138 Sli.i MOSSES. 



low-wattr mirk Ilic fronds arc from six to t>s 

 inches hii;h. rylindric.il, as thick as a 

 in full-i;rimn planu. mu« h slenderer it* rs. fine 



as thread or hair in young plants, anu . . var. 

 /{oihti. In the roininon form, the niain stem and 

 branches are cartilaginous, !,tiflr, and when dry, hard 

 and harsh, and quiie black. From the leading stem, 

 which runs to L*»e top of the plant, the ^ 

 spread out on all sides, ihc lower being ihc 

 often as long as the main stem — gradually - 

 ening lowar<is the top. I'he branches arc all moro 

 or less naked below. Ilul. towards the enti, lh( y 



divide and subdivide rapidly in a! '^' ramifi 



lions, so that the small branciuc 

 crowded, and, on paper, the primary aiu: ^i iry 



branches seem thereby to terminate in iilUe \ 

 Tl»is is true only of the full-grown, typic 

 and of the var. i^raalis, a most ex- ^ 



tion of which appears in Tlatc IX. Hv f"rm 



differs from this only in being more robust, of a 

 less regular habit, and of a much darker color. 

 'V\\c var. Hochii is much finer and softer, and the 

 end branches arc quite separate, but tipped with a 

 very fine pencil of h.iirs. 'I*hb U ll. y sprin- 



form, and is found chiefly south of Cape Cod I 

 have an exqubitc specimen collected by Mr. Youu. 



i< .1- 



