Hairy-cap Mosses 



out flowers." Pliny called them "golden maiden-hair." They 

 were dedicated to Venus and afterward to the Virgin Mary. 

 Because of this fancied resemblance of the veils to a maiden's 

 tresses, they were used to make a wash which was supposed to 

 strengthen the hair. 



Polytrichnni commune. Crc ss- 

 section of stem. 



With lid. Without lid. With veil. 



P. commune. Spore-cases. 



The plants are very tall, i to 18 inches high, and live on year 

 after year, growing perpendicularly from the centre of the male 

 (antheridial) flower-heads or from horizontal underground stems, 

 or from the side of main stems. The stems (see 

 page 45) are stout, with almost woody fibres run- 

 ning up through them. 



The leaves are long and slender, with a lance- 

 shaped, awned apex and a membranous sheathing 

 base; the vein is broad and covered by numerous 

 thin green blades (lame/Ice, see page 44), and the 

 margins are entire or serrate, often inrolled. 



The generic name Polytrichum is composed of 

 two Greek words, TroXw, many, and 6pl%, a hair, 

 and refers to the large mitrate, hairy veil which 

 may partially or entirely cover the spore-case. 



The spore-cases are erect or horizontal with 4 to 

 6 angles, a distinct basal portion (apophysis, see 

 page 57), and lids conical or flattened-convex with 

 a point at the centre. 



The peristome is single, of 64 short, rigid teeth 

 united at the base and joined above to a thin circular 

 disk (epiphragm) which terminates a central column. 



249 



M. jttnipcrin- 

 wm. Leaf with 

 unrolled mar- 

 gins. 



