POLYTRICHUM. 169 



useful one ; indeed it is adopted in many parts of the country ; 

 but we have Httle faith in it otherwise as a cosmetic^ and 

 feel it would have more of such a property if used with its 

 neighbour broom by our female peasantry for removing from 

 their cottage-doors the unsightly and pestilential pools still 

 too frequent in rural districts. In the north of England its 

 popular name is Moor Silk. 



7. PoLYTRiCHUM ALPiNDM, Liuu. {Aljiine Hair Moss.) 

 Stems elongated, branched in a fasciculated manner; leaves 

 patent, subulato-lanceolate, their margins plane, serrated as 

 well as the points of the keels ; capsule oblique, subovate, 

 with a distinct apophysis. — Eng. FLp. 50 ; Mull. Si/n.pt. 1. 

 p. 210. 



In alpine districts, on the ground, frequent ; rarely, as in 

 a station in AYales, in the low country. !Fr. July. The 

 structure of the capsule is a sufficient mark of distinction 

 for this species. 



8. PoLYTRiCHUM URNiGERUM, Zwi;z. {JJm-leanng Hair 

 Moss.) Stems elongated, branched; leaves erecto-patent, 

 lanceolate, acute, their margins plane, serrated; capsule 

 erect, cylindrical, destitute of an apophysis. — E)ig. Fl.p. 50 ; 

 MuU.Syn.];>t.\.p.l^'6. 



Moist sandy places, and banks of streams, chiefly in 



