292 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



ceolate; margin more or less involute; nerve slightly excur- 

 rent; sporangium oval or ovato- oblong; lid rostrate; ring 

 narrow.— Hook, fy Wils. t. xv.; Eng. Bot. t. 1367.; (Plate 24, 

 fig. 6) ; Mouff. §■ Nest. n. 16. 



In pastures, fallow fields, etc. Bearing fruit in spring. 



Monoicous ; more or less tufted. Extremely variable, but 

 known by the more or less involute margin. Distinguished 

 from Gymnostomum microstomum by the presence of a peri- 

 stome, which is, however, sometimes almost rudimentary; leaf- 

 cells extremely minute and crowded above, then more distant 

 and quadrate ; rectangular and pellucid at the base. 



2. W. mucronata, Br. Sf Schimp.; leaves lanceolate or 

 linear-lanceolate, concave above, with a plane margin ; nerve 

 excurrent ; sporangium oblong, obscurely striate ; teeth short, 

 truncated, cloven or perforated, fugacious. — Hook, ty Wils. t. 

 xxxviii. 



In clay fallow fields. Bearing fruit in spring. 



Distinguished from the last by the nearly plane margin of 

 the leaves, the more excurrent nerve, rather wider leaves, 

 longer, slightly striate sporangium, more fugacious peristome, 

 and larger spores. 



3. W. cirrhata, Hedw. ; pulvinate; stems much branched ; 

 leaves spreading, linear-lanceolate from an oblong, concave 

 base, channeled above, crisped when dry ; margin reflexed ; 

 sporangium oblong, subcylindrical ; ring compound ; lid ros- 

 trate.— Hook, fy Wils. t. xv. ; Eng. Bot. t. 1420, ; {Moug. # 

 Nest. n. 907.) 



On the tops of gateposts, rails, etc. ; sometimes on rocks. 

 Bearing fruit in early spring. 



Monoicous; forming soft, green cushions. Leaves spread- 

 ing, assurgent from the middle ; margin reflexed ; sporangium 

 brownish, with a rosy orifice ; teeth linear from a lanceolate 



