u- 



184 HISTORY OP BRITISH MOSSES. 



BRYUM, Limi. (Thread Moss.) 



This is a name of Greek derivation^ being applied by 

 Dioscorides and Pliny to some family of plants^ and adopted 

 by Dillenius. Bri/um is a large and important genus, 

 whether with reference to the Flora of Britain or foreign 

 lands. It has been subdivided in various works on 

 Muscology into several genera, such as Meesia, Mnkim, 

 Poldia, Wehera, etc., according to the structure of the pe- 

 ristome, but these have more recently been regarded as af- 

 fording only characters for subdivisions of the genus. The 

 subgenera indicated by these subdivisions we note in the 

 different sections, following the arrangement adopted in the 

 ' English riora," vol. v. 



" Every knoll and brake, streamlet and rock. 

 How richly peopled with creation bright !" 



Generic ClMracter. — Seta termiual. Peristome double, the 

 outer of sixteen teeth ; the iuuer of a membrane cut into sixteen 

 equal segments, with filiform processes frequently placed between 

 them. Calyptra dimidiate. 



A. Cajisules sidcatecl. (Mnium, Brid.) 

 1. Bryum androgynum, Hedw. {Narrow-leaved Thread 

 Moss.) Stems nearly simple, lanceolate, serrated, their mar- 



