HANDBOOK OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



sometimes two-nerved, while occasionally the nerve is very 

 long; sometimes they are not in the least secund, while on 

 the other hand they are occasionally almost falcate. It also 

 varies extremely in size and thickness. The leaves are appa- 

 rently always very concave, and, as Wilson says, cannot be 

 compressed without splitting. 



44. H. molle, Dicks. ; stem procumbent ; branches simple, 

 erect or procumbent, rather obtuse ; leaves widely spreading, 

 subsecund above, very concave, roundish, apiculate, flaccid, 

 slightly toothed, distinctly two-nerved halfway; sporangium 

 ovate, cernuous, lid conical. Hook, fy Wils. t. xxiv. ; Eng. 

 ot. t. 1992 ; Grev. Sc. Crypt. Fl. t. 283. ; (Plate 7, fig. 2) ; 

 Moug. fy Nest. n. 730. 



On stones and rocks in mountain rivulets, Scotland. Bear- 

 ing fruit in summer. 



Monoicous ; forming pale, reddish, or more frequently lurid, 

 dark-green patches. Stem prostrate, naked below ; branches 

 erect, or more or less procumbent, flaccid, cylindrical, obtusej 

 leaves densely imbricated, spreading below, mostly subsecund 

 above, very concave, roundish with generally an abrupt pointed 

 apex, but sometimes merely shortly acuminate ; fruitstalk 

 even, entire, two-nerved, scarcely an inch long; sporangium 

 ovate, curved, cernuous ; lid conical, rather obtuse. 



A larger, stouter species than the last, from which it is dis- 

 tinguished by its broader, more spreading leaves. Schimper 

 believes that Hypnum alpestre, Swartz, is included by Wilson, 

 but that species, which differs mainly in its more rigid, nar- 

 rower, and less spreading leaves, looser cells, and longer spo- 

 rangia, does not appear to have been found in this country. A 

 figure of the leaves is given by Wilson, showing the reflexed 

 tips very accurately. 



45. H. arcticum, Somm. ; stem creeping ; irregularly 



