BRITISH MOSSES. 



L ANDREA. 



GEN. CHAR. Capsule four-valved, the valves cohering 

 at the extremity by means of the persistent Lid ; 

 Calyptra irregularly torn. (TAB. I.) 



THIS curious genus, confined, we believe^ wholly to the more 

 alpine parts of Europe, has some striking points in common with 

 the Jungerwannia2, particularly in the four-valved capsule and 

 the irregularly torn calyptra. This capsule has, however, a cen- 

 tral columella, and is terminated by an evident operculum, through 

 a persistent one. That part which has been called by most au- 

 thors a pedicellus or seta, is in fact nothing more than an elon- 

 gated receptacle (as may be seen by our figure), upon which are 

 seen barren pistilla, and from the summit of which, at the very 

 base of the capsule, the calyptra has its origin : thus is its cap* 

 sule truly sessile ; and, among the Mosses, comes in this parti- 

 cular very near to Sphagnum, whose receptacle is pedunculated; 

 its flat; dilated extremity bearing not only the capsule but also 

 the barren pistilla. 



All the species (and Britain can boast of all) are remarkable 

 for their dark brown or almost black colour. 



* Leaves destitute of a nerve. 



I. A. alpina; stems branched, leaves obovate, suddenly acu- 

 minated, straight, imbricating the stem on every side. 

 (TAB. VIII.) 



A. alpina. Hedw. Sp. Muse. p. 49. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 13. Hook. 

 in Linn. Trans, v. 10. p. 388. t.3l.f. 1. Moug. et Neitl. n. 116. Jim* 

 germannia alpina. Linn.DiU. Muse. t. 83. f. 39. 

 B 



