104 HANDBOOK OF B1UTISH MOSSES. 



sometimes two-nerved, while occasionally the nerve is very 

 long j sometimes they are not in the least secund, while on 

 the other hand they are occasionally almost falcate. It also 

 varies extremely in size and thickness. The leaves are appa- 

 rently always very concave, and, as Wilson says, cannot be 

 compressed without splitting. 



44. H. molle, Dicks. ; stem procumbent ; branches simple, 

 erect or procumbent, rather obtuse ; leaves widely spreading, 

 subsecund above, very concave, roundish, apiculate, flaccid, 

 slightly toothed, distinctly two-nerved halfway; sporangium 

 ovate, cernuous, lid conical. — Hook, if Wils. t. xxiv. ; Eng. 

 Bot. t. 1992 ; Grev. Sc. Crypt. Fl. t. 283. ; (Plate 7, fig. 2) ; 

 Mouff. if Nest. n. 730. 



On stones and rocks in mountain rivulets, Scotland. Bear- 

 ing fruit in summer. 



Monoicous ; forming pale, reddish, or more frequently lurid, 

 dark-green patches. Stem prostrate, naked below ; branches 

 erect, or more or less procumbent, flaccid, cylindrical, obtuse ; 

 leaves densely imbricated, spreading below, mostly subsecund 

 above, very concave, roundish with generally an abrupt pointed 

 apex, but sometimes merely shortly acuminate ; fruitstalk 

 even, entire, two-nerved, scarcely an inch long; sporangium 

 ovate, curved, cernuous ; lid conical, rather obtuse. 



A larger, stouter species than the last, from which it is dis- 

 tinguished by its broader, more spreading leaves. Schimper 

 believes that Hypnum alpestre, Svvartz, is included by Wilson, 

 but that species, which differs mainly in its more rigid, nar- 

 rower, and less spreading leaves, looser cells, and longer spo- 

 rangia, does not appear to have been found in this country. A 

 figure of the leaves is given by Wilso*h, showing the reflexed 

 tips very accurately. 



45. H. arcticum, Somm. ; stem creeping ; irregularly 



