POLYTRICHUM. 167 



subangulate; apophysis obsolete; lid conical, acuminate. — 

 Eng. M.p. 49; Milll. Syn. pt. 1.^. 223. 



Summits of the Cairngorum Mountains in Scotland. Pr. 

 August (rare). This Moss is peculiarly a denizen of the 

 most elevated alpine districts and Arctic regions, being 

 only found close on the limits of perpetual snow. It is 

 rarely found in fruit, seeming to be in that condition chiefly 

 in wet seasons. Mr. Gardiner of Dundee, in his 'Bota- 

 nical E-ambles in Braemar,^ gives an account of liis visit 

 to Ben ]\Iac Dhui, one of the loftiest Scottish mountains, 

 where at midsummer he found this interesting Moss at the 

 " margin of a considerable field of snow, and bearing plenty 

 of capsules.^' No wonder that the "drizzliug rain^^ and 

 benumbing cold were " for a few minutes " forgotten. Its 

 leaves are much like those of P. HercT/nicum, with the stems 

 more thickened and a smaller capsule. P. sexangulare of 

 some authors, seems the same plant with the angles more 

 defined. It is also found on Melville Island in the southern 

 hemisphere. 



ft Leaves serrated, their margins plane. 



6. PoLYTRiCHUM COMMUNE, L. {Commoii Hair Moss.) 

 Stems elongated; leaves patent, linear-subulate, their mar- 

 gins plane, serrated as well as the points of the keels; 



