HANDBOOK 



OF 



BRITISH MOSSES 



Introtiuctorg JHatter. 



CHAPTER I. 



PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 



FEW words are taken with greater latitude in general accep- 

 tation than the word Moss. The botanist assigns to it a defi- 

 nite meaning, confining it to a peculiar division of plants, such 

 members of which as are distributed through the British 

 Isles it is proposed to illustrate in this volume. As used 

 popularly, not only are Lichens and Liverworts included in 

 the term, or even some of the more shrubby seaweeds, as for 

 example Iceland Moss, almost the whole tribe of Jungermannice , 

 and the Corsican Moss of our shops ; but many Phaenogams 

 of a low tufted growth, such as some of the shorter Stone- 

 crops, and other plants of a like habit, as, for example, Sedum 

 acre, which is the Golden Moss of every cottager. Nor are 

 the Greek or Latin words ffpvov and muscus used by ancient 

 authors with more discrimination, not only Algae, Lichens, 

 and true Mosses being included, but even some more perfect 

 plants. The doubt perhaps is whether Mosses were ever in- 



B 



