102 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



Differs from the next in its prostrate pinnate habit, mostly 

 nerved, less cordate leaves, and absence of loose tissue at the 

 base. The prostrate form, however, of H. stellatum comes 

 very near to it. 



41. H. stellatum, Schreb. ; stem erect, tufted, loosely 

 branched ; branches pointed ; leaves squarrose, entire, nerve- 

 less, deltoideo- or cordato-ovate, acuminate ; cells at the base 

 very loose ; fruitstalk even ; sporangium oblong, curved, cer- 

 nuous; lid conical. Hook, fy Wils. t. xxvi.; Eng. Bot. t. 

 1302. ; (Plate 6, fig. 6) ; Moug. Nest. n. 234. 



In boggy ground. Not uncommon. Bearing fruit in 

 summer. 



Dioicous ; forming loose or dense tufts. Stems 2 or 3 inches 

 high, more or less erect, loosely branched, sometimes subpin- 

 iiate ; branches cuspidate at the tips ; leaves crowded, de- 

 cidedly squarrose, entire, cordato-ovate, acuminate or deltoid 

 at the base, entire, quite nerveless or with two faint yellow 

 lines ; cells very narrow, except at the base ; fruitstalk even, 

 1J inch long; sporangium oblong, curved, cernuous, -varying 

 very much in size ; lid conical, rather acute. 



A much larger plant than the last, and, like that, of a more 

 or less yellow tinge. 



42. H. polygamum, Br. Schimp. ; stem procumbent, 

 more or less pinnate ; leaves rather loosely set, spreading, 

 scarcely squarrose, ovate or ovato-lanceolate, acuminate, en- 

 tire ; nerve reaching more than halfway ; cells at the base 

 large ; fruitstalk even ; sporangium oblong, cernuous, or hori- 

 zontal; lid conical, acute. Hook, fy Wils. t. Ivi. ; (Plate 6, 

 fig. 4.) 



In bogs and marshy, often sandy ground, from Dundee to 

 Dublin. Bearing fruit in summer. 



Polygamous, bearing female or bisexual flowers clustered at 



