MOSS HABITATS. 49 



Dicranum spurium is a fine moss, growing on sandy heaths 

 and also in woods ; rarely, however, found in fructification. 

 The stems are rigid, two to four inches long, with erect 

 forked branches, all rising to nearly the same height. The 

 lower leaves are egg-shaped or nearly so, the upper ones 

 longer and much prolonged, and all more or less toothed 

 on the margin in the upper part ; the leaves are spreading 

 when moist, erect and imbricated when dry, and have many 

 minute papillae on the lower surface. 



Leucobryum glaucum will be found on damp heaths, grow- 

 ing in dense tufted masses. The stems are from two to 



FIG. 26. Pottia cavifolia. i, plant natural size. 2, capsule enlarged ; a, beaked 

 or rostrate lid. 3, leaf ; a, lamellate or appendaged nerve. 



four inches long ; the leaves very spongy, glaucous, bibulous, 

 and elastic. This moss will be readily recognised. 



" Pleasant both to eye and mind, is an old garden wall, 

 dark with age, grey with lichen, green with mosses of beau- 

 tiful hues and fairy elegance of form," and on such habitats 

 a great variety of species of moss will often be found ; an 

 old wall is the bryologist's botanic garden, where he may 

 leisurely study his pet plants. A slight shower followed by 

 bright sunshine, such a day as we often get in May, will 

 often give him a pleasurable sight, such as he will long 

 remember, for these alternations of wet and dry call into 

 full play the peculiar properties of the annulus, and if he 

 has only patience to watch and wait, he will see the little 



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