BRYUM. 



199 



Thread BIoss.) Stems elongated ; leaves uudulate, ligulate, 

 reticulated^ their margins thickened, denticulate, the nerve 

 reaching a little below the point ; capsule ovate, pendulous ; 

 lid conical. — Uiiff. Fl. p. 63. Muium undulatum, Miill. 

 S>/)i. jjt. \. p. 1(51. 



In woods and on moist banks, common. Fr. Spring. 

 None who have traversed the woodland path but must have 

 noticed the elegant tree-like branches and pale green 

 waved foliage of this showy species. Bridel justly describes 

 it as "pulchrae gentis pulcherrima," the lovehest of a lovely 

 family ; and adopting his sentiments, we have selected it as 

 the principal embellishment for this little work. The bar- 

 ren branches, furnished wath the largest foliage, are mostly 

 procumbent, and have a tendency to form roots from various 

 points of their surface. Its fruit, though by no means so 

 rare as that of the preceding species, is not very abundant, 

 at least in Britain, which Bruch and Schimper attribute to 

 the greater isolation of its male and female flowers in our 

 woods. Speaking of it as a European plant, these authors 

 say, " It is met with everywhere in spring, loaded witli cap- 

 sules." This species is widely distributed in various coun- 

 tries, being found in fine condition in the Isle of Bourbon 

 and at the Cape of Good Hope ; and, unlike most of its con- 



