8-i HISTORY OP BRITISH MOSSES. 



*^ Stepis short, scarcely branched. 



7. Gymnostomum ovATDM, Hedw. {Hairy-leaved Beard- 

 less Moss.) Leaves ovate, erect, concave, piliferous, nerve 

 expanded into a gemmiferous membrane; lid rostrate. — 

 Engl. Ft. p. 8. Pottia cavifolia, Miill. Syn. pt. \. p. 550. 



Banks, wall-tops, etc. Tr. December to February. 

 Wherever a wall-top gets a coating of clay, or a heap of 

 similar material has been allowed to accumulate at a hedge- 

 side, this little interesting moss will likely be found in one 

 state or another. The piliferous points of its leaves retain 

 the rains and fogs of winter long after these have been 

 shaken off by its neighbours, and by this appearance alone 

 it may be sometimes detected. The expanded portion of 

 the nerve, sometimes containing gemma, is an interesting 

 object for the microscope. It varies with leaves slightly 

 piliferous and an oblong capsule, the latter form being the 

 var. gracilis of Hooker. 



8. Gymnostomusi TRUNCATULUM, Hoffm. {Little Bhmt- 

 friiited Beardless 3Ioss.) Leaves oblongo-obovate, acute, 



apiculate, patent, reticulated, pellucid, entire, nearly plane, 

 their margins recurved ; capsule ovate or turbinate ; lid ob- 

 liquely rostrate. — Engl. El. p. 8. Pottia eustoma, Milll. 

 Syn.pt. \.p. 553. 



