MOSS HABITATS. 319 



Cryphaa heteromaUa is a local moss, occumng mostly on the ash, has 

 a creeping pinnate stem, fruiting branches erect, the capsnle immersed 

 n the surrounding leaves, the calyptra conical, brownish, and the fringe 

 or peristome white ; fruiting in June. 



Leucodon sciuroides 1 fi.ndi vcpon the ash, elm, and apple trees, often 

 very abundant, but very rarely fruiting. This species has also a creeping 

 stem, with numerous erect shoots ; the leaves are spreading when moist, 

 but imbricate (overlapping) when dry ; the shoots are thickened at the 

 end and incurved, and the leaves are nerveless ; marginal leaf cells 

 round, central ones oblong. 



In calcareous and marly soils I find the yellowish-green tufts of Zygodon 

 viridissimiis not unfrequently on the lower part of the trunks of elm, ash, 

 and sometimes oak trees ; when moist and fresh-gathered the leaves are 

 spreading, but when dry they are crisped and somewhat twisted ; the 

 leaves are widely lance-shaped, have plane margins, very small dot-like 

 cells, and a pellucid nerve. I have not seen this in fruit, but it should be 

 sought for in spring. 



TTei-ssja C(rr7i<a fa is an abundant moss on trees, gate-posts, and rails, 

 forming dark-green cushions. The leaves are lanceolate, with the 

 margins turned over towards the underside, crisped when dry, leaf cells 

 minute and opaque ; the capsule is terminal, borne on a short, straight 

 foot-stalk, has a long straight beak, and a fringe of sixteen rudimentary 

 teeth. 



Leskea polycarpa I have found most frequently on the roots of 

 willows, especially near water, but it also occurs in drier habitats. It 

 forms matted yeUowish-green tufts ; the stem is creeping, somewhat 

 divided with pinnate branches, leaves spreading, somewhat oval in shape, 

 slightly roughened or papillose on the back, leaf cells roundish. The fruit 

 stalk is lateral, 'Plate IV., oa,] * the capsules erect and the hd conical, the 

 fringe consisting of an outer and an inner row of sixteen teeth. 



Woods will peld many of oxir most beautiful mosses, the borders 

 where the shade is not too great being usually the most prolific spots. 

 Many of the species already mentioned will be found, but the most 

 characteristic are such mosses as JIniiim undulatum, Polytrichum formo^um, 

 Hypnum tamariscinum, H. triquetrum, Dicranum scoparium, J/h/mot hornum, 

 &c. 



2Inium undulatum is a very noble-looking moss, not unfrequent in 

 shady woods and on shady banks in a marly soil. It grows in large green 

 patches, and has a very tree-like habit ; the leaves are tongue-shaped, 

 obtuse, with a shghtly thickened margin, which is toothed with distinct 

 simple teeth ; towards the top of the stem the leaves form a rosette, and 

 from this arise arched or pendulous wliip-shaped branches. The leaves 

 are undidated when moist, crisped when dry. The fruit, which is rare, 

 is terminal, the fruit-stalks are long, and the capsules pendulous. 



Mnium hornum, a denizen of like places, is far more frequent. This 

 grows in dense green tufts, the stems being matted together with reddish 

 rootlets. The leaves are lance-shaped, the margin thickened and 



* All the references in this Article are to Plate IV., facing page 193. 



