58 HANDBOOK OF MOSSES. 



natum alpinum, Conostomum boreale, Splachnum vasculosum^ 

 and Dissodon splachnoides. 



Probably the most adventurous and daring invader of 

 Alpine heights among our British mosses is Andrecea nivalis 

 (fig. 13, 3), a beautiful species growing in pale reddish- 

 brown tufts, almost to the limit of perpetual snow, and plen- 

 tiful on many of the mountains of the Cairngorm range. 

 The stems are about two inches long, the leaves loosely 

 imbricated, lance-shaped and slightly curved to one side, 

 the nerve well denned and continued to the tip. Fruit 

 terminal, at first oval ; but as it becomes ripe it splits into 

 four valves, which are held together by the lid, which in 

 these mosses does not fall away, or is what is termed per- 

 sistent Fruiting in June or July. 



A. alpina (fig. 13, i) is more frequent than the last, being 

 found in the elevated districts of England, Wales, Scotland, 

 and Ireland. It differs from the last in the less-branched 

 stems, leaves wider, more prolonged, and without nerves, 

 and the widely gaping four-valved capsule. It grows in 

 dense purple brown or almost black tufts, and has the 

 leaves loosely imbricated when moist, closely pressed to the 

 stem when dry. Fruiting in June or July. 



Dicranum Starkii is found on the summits of some of the 

 highest Scotch mountains and on Snowdon, growing in large 

 yellowish-green tufts, which readily fall apart when gathered. 

 The stem is branched ; the leaves curved to one side, awl- 

 shaped, prolonged, rigid when dry, with a strong, well-defined 

 nerve ; fruit-stalk terminal ; capsule curved and swollen, 

 with an enlargement at the base (strumose) ; lid beaked ; 

 peristome of sixteen forked teeth. Fruiting about August. 



Grimmia ovata also occurs in elevated situations, growing 

 in dark-green, somewhat hoary, compact tufts ; leaves dark 

 green, lance-shaped, and tapering to a point, which is ter- 

 minated by a white-hair point, spreading when moist, erect 

 when dry, and strongly nerved ; fruit-stalk terminal ; capsule 

 oval ; lid slightly beaked and grooved in the margin ; peri- 

 stome of sixteen perforated teeth. The fruit may be found 

 from October to March. 



G. atrata will be found on Scottish and Welsh mountains, 



