Genus Polyirichum ; with fame Emendations* 77 



*** Caule ramofo. 



12. Polytrichum Jlriftum, fol. lanceolatis acuminatis erectiufculis, 

 marginibus infiexis integerrlmis, capfulis quadrangularibus, 

 apophyfi infidentibus. Tab. 7. Fig. I. 



Vaill Par. 13 1. /. 23. f. 6. 



Hab. in America Septentrionali, in locis JleriUbus Anglice, et in Scotia. 



This fpecies was gathered in the year 1766 on Newfoundland by 

 Sir Jofeph Banks, Bart, who defcribed it under the foregoing name 

 in a manufcript preferved in his library, which I was fuffered to perufe 

 in the moft liberal manner. I found it about twelve years ago near 

 Halifax in Nova Scotia, and fince that time in feveral places on the 

 north-weft coaft of America ; and I lately found it alfo in different 

 places in Scotland, particularly on the top of the park walls, on both 

 fides of the road, about a mile to the eaftward of Taymouth in 

 Breadalbane, where it grows in common with P. commune and P. pi- 

 liferum. 



It is branched, and about two inches in height. The roots, together 

 with the lower parts of the ftem and branches, are covered with a 

 whitifh downy fubftance, of a fpongy texture : the lower parts of 

 the branches appear (lender, from the leaves being fmaller and more 

 thinly fet there than towards the tops, where the leaves are larger and 

 more crowded. — The leaves are thick, ftiff,erecT:, lanceolate and fharp- 

 pointed,with entire edges, which, like the preceding, are folded flat 

 back to the furface of the leaf from both fides : in a dried flare tlie 

 leaves prefs clofe to the (talk, and their points are nightly hifpid : 

 thofe which furround the bafe of the peduncles are moftly membra- 

 naceous rmd pellucid, with greeniih middle nerves ending in (lender 

 filaceous tips. — The peduncles are from an'inch to two inches in length, 

 arifing from the fummits of the branches out of cylindrical tubes 



nearly 



