160 BRITISH MOSSES. 



Plate XXIV. 

 BRYE^. 



Paet IV. 



MNIUM. 



Fig. 1. Geneeic Chaeactee. 



Plants large and very beautiful ; leaves large^ broad, and gauze-like ; stem 

 erectj often with creeping roots, and branches rooting at their ends (stolons) , the 

 innovations from the lower part of the stem. Fruit terminal; barren flower 

 discoid ; capsule (a) drooping or horizontal, oval ; peristome as in Bryum, lid 

 convex, calyptra small. Areolae (b) large, hexagonal or round, sometimes between 

 the two. 



(a). Leaves serrated. 

 Fig. 2. Mnium affine. 



Many-frwited Thread Moss (a) . 



Oolowr. Light green. 



Stems. Fertile ones erect, barren ones decumbent, radiculose. 



Leaves (b) . Lower distant, oval lanceolate ; upper ovate, spreading in a tuft, 

 ajDiculate, bordered ; areolae large. 



Flowers and Fruit. Dioicous. Seta long, often several together; capsule pen- 

 dulous, large. Spring. 



locality. Shady places, marshes, &c. Fruit rare. 



Variety. Bugicum. — Stem shorter, leaves smaller; barren shoots erect. 



Fig. 3. Mnium cuspid atum. 



Pointed Thyme Thread Moss [a) . 

 Colour. Dark green. 

 Stems. One inch long, densely tufted, radiculose. 



