Fam. 16. BARTRAMIACE^E. 



Perennial mosses growing in tomentose cushioned tufts, innovating 

 below the inflorescence and finally becoming dichotomous. Leaves 

 in 5 8 rows, ovato-lanceolate or subulate, serrated at margin and 

 often at back of nerve, mamilloso-papillose on both sides, very rarely 

 smooth, the papilla being near the transverse wall at end of cell, the 

 upper cells small rectangular or quadrate, the basal smooth, hexagono- 

 rectangular. Calyptra small, cucullate, very fugacious. Capsule more 

 or less spherical, without a neck, cernuous or rarely erect, with an 

 oblique mouth, when dry pressed in at base, striated and furrowed, 

 rarely smooth. Annulus none. Lid minute, muticous. Peristome 

 rarely none or simple, teeth 16, inserted below the mouth of capsule, 

 often between the lamellae in the upper half, having on the inner side, 

 central thickened deposits; endostome shorter, carinate-plicate, the 

 processes cleft into two diverging legs, cilia none or ill-developed. 

 Male infl. terminal discoid, rarely gemmaceous. Inhabiting the earth, 

 rocks or bogs. 



This family of over 200 species is one of the most beautiful among 

 mosses, especially in the larger forms, and is marked by the globose fruits 

 which before ripening are often covered with a glaucous bloom. It is 

 widely distributed, but about half the species are natives of S. America, 

 and we have 22 in Europe. 



Sect. i. BARTRAMIE^E. Capsule large, striato-sulcate, teeth 

 lanceolate ; leaf-cells papillose. 



i. CONOSTOMUM Swartz. 



Schrad. neu Journ. Dot. I, P. Ill, 26 (1806). 



Plants erect, straight, densely crowded in small fastigiate tufts, 

 tomentoso-radiculose. Leaves in 5 rows, imbricated, lanceolate 

 carinate, with the areolation of Bartramia. Calyptra cucullate, long 

 persistent. Capsule elevated on a tall seta, cernuous, turgidly obovate, 

 striate ; lid minute with a short beak. Peristome simple of 16 teeth, 

 long lineal-lanceolate, connivent into a cone and bound together at apex. 

 Der. /aoi/os a cone, a-rop-a mouth. 



