164' HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



Moss.) Foliage dark green; leaves lanceolate, entire or 

 crenulate at the tl]^, strongly nerved, crisp wlien dry, the 

 periclia3tial ones large ; capsules on short lateral branches, 

 cylindraceo-oblong, subsessile. — Hug. Fl. p. 47. Giimbella 

 fontinaloides, Miill. Syn.pt. 2.^. 652. 



In streams on rock, stones, or wood, preferring such of 

 the former as are calcareous. Fr. Spring. This plant has 

 much the habit of a Trichostomum, with which it was united 

 in the ' Flora Britannica.'' The bright red teeth of the pe- 

 ristome, wliich are slender, rigid, and spirally twisted, are 

 beautiful objects. 



POLYTRICHUM, Linn. (Hair Moss.) 



Literally " many-haired " Moss, in allusion to the dense 

 hairy external capsule which is common to the British spe- 

 cies, with the exception of the two first, and which we have 

 fully described in the chapter on fructification. Besides 

 this, the foliage of these species has a rigid, aloe-like ap- 

 pearance, giving them a very distinct natural character. 



Generic Character. — Seta terminal. Peristome single, of 

 thirty-two or si.xty-four short, equidistant, incurved teeth ; their 

 summits united to a horizontal membrane, closing the mouth of 

 the capsule. Calyptra dimidiate, small. 



