152 HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



rambler in a woodland walk than this elegant plant ; and as 

 its capsules are mature in the end of summer, when the 

 sylvan shade is on many accounts grateful, these will help 

 to discover its* whereabouts. It is very generally distri- 

 buted over the globe, and, like all such, is subject to consi- 

 derable variation. 



" How glorious are the summer woods, 



Where tlie bright Broom Fork-moss grows, 

 With their gush of love-born melody, 

 And their world of verdant boughs ! " 



23. DiCEANUM VARiuM, Hcdw. [Variable Fork Moss.) 

 Stems short; leaves narrow, hastato-lanceolate, pointing in 

 all directions ; capsule ovate ; lid rostrate. — Eng. M. p. 43. 

 Angstroemia varia, Milll. Spi. pt. l.p. 436. 



On damp and bare clayey soil, and moist banks. Tr. 

 Winter. A neat little species, common throughout the 

 country. The two species noted underneatli have been de- 

 scribed as species by some authors. 



Var. rufescens: leaves subsecund, lanceolato- subulate, 

 reddish ; capsules erect. 



Var. luridum: leaves subsecund, subulate, of a lurid 

 colour; capsules subcernuous. 



24. DiCRANUM HETEEOMALLUJr, Hcdw. [Silky-leavecl 



