90 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



This Moss occurs in North America with other allied spe- 

 cies,, but is very rare in Europe. 



31. H. tenellum, Dicks.; stem creeping; branches and 

 branchlets erect, crowded ; leaves erecto- patent, narrow, lan- 

 ceolate, entire ; nerve reaching nearly to the tip ; fruitstalk 

 even; sporangium ovate; lid rostrate. Hook, Wils. t. 

 xxiv. ; Eny. Bot. t. 1859. ; (Moug. $ Nest. n. 233.) 



On walls and rocks, especially those which are calcareous. 

 Common. Bearing fruit in early spring. 



Monoicous ; forming silky emerald-green or yellowish 

 tufts. Stem creeping, with erect, crowded branches or 

 branchlets ; leaves crowded, very narrow, lanceolate, almost 

 filiform above, entire ; nerve rather faint, reaching nearly to 

 the tip ; fruitstalk even, a quarter of an inch long ; sporan- 

 gium ovate, cernuous ; lid as long as the sporangium. 



A small, delicate species, easily distinguished from H. 

 Teesdalii by its even fruitstalk, less prominent nerve, and 

 lighter leaves. 



4-4- Lid conical. 

 . AMBLYSTEGIUM, Schimp* 



32. H. serpens, L. / stem creeping, rooting ; branchlets 

 erect, short, crowded, thread-shaped ; leaves spreading or sub- 

 secund, ovato- lanceolate, acuminate, entire; nerve faint, 

 reaching halfway up or nearly to the tip ; fruitstalk even ; 

 sporangium oblong, curved, cernuous; lid conical, acute. 

 Hook. $ Wils. t. Ixxiv. ; Eng. Bot. t. 1037. ; (Moug. $ Nest. 

 n. 332.) 



On walls, moist banks, trunks of trees, etc. Bearing fruit 

 in spring and summer. Very common. 



Monoicous ; forming thin, yellow-green patches ; stem 



* Differing from Hypnum, Schimp., only in the looser texture of the leaves. 



