed at apex, nerve predominant, per. l. large sheathing; caps. ovate, sometimes gibbous, 8–furrowed, lid obliquely beaked; barren fl. gemmiform: monoicous.

Fissures of alpine rocks. VII. VIII.

15. CYNODONTIUM. Bruch. & S.

70. C. Bruntoni. B. & S. St. ½–1in. tufted, branches fastigiate; l. linear-lanceolate or lanc-subulate, keeled, sometimes minutely denticulate at apex, margin reflexed, twisted when dry, nerved almost or quite to apex; per. l. sheathing; caps. erect obovate or elliptical; lid with a long oblique beak.

Sub-alpine rocks. VI.

16. DICRANUM. Hedw.

a. (Dicranella. Schimp.)

Sect. I. Stem long, rooting in all parts; leaves spreading flexuose, papillose on both sides, crenulate in margin, not nerved to apex; infl. monoicous; beak of lid shorter than caps.

71. D. polycarpum. Ehr. L. bent, flexuose, often recurved, lanceolate-subulate or linear-lanceolate, keeled, margin recurved, somewhat papillose, denticulate at apex, nerve excurrent; caps. erect, symmetrical, striated, with a tumid neck.

Alpine rocks. VII. VIII.

var. β.

strumiferum. caps. unequal, base strumose.

Sect. II. St. rooting in all parts, leafy; l. spreading, nerve slightly excurrent; infl. monoicous; caps. strumose.

72. D. virens. Hedw. St. 1–3in. branched; l. erect ovate-lanceolate at base, sheathing, running to a long sub-denticulate, almost setaceous prolongation, margins recurved, nerve thick sub-excurrent; caps. cernuous strumose smooth oblong and curved; lid beaked.

Moist alpine rocks; Ben Lawers. VI. VII.

var. β.

Wahlenbergii. l. flexuose, much attenuated, above narrower and longer, yellowish; caps. short, with a very prominent struma.

γ.

serratum. stems taller; l. recurved from a sheathing base, coarsely serrated.

δ.

compactum. st. shorter and slender; l. shorter lanceolate from an ovate base, entire, or very slightly toothed at apex; caps. gibbous on a shorter pedicel.

ε.

gracilescens. l. narrower; caps. smaller.

Sect. III. L. squarrose, or patent spreading.

73. D. pellucidum. Hedw. St. 1–2in. loosely tufted; l. distant, lanceolate, margins undulate, denticulate, papillose obtuse; caps. shortly ovate; lid conical rostrate; dioicous.

Wet stones in streams. X. XI.

var. β.

fagimontanum. st. short, branches slender, l. shorter.

γ.

serratum. l. crenato-serrate, with a more acute point; caps. oval or oblong, lid with a slender beak.

74. D. crispum. Hedw. St. ¼in. gregarious, l. subulate from a broadish sheathing base setaceous above, long, spreading flexuose, minutely dentate, nerved to apex; caps. almost erect, oval or obovate, striate; lid with a long oblique subulate beak: monoicous.

Moist sandy banks, not common. X. XI.

75. D. Grevillianum. B. & S. L. with a broad sheathing base, suddenly lanceolate-subulate prolonged, wide-spreading and wavy, entire, nerve broad; caps. ovate, sub-striate, strumose; lid with a beak longer than capsule: monoicous.

“Glen Tilt, at foot of Ben-y-Gloe, 1823, not since found.”—Wils. VIII. IX.

[I have a specimen gathered by Dr. A. O. Black, marked “Esk-no-more.”]

76. D. Schreberi. Hedw. St. ½–1in. sub-cæspitose, branched sparingly; l. base broad, suddenly lanceolate-subulate, spreading flexuose keeled, denticulate at apex; caps. ovate-oblong, scarcely strumose, cernuous; lid conical, shortly rostrate; dioicous.

Clayey or sandy soil near streams, rare. X. XI.

Lancashire, Cheshire, and near Glasgow.

77. D. squarrosum. Schrad. St. 1–3in. dichotomous; l. lanceolate from a broad sheathing base obtuse, undulate, entire concave recurved, nerve narrow, reaching nearly to apex; caps. ovate-oblong cernuous; lid long conical, with a short beak.

Wet mountainous places. VIII. IX.

78. D. cerviculatum. Hedw. St. ¼in. sparingly branched; l. spreading flexuose, almost setaceous from a broadish amplexicaul base, entire, nerved into the subula; caps. roundish ovate gibbous, strumose; lid with a long oblique or curved subulate beak.

Sandy banks or on turf, frequent. VI. VII.

var. β.

pusillum. st. shorter, simple; l. smaller sub-erect; caps. smaller and less gibbous.

Sect. IV. L. secund or sub-secund.

79. D. varium. Hedw. St. ¼in. cæspitose; l. lanceolate, entire keeled sub-denticulate at apex, margin reflexed, nerve scarcely excurrent; caps. inclined, ovate or oblong, slightly tumid; lid shortly beaked; seta twisted to the right.

Moist banks. XI. XIII.

var., β.

tenuifolium. l. narrow, obscurely nerved.

γ.

tenellum. st. slender, scarcely branched; l. falcato-secund, distantly denticulate.

δ.

callistomum. l. scarcely secund, caps. erect, obovate truncated, lid almost as long as caps.

80. “D. fallax. Wils. MS. Closely resembles the last. L. more distant, with impressed wings and less elongated setaceous points, and a more dilated flattened nerve, uppermost sub-secund. Caps. nearly symmetric erect or sub-cernuous, with a shorter conical lid: dioicous.” [Dr. Braithwaite, Jour. Bot., VIII., 227.]

Banks. III. IV.

Anglesea (Wilson); Cotterall Wood (Hunt); Park Gate, Cheshire (Miss Jelly).

81. D. rufescens. Turn. St. short bright red, scarcely branched; l. linear-lanceolate, obscurely toothed, reddish, margins plane, secund, pellucid; caps. erect ovate or obovate, slightly tumid, with a conical beaked lid. Seta twisted to the left; dioicous.

Moist sandy banks. X. XI.

82. D. subulatum. Hedw. St. ½–1in. l. falcato-secund, setaceous from an oblong-lanceolate base, entire; caps. ovate gibbous oblique striate when dry, seta red; dioicous.

Moist shady sandy banks; common on the mortar of walls, &c. IX. X.

83. D. curvatum. Hedw. Cæspitose; st. bi-tripartite; l. setaceous from a shortly ovate semi-sheathing base, channelled, apex denticulate, falcato-setaceous; caps. erect or sub-erect, ovate-oblong, slightly gibbous, distinctly striate. [Sch. Syn. p. 75. Bry. Eur. vol. I.]

Walls. Autumn and Spring.

Llanberis, N. Wales (W. Wilson).

84. D. heteromallum. Hedw. St. ½–1in. simple or branched, in silky tufts; l. lanceolate-setaceous, slightly dentate at apex; caps. obovate gibbous, obliquely plicate when dry; lid with a long beak, seta pale yellowish; dioicous.

Moist banks and walls. XI. XII.

var. β.

strictum. l. erecto-patent, straight, not secund; seta longer flexuose.

γ.

interruptum. larger; stem interrupted leafy; l. spreading or secund.

δ.

sericeum. Schp. plants taller; l. diverging almost on all sides, pale green or yellowish, often strongly and remotely toothed. Soccoth Hill, Arrochar (McKinlay).

b. (Eu-dicranum.)

Sect. I. Falcatæ. Densely tufted, st. dichotomous and fastigiate, decumbent at base with few or no radicular fibres; l. lanceolate-subulate, secund or falcato-secund, nerve predominant above; caps. cernuous, neck strumose or ventricose, lid with a long beak: monoicous.

85. D. Starkii. Web. & M. St. 1–3in. branched; l. subulate-setaceous from a lanceolate base, falcato-secund, entire, nerve strongly predominant, caps. oblong arcuate, gibbous, strumose, striate, sub-cernuous.

Alpine rocks. VIII.

var. β.

molle. taller; l. wider lanceolate, purplish brown; nerve not predominant.

Summit of Ben Nevis.

86. D. falcatum. Hedw. St. shorter, dichotomously branched and fastigiate; l. strongly falcato-secund, from a lanceolate base subulato-setaceous, denticulate at apex, nerve predominant, caps. shortly obovate, strumose, almost smooth when dry; lid large beaked.

Alpine rocks. VIII. IX.

87. D. Blyttii. Br. & S. St. branched fastigiate; l. flexuoso-patent, or sub-secund, from an erect base lanceolate-subulate, soft, entire, nerve predominant, per. l. sheathing; caps. sub-cernuous, ovate, incurved, without striæ, strumose, lid rostrate; per. teeth narrow inflexed when dry.

Alpine and sub-alpine rocks. VIII.

Sect. II. Orthocarpa. Densely cæspitose; st. 1 or more inches high, dichotomous, with or without radicular fibres; l. secund, lanceolate-subulate, smooth glossy, nerve excurrent or nerveless. Caps. erect cylindrical; neck long symmetrical; lid conical at base.

88. D. glaciale. Berg. Monoicous, in wide tufts, without radicular tomentum, erect, 2–5in. high, l. erecto-patent, straight glossy, lowest minute lanceolate nerveless, upper oblong at base, lanceolate-subulate, deeply concave, margin inflexed entire, basal angles auricled, orange, nerve narrow compressed; per. l. sheathing, suddenly narrowed into a long subula; caps. cernuous, cylindraceous, more or less incurved strumose, not striate; lid rostrate.

Alpine rocks; Ben Nevis, Clova, Ben-y-Gloe.