470 HYPNACE^E. 



very short, or almost obsolete ; cells narrowly linear-hexagonal, 

 somewhat flexuose, tapering, but not acute, pellucid, thin-walled, 

 5-10 times as long as wide, at angles numerous, more or less 

 quadrate, proportionately large, but not forming clearly defined 

 auricles. Perichaetial bracts not plicate. Seta f-f inch; capsule 

 inclined and sub-horizontal, oblong-subcylindric, curved ; lid 

 conical, acute, or acuminate. Autoicous. 



Hab. Subalpine and mountain rocks, principally calcareous. Rare. Fr. early 

 summer. 



This little moss bears a close resemblance to three of our species, viz., H. 

 cupressiforme var. resupinatum, Plagiolhecium pulchellum and Pylaisia polyantha, 

 but will hardly be confused with any other. P. pulchellum is known by its more 

 opaque chlorophyllose cells, longer and more pointed, and absence of distinct angular 

 cells ; the other two plants are quite different in their erect or suberect, almost 

 straight, cylindrical capsules, but when barren are more difficult to separate. 

 Pylaisia polyantha has the leaves a little larger and distinctly wider below, ovate- 

 lanceolate rather than oblong-lanceolate, but the difference can hardly be defined 

 without the comparison of specimens ; the present plant is however confined to rocks 

 while that species almost always grows on trees and is a southern rather than a northern 

 and mountain plant. H. cupressiforme var. resupinatum has rather larger leaves, 

 more constantly nerveless, with the angular cells rather more clearly defined from the 

 others ; it is usually, too, a more robust plant, growing more frequently on trees, and 

 dioicous. 



16. Hypnum cupressiforme L. (Stereodon cupressiformis 

 Brid.) (Tab. LVIII. D.). 



Extremely variable ; typically moderately robust, stems 

 procumbent, irregularly pinnate, with spreading or ascending, 

 often curved branches ; stems 2-4 inches long, rather soft in 

 texture, greenish, very rarely if ever reddish brown. Tufts 

 usually greyish green, yellowish, or brownish, rarely (though 

 occasionally) bright green. Leaves closely imbricated, falcato- 

 secund in the type (usually slightly curved in the lower half, more 

 strongly falcate or hooked in the acumen), rather concave and 

 smooth, so that the back of the stems and branches have a glossy, 

 often rather tumid, smooth appearance, the front being quite 

 different, with the points of the leaves bristling in the shortly 

 acuminate forms, irregularly flexuose in the more longly acumi- 

 nate, circinate, or hamate forms. Leaves oblong-lanceolate , or 

 more or less ovate-lanceolate , rather quickly narrowed to a fine 

 acumen of varying length, neither much enlarged at base nor 

 much narrowed to the insertion, which is usually nearly straight 

 or slightly excavate only, with minutely decurrent angles ; plane 

 at margin or very slightly recurved below, typically entire, or 

 nearly so, but frequently minutely denticulate above ; nerve none, 



