68 HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



of minute Earth Mosses. Most of the British species have 

 sessile fruit, and are very minute. Some retain the confer- 

 void branches of the young fruit even after reaching matu- 

 rity. By recent authors this genus has been a good deal 

 divided, according to the structure of the fruit. 



Generic Character. — Seta terminal. Capsule entire ; lid per- 

 sistent (of a piece with capsule). Calyptra dimidiate, in some 

 cases approaching to mitriform. 



■^ Furnished with branched conferva-like shoots. 



1. Phascum serratum, Schreb. [Serrated Earth Moss.) 

 Shoots branched, conferva-like; perichsetial leaves lanceo- 

 late, deeply serrated, nerveless. — Eng. Fl. p. 2. Epheme- 

 rum p.. Mull. Syn.pt. \. p. 31. 



In a great variety of situations where the ground is 

 somewhat shaded, and where there is some degree of mois- 

 ture. Er. Spring. So minute that it requires great care to 

 detect it among the other mosses growing beside it. Erom 

 its congeners it may be distinguished by the deep velvety- 

 green colour of the plants, and fine reddish purple of the 

 capsules. Two varieties of this species are enumerated : — 



Yar. stoloniferum : base of shoots opaque, not jointed. 



Var. angustifolium : leaves narrower, subsecund, and more 

 slightly sen'atc ; capsule oval and smaller. 



