48 HANDBOOK OF MOSSES. 



small quadrate cells. The cells of the leaf-base are large 

 and transparent. The fruit is rare, and is usually found, in 

 autumn. 



Bryum nutans is a very abundant moss on damp heath- 

 lands. I also find it in very dense masses on thatched 

 roofs. It occurs in large dark-green tufts ; the lower leaves 

 are oval, lance-shaped, entire, the upper ones are longer, 

 narrowly lance-shaped and toothed ; the nerve scarcely 

 reaches the tip of the leaf ; leaf-cells hexagonal, elongated ; 

 fruit-stalk reddish ; capsule pendulous, somewhat pear- 

 shaped ; lid convex, with a small point ; fringe double. 

 Fruit in May or June. 



Polytrichum piliferum will be found abundantly on many 

 heathy waysides in loose dark-green tufts, and may be 

 readily distinguished by its large thick lance-shaped leaves, 

 sheathing at the base, and terminated by a white hair-like 

 toothed point ; the capsules are large, four-angled, with a 

 distinct swelling just below the base of the capsule, called 

 the apophysis ; the fringe is formed of sixty-four teeth, which 

 curve over the membranous process closing the mouth of 

 the capsule (the diaphragm, fig. 16, 30), the calyptra is 

 large, covering the whole capsule, and is clothed with a 

 dense felt of shaggy hairs. 



Hypnum cupressiforme occurs on every conceivable habitat, 

 but may often be found forming extensive yellowish or dark- 

 green patches, the foliage somewhat shining. In habit this 

 moss is most variable, being sometimes prostrate, at others 

 erect; but usually the stem is pinnate, the leaves curved 

 to one side, more or less ovate, and suddenly drawn out 

 to a toothed or entire point; the fruit-stalk arises from 

 the side of the stem, and is surmounted by the curved 

 capsule; the fringe is double, and the lid conical. Although 

 this moss varies so much as to be fairly puzzling to the 

 experienced bryologist, I find it may be always readily 

 made out if a few of the leaves are taken from the stem 

 and examined with the microscope. It will then be seen 

 that they are either nerveless or faintly two-nerved, have 

 very narrow elongate leaf-cells, but the cells at the marginal 

 base are quadrate and opaque. 



