FISSIDENTACE^.] 7 2 \Fissidens. 



Fuscina bryoides SCHRANK Balers. Fl. ii, 451 (1789) ; Prim. Fl. Salisb. n. 826 (1792). 

 Dicranum bryoides SIBTH. Fl. oxon. 179 (1794)- R <> TH Fl. germ, iii, 181 (1795). SMITH 



Fl. Brit, iii, 1232 (1804). TURN. Muse. hib. 56 (1804). SCHKUHR Deutsch. Kr. Gew. 



P. II, 82, t. 37 (1810). HOOK. TAYL. Muse. Brit. 51, t. 16, p.p. (1818). GRAY Nat. arr.. 



Br. P l. i, 733 (1821). MACK. Fl. Hib. P. 2, 21 (1836). 

 Skitophyllum bryoides LA PYL. in DESV. Journ. Bot. 1813, 40, t. 35, f. 4. 

 SMstophyllum bry. BRID. MSS. LINDBERG. 

 Fiss. inconstans SCHIMP. Syn. muse. 2 ed. 114 (1876). 



Autoicous; deep green, densely gregarious or somewhat csespitose. 

 Stems i in. ascending from a declinate base ; leaves 3-plurijugous, 

 patulous, oblongo-ligulate, mucronulate, with a thickish hyaline border, 

 confluent at apex with the excurrent nerve, or ending below a very 

 minutely serrate apiculus ; vag. lam. about half length of leaf, inf. lam. 

 narrowed downward to the base and decurrent ; areolation angular- 

 rotundate. Capsule on a purple seta, erect or slightly inclined, ovate 

 or oblong, small, brown ; calyptra cucullate, lid conic-attenuate, short 

 red ; teeth of peristome deep red, cleft half way, the legs subulate, very 

 scabrous; spores smooth. Male infl. axillar, numerous, bracts 4 5, 

 vertical lamina minute, pointed, antheridia few, very small ; sometimes 

 also it is on a radical surculus. 

 HAB. Damp shady banks in woods and edges of streams, common. 



Fr. 10 i. 



Few persons have seen this little moss without admiring it, and occa- 

 sionally it is found in shady crevices where spray falls, tinged with a steel 

 blue gloss which renders it still more beautiful. It is usually credited with 

 being the plant which attracted Mungo Park's attention when in great 

 distress during his African wanderings, but unfortunately this is not correct, 

 the species he brought back is a smaller plant with a short seta, and non- 

 margined leaves which Mr. Mitten has named Fiss. Parkii. 



I regard F. inconstans Schimp. (Sunningwell, Oxford, Boswell 1861) as 

 rather of the nature of a sport than a permanent variety, as in structure it 

 agrees in every respect with F. bryoides. The fruit is both terminal and 

 from the middle on the same stem, and others have it radical like F. taxifolins, 

 while the male infl. is axillar like the type, radical as in F. incurvus, and 

 sometimes terminal on a separate plant ; the same form has been found by 

 Mr. Bagnall at Binton Bridges, Warwick, and it is very probable that F. 

 gymnandrus BUSE forms another link in the chain. F. rivularis SPRUCE is quite 

 distinct, having smaller areolation and a very thick border. 



Var. ft. caespitans Schimp. 



Plants i iin. high, sparingly branched by innovation, soft, bright 

 green, in wide crowded patches interwoven with rufous purple radicles. 

 Border of leaves narrow, vanishing below the very minutely serrate 

 apiculus. Capsules pale, thin, ovato-rotundate, inclined. 

 SYN. SCHIMP. Syn. muse. 2 ed. m. 



HAB. Wet rocks under spray of a waterfall, Newlyn cliff, Penzance (Curnow 1868) ! ! In a 

 stream at Kymal bridge, St. Creed (Ralfs 1879) ! ! 



