HYPNUM. 257 



of its leaves ; wheu growing iu water, these attain a large 

 size. It is very common also in jS^ortli America and Asia, 

 as far as the Polar regions. 



52. Hypnum coiiDiFOLiUM, Hedw. {Heart-leaved Fea- 

 ther Moss.) Leaves loosely set, squarrose, cordato-ovate, 

 obtuse, concave, entire, the nerve reaching very nearly to 

 the point ; capsule oblong, curved, cernuous ; lid conical. — 

 Eng. Fl.^j. 90 ; mUl. 8yn.pt. ^. p. 379. 



In similar localities as the preceding. Fr. Spring. Much 

 resembling the preceding, and chiefly distinguished by the 

 well-defined nerves of the leaves. A purple variety grows 

 in alpine situations, which is usually barren; indeed, in no 

 situation does it seem a species that fruits freely. 



53. IIypnum stellatum, Schreb. [Yellow Starry Fea- 

 ther Moss.) Leaves loosely set, squarrose, cordate, much 

 acuminated, entire, (mostly) nerveless ; capsule oblongo- 

 ovate, curved, cernuous, the lid conical. — Eng. Fl. p. 90; 

 Mull. 8pi.pt. 2. p. 435. 



In marshes and damp ground. Tr. Spring. A well- 

 marked species, of a fine yellowish-brown colour. The 

 direction and arrangement of the leaves give them a stellate, 

 or star-shaped, appearance, whence the specific name. We 

 have omitted, as a species, the I£. polymorphum of Hedwig, 



s 



