266 HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



B. Leaves unfurnished with a nerve, or furnished with two 

 very indistinct ones at the base. 



68. Hypnum scorpioides, Linn. [Scorpion Feather Moss.) 

 Leaves secund, broadly ovate, ventricose, obtuse, somewhat 

 apiculate, entire, nerveless, or obscurely two-nerved at the 

 base; capsule oblongo-ovate, curved, cernuous. — Eng. Fl. 

 p. 95; 3mi. 8yn.pt. 1. p. 94. 



Turfy bogs, common. Tr. (rare) March. This is one 

 of our largest British Mosses, and, by its size, the eye readily 

 detects it in its native element. With the habit of R. adun- 

 cum, it is easily distinguished from that species and other 

 affinities, by its broad leaves, unfurnished with nerves. 



69. Hypnum Silesianum, Beauv. [Silesian Feather 

 Moss.) Leaves loosely imbricated, secund, narrow lanceo- 

 late, acuminate, serrated, nerveless, or very obscui'ely two- 

 nerved at the base ; capsule subcylindrical, erecto-cernuous ; 

 lid conical, obtuse. — Eng. Fl. p. 95. Hypnum Seligeri, 

 MilU. Syn.pt. I.p. 259. 



On the ground among rocks, in the Scotch Highlands, 

 not uncommon. Fr. Spring. Closely aDied to the suc- 

 ceeding species, than which it is smaller and more strag- 

 gling in its mode of growth. It is abundant in Switzerland, 

 and seems there to grow on the stems of decaying trees. 



