42 POLYTRICHACE/E. 



beak ; calyptra shorter than the capsule. Peristome teeth short 

 and irregular. 



Var. /?. silvaticum Menz. {Pog. alpinum var. arcticum Brid., 

 Schp. Syn.) Stems slightly branched ; capsule elongate, cylindrical, 

 narrow, curved, softer, with a less distinct neck. 



Var. y. campanulatum Brid. (Polytrichum campanulatum 

 Hornsch.) Shorter, fastigiately branched, leaves short, capsule 

 ovate-globose, calyptra whitish, large. 



Var. 8. septentrionale Lindb. (Polytrichum septentrionale 

 Swartz.) Stem short ; leaves slightly subsecund, shorter ; capsule 

 oval-globose, suberect. 



Hab. Stony and grassy places on mountains and moors. Frequent. Fr. late 

 summer. 



Readily distinguishable in almost all cases, by its curved, asymmetrical capsule, 

 without angles, and almost always smaller at the mouth, not wider as is that of P. 

 umigerum ; in doubtful cases the other points, italicised above, will amply suffice to 

 determine it. It is a most variable plant in size, and in the form and magnitude of 

 the fruit, and the many varieties that have been described are far from constant. The 

 var. silvaticum represents one extreme ; I have not seen British specimens, nor do I 

 know of any certain records. The same is the case with the var. campanulatum ; 

 the character afforded by the colour of the calyptra, or rather of its hairs, appears to 

 be the only distinct feature, and as some authors in describing it, omit this character, 

 it is apparently a somewhat unsatisfactory form. The var. septentrionale I have not 

 seen recorded, but I have gathered a form on Slieve League, Co. Donegal, which 

 agrees exactly with the description ; the seta is barely \ of an inch long, and many of 

 the capsules are hardly longer than broad. It is merely through a wrongly named 

 specimen that P. septentrionale Sw. has been referred to P. sexangulare. 



B. EU-POLYTRICHUM. 



Capsule with 2-6 usually acute angles ; apophysis generally 

 well-defined. Peristome teeth 64. 



5. Polytrichum sexangulare Ehrh. (Tab. X. E.) 



Stems erect or decumbent, usually 1-2 inches high, occasionally 

 2-4 inches, simple or slightly divided, rigid, in tufts or loose 

 patches, not tomentose at the base. Leaves short, rather obtuse, 

 linear-lanceolate from a broad sheathing base, patent when moist ; 

 the lower ones glossy, dark coloured ; when dry closely imbricate, 

 rigid, incurved at apex; margin entire, incurved from near the 

 base of limb, at apex cucullate. Lamella? J0-J5, in section of 4-6 

 cells, the marginal one larger, ovate-conical, smooth. Seta rather 

 thick, short, \-\\ inches. Calyptra not covering the capsule. 

 Capsule erect or inclined, oval, with 6 obtuse angles, reddish 

 brown ; apophysis obconical, not constricted to a neck above ; lid 

 with a rather thick beak Peristome of 64 teeth, short, unequal. 



