96 



MOSSES. 



moss (Funaria hygrometrica, fig. 5). This moss always 

 liourishes upon wood ashes, though it is obliging enough 

 often to exist without them. I never saw it so abundant or so 

 luxuriant as in Herefordshire, where they regularly level a 

 portion of the extensive woods annually, using the trunks for 

 timber or mine props, according to the size, and burning 

 the refuse for charcoal. These old charcoal pits are like 

 fairy gardens, carpeted with Cord moss and Liverwort, 

 and hedged round by Arabis Thaliana, Myosotis Arvensis 

 and several other pretty field plants. 



There are two other British Cord mosses, but both 

 very rare. The Irish Cord moss has been found near 

 Cork ; and Muhlenberg's Cord moss has no distinct 

 British habitat. 



The next family form a group called Bladder mosses 

 (Physcomitrium) the characteristics of which are, a pear 



or club-shaped urn, upon an 

 erect or slightly curved fruit - 

 stalk, a convex lid, and an 

 inflated veil. The bladder- 

 like veil gives the name 

 to the group. The Narrow - 

 leaved Bladder moss has the 

 urn erect, and the leaves 

 lance-shaped and serrrated 

 (Physcomitrium ericetorum). 

 It inhabits heathy districts, and was sent to me from 

 Teesdale. 



Edward found another Bladder moss. It was growing in 

 patches, had oblong leaves, and a pear-shaped urn. It w 

 the Common species (P. pyriforme, fir/. 7). Another in 



BRYUM. 2. FUNARIA. 



3. BARTRAMIA. 



4. SPHLACHNUM. 



