80 HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



and recent authorities on Muscology have almost done away 

 with it, and dispersed the different species among others, to 

 which they have affinities of diiferent kinds. The genus 

 Pottia and family of PoUiacea contains the most characte- 

 ristic species, which are here associated JFeissia and Grim- 

 mia. While feeling that this is the truly natural arrange- 

 ment, we have thought it best not to de\date from the rule 

 we have laid down, to adhere to that system most likely to 

 facilitate the researches of the tyro muscologist. 



Generic Character. — Seta terminal, slender, rigid. Moutli of 

 the capsule naked, or at most, in an early stage, closed with a 

 more or less complete horizontal membrane. Calyptra dimidiate. 

 Leaves inserted on all sides of the stem. 



■^ Siet}is more or less elongated, branched. 



1. Gymnostomum ciESPiTiTiUM, "Web. and Mohr. {Minute 

 Tufted Beardless Moss.) Leaves lanccolato-subulate, cana- 

 liculate, obscurely nerved, very straight even when dry, 

 those of the perichsetium much longer than the turbinate, 

 quite furrowless capsule. — Eng. Fl. p. 6. Blindia Stylo- 

 stegium, Milll. pt. 1. p. 345. 



Discovered by Dr. Hooker on Ben Lawers, near the sum- 

 mit, in 1830. It is found on moist rocks on the Swiss and 

 German Alps. Fr. July and August. 



