musci. (mosses.) 675 



branches sparingly ramulose; cauline leaves subeomplanate, deenrved at the 

 apex (those of the branches secund-falcate), ovate-lanceolate, minutely serrulate 

 above; capsule ccrnuous, incurved-oblong ; operculum convex-conic. — Wet 

 rocks on the ground, forming loose spongy masses, New York : rare. — Resem- 

 bles No. 50, and large forms of No. 47 ; but its ramification and mode of growth 

 are quite different. (Eu.) 



I) 16. RHYTiDIUM, Sulliv. — Stems prostrate; the main divisions robust, rigid, 

 arcuate-ascending, irregularly pinnate, with short subuncinate branchlds: leaves 

 ovate-lanceolate, attenuated, often secund and subfalcate, undulate-rugose, semicos- 

 tate; areolation compact, linear, Jkxuous : capsule cylindrical, arcuate-horizontal: 

 operculum conic, shortly rostellate: ca/yptra large. 



54. II. rngosnm, Ehrh. Dioecious; stems erect, 2' -3' high; foliage 

 yellow or fulvous. — Grows in large elastic cushions, mostly in exposed places, 

 on limestone rocks : not uncommon ; but extremely rare in fruit. (Eu.) 



4 17. BRACHYTHECIUM, Bryol. Enrop.— Stems prostrate, rarely suberect; 

 ramification profuse, irregular, occasionally subpinnate: leaves erect-latent, usually 

 ovate or ovate-lanceolate, more or less acuminate, the margins below recurved; areo- 

 lation rhomboidal , more or less elongated; cosla ceasing half-way, or continuous: 

 capsule ovate or oblong, cemuous or suberect: operculum convex-conic: pedicel 

 smooth or scabrous. 



* Pedicels smooth. 



55. H. llitens, Schreb. Monoecious; stems tomentose, suberect, 3' -5' 

 long, interruptedly and subpinnately ramulose ; leaves yellowish-green, shining, 

 elongated-lanceolate, attenuated, strongly snlcate-plieate ; costa light, subcontin- 

 uous; capsule oblong, cernuous ; operculum short, convex-conic, apiculato; an- 

 nulus large; pedicels 1' - 2' long. — Sphagnous swamps, Northern and Middle 

 States. (Eu.) 



56. H. saBcbrosum, Hoffm. Monoecious ; stems 3' -4' long, prostrate, 

 irregularly branched ; leaves moderately acuminated from a rounded base, sub- 

 serrulate, slightly striate ; areolation broader and more lax near the base ; costa 

 slender, vanishing about midway ; capsule gibbosc-ovate, turgid, cernuous ; an- 

 nulus small ; pedicels 6"- 10" long ; perichstial leaves subsquarrose. — On the 

 ground, decayed logs, rocks, &c. ; common and variable. — Foliage yellowish- 

 green and shining. (Tab. V.) (Eu.) 



57. II. l&Uui), Brid. Very like (and often confounded with) No. 56 ; 

 but more slender, with an erect-cernuous oblong-cylindrical capsule and dioecious 

 inflorescence. — Similar situations. 



08. H. acuBBBiiiatum, Beauv. Dioecious; resembles the last species; 

 but is every way smaller; stems prostrate, closely entangled; the branches 

 crowded, ascending ; leaves slightly spreading, ovate-lanceolate, serrulate near 

 the point, costate beyond the middle, the margins broadly recurved; capsule 

 cylindrical, nearly regular, erect, or slightly curved ; annulus none ; ciliolse of 

 the inner peristome present or absent. (Leskea acuminata, Hedw.) — On the 

 ground and decayed logs, in moist, shady places. —Prominent among its many 

 varieties are var. rupincolum : leaves shorter ; branches subjulaceous ; capsule 



