DICRANUM. 57 



it is called. The leaves are obovate (fig. 7) or ovate 

 with the broader part remote from the stem, and 

 narrowed at the apex, where the nerve protrudes or 

 is ex'current (excurro, to run out). The spores 

 (fig. 9) are reddish brown and smooth. 



Dicrdnum heteromal' lum (PI. III. figs. 10 & 11) is 

 probably the first moss the reader will meet with on 

 banks and heaths in the early spring ; and it will be 

 sure to be noticed on account of the bright green 

 colour of the patches and the beautiful orange- 

 brown capsules. 



In this moss the capsule is nodding (cer'nuous) 

 (PI. III. fig. 15), and has a single peristome, con- 

 sisting of sixteen equidistant teeth, each being deeply 

 cut or cleft longitudinally (fig. 15 ), so that there are 

 thirty- two teeth altogether; and these are marked with 

 internal cross-bars, or transverse ridges. The calyptra 

 is dimidiate (fig. 14) ; and the lid is furnished with 

 a long oblique beak (fig. 15 b). The leaves are 

 crowded, strongly nerved (fig. 12), lanceolate at the 

 base, and very narrow towards the apex, which is 

 toothed ; they are, moreover, curved^ and bent towards 

 one side, or secund. 



Tor' tula murdlis (PI. III. fig. 16) may be found on 

 the top of almost every wall and on waste ground. 



In this moss the peristome is single (fig. 18), con- 

 sisting of thirty-two spirally twisted teeth, arranged 

 in pairs. They are narrow and slender, and each is 

 composed of two longitudinal portions (fig. 18 #), one 

 of which is pale yellow, the other reddish brown, like 

 the capsule, and both are fringed and covered with 

 very minute papillae. The capsule (fig. 18) is oblong, 

 the ring or annulus remaining for some time. The 

 lid is conical (fig. 19), with a longish somewhat ob- 

 lique beak, and the calyptra is dimidiate (fig. 20). 

 The stems are very short; the leaves (fig. 17) are 

 oblong, obtuse; the nerve strong, and projecting as a 

 colourless spirally striated bristle. The bristles often 



