Hairy-cap Mosses 



while on a trip in the North, to have used the dry 

 plants as stuffing for his pillow and mattress and to 

 have recommended it as not harbouring fleas and 

 infectious diseases. 



Name. The specific name commune, common, 

 describes the general distribution of this moss. 



Plant (gametopbyte) . Tall, 6 to 18 inches high; 

 dark-green or red-brown. The male plants often with 

 the flower-heads in an ascending series of five to six, 

 marking the age of the plant; stems simple, 

 rarely forking; below, leafless, with the 

 basal portions of old leaves adhering; 

 growth erect from the centre of the male 

 heads or directly from the ground. 



Leaves. Crowded above, about y\ of 

 an inch long; apex spreading and recurved, 

 lance-shaped and pointed, base enlarged, 

 white, glossy, sheathing; vein rough on the 

 back and bearing from 50-60 lamellae on the 

 upper surface; margin inrolled when dry, 

 serrate; lamella 5 to 6 cells deep, the ter- 

 minal the largest, semilunar or concave in 

 section. 



Leaves at tbe base of tbe pedicel (perichatial leaves}. White, ^ 

 of an inch long, without lamellae; awn long and horny. 



Habit of flowering. Male and female flowers on separate 

 plants, (dioicous). 



Veil (calyptra). Covered with long silky hairs, 

 concealing the spore-case. 



Spore-case. Erect, finally horizontal, 

 4-angled; apophysis distinct, disk-like. 



Pedicel (seta). Stout, 

 2\ to 4 inches long. 



Apex of leaf. Leaf. 



P. commune. 



'..Mi. 



Polytrichum lamella seen 

 from the side. 



{Spo-rc.-co.8t. 



.(X-poph y si 6 . 



.Tt3.ie.Li. 



Spore-case. 

 P. commune. 



257 



Veil. 



Veil on spore- 

 case. 



