BRYUM. 125 



the synonyms above quoted, and have no hesitation in re- 

 ducing them to one species. The stems are from two to 

 four inches or more in length, including the innovations, 

 which are very abundant, often of a deep brown or reddish 

 colour, in which the foliage partakes more or less. The 

 leaves are more or less crowded, generally erecto-patent, 

 the nerve reddish, the margins revolute, the base decurrent, 

 almost as much so as in Mnium Dtwaliiof Schwaegrichen 

 (Suppi. 1. 79.), which perhaps may be only a variety of our 

 plant. 



It must be allowed that the differences between this plant 

 and Bryum ccespiticium are almost insufficient, attl that it 

 is more distinguishable by its larger size, proliferon? habit, 

 and brown or purple hue, than from any more essential 

 characters ; all of which may be fairly attributable to the 

 place of growth, while the other affects dry banks and walls: 

 and we should willingly have reduced these species to varie- 

 ties if the example of all preceding muscologists had not 

 forbidden it ; not one of them having expressed the least 

 doubt as to the identity. 



We wish also that we could discover characters that 

 would better indicate a specific difference between this 

 plant and the preceding, Br. alpinum ; which, always grow- 

 ing upon exposed rocks, has a dense habit, and is never 

 proliferous. The place of growth may account also for its 

 more erect rigid leaves; but these are certainly narrower 

 than in our present plant, and the capsule is usually shorter, 



f f Leaves with their margins evidently thickened. 

 Leaves without denticulalions. 



Br.punctatum; stems elongated; leaves obovato-rotundate, 

 very obtuse, reticulated, their margins thickened, entire, 

 nerve disappearing below the point ; capsule ovate, pendu- 

 lous ; lid shortly rostrate. (TAB. XXX.) 



Br. punctatum. Schrcb. Fl. Lips. p. 85. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 132. 

 EnglBot. t. 1183. Moug. et Nestl n. 136. Mnium punctatum. Hedw. 

 Mnium serpyllifolium . Linn. Sp. PI. p. 1577- Dill. Muse. t. 53. 

 f, 81. 



HAB. Marshy places, particularly among the roots of al- 

 ders, or other marsh trees. 



The leaves of this moss are among the largest in the 

 order Musci, and approach very nearly to those of Cincli- 

 dium stygium. The present and all the following species 

 of Bryum a'gree in having the kiner peristome of a firm and 

 rigid texture, while the outer teeth are pale-coloured. 



