MOXA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 277 



order Musci, of the class Cryptogamese of Linnseus, of which 

 about 1000 species are known to botanists. They have a wide 

 geographical range, but are most abundant in the temperate 

 zones and on the elevated regions within the tropics, and a 

 few within the Arctic zone. In Northern Europe the genus 

 Sphagnum occupies extensive tracts of boggy country, and by 

 its successive growth and decay in the course of ages becomes 

 peat, which forms the common fuel of the North. Above 300 

 species are native of this country, of which some are common to 

 all situations, growing on lawns, trees, old walls, and in shady 

 woods. A few are peculiar in their places of growth, such as 

 ScJiistostcgia osmimdacea ornamenting caverns with its lumi- 

 nous golden hue, while Oindidotus fontiiialoides and Fontinalis 

 antipyrdica grow upon rocks, stones, or woodwork in running 

 streams. As a whole, they possess no important economic 

 properties. Some species of S_pliagn'um, and several species of 

 Hypnum, are used for stuffing cushions and for jjacking, and 

 small fancy brooms are made of Polyti^idiwii commune. They 

 are, however, highly interesting to study, and many books have 

 been written respecting them. 



Moss, American or New Orleans {TUlandsia ttsneoides), 

 a small epiphytal plant of the Pine Apple family (Bromeliacese), 

 native of tropical and sub-tropical America, grooving in profusion 

 on the cypress trees in the regions of the Mississippi. In 

 Jamaica it is called Old Man's Beard. It has slender leaves, 

 4 to 6 inches long, which, after being subjected to dressing, 

 are used as a substitute for horsehair, and imported into this 

 country. 



Moss, Ceylon. {See Ceylon Moss.) 



Mother Cloves, a trade name for the young fruits of the 

 Clove tree. (See Clove.) 



Moulds. {Sec Fungi and Mucor.) 



Mowana. {Sec Baobab.) 



Moxa, a name applied to several substances used for 

 producing a blister by slow combustion, such as Amadou 

 {Polyporus fomentarius) and Artemisia chinensis, the latter a 



