176 NEW BRITISH MOSSES. 
The true H. polymorphum, Hedw., as represented by the 
specimens of M. Bruch, is a small species with the habit of 
H. serpens (as remarked by Hedwig himself), and distin- 
guished from H. stellatum by good though minute characters. 
It is stated to be rare on the continent, and I have not seen 
it from any British stations, except those above-mentioned. 
The following is the result of my observations upon it. 
Stems prostrate, much branched and intricate. Leaves 
squarroso-patent, the upper often subsecund, slightly twisted 
in drying, pale green or brownish, tapering into a long acu- 
mination from an ovate base, entire, nerveless, the margins 
incurved from a little above the base to near the summit, $0 —— 
as to cause the leaves to appear channeled; they taper toa —— 
longer point than in H. stellatum, and the incurvation of the 
margins makes them appear much more suddenly acuminate; 
the reticulation very nearly as wide as in that species, but 
the cellules shorter. Inflorescence monoicous; male flowers —— 
gemmiform, seated at the base of the fertile flower, and also — 
(though more rarely) here and there along the stem; the 
inner perigonial leaves minute, broadly lanceolate, and includ- 
ing few antheridia. (The inflorescence of H. stellatum and 
var. chrysophyllum is dioicous). Female flower: pericheetial 
leaves subdenticulate, scarcely plicate (strongly so in H. stel- : 
latum). Capsule cernuous, oblongo-cylindrical, by no means — 
ovate, pale-coloured, when just mature yellowish-green, rarely — 
tinged with brown on the upper side (that of H. stellatum, — 
deep reddish-brown), the mouth with a pale red margin, want- — 
ing in H. stellatum, the neck longer, the outer paries remark- 
ably thin and delicate; when dry, much contracted below the 
mouth, like that of H. serpens. Operculum conical, obfuse (that | 
of H. stellatum acute), very fugacious. Calyptra white, as ™ — 
H. serpens. Teeth of outer peristome reddish (those 0° 
H. stellatum pale yellow), marked with a medial line, taperin8 
less than those of H. stellatum, when dry incurved betwee? 
the processes of the inner peristome. eua 
It is possible that the authors of Musc. Brit. may have 
included our H. polymorphum in their H. stellatum B. minus 5 
