HYPNUM. 471 



or very shortly and feebly double ; cells narrowly linear- 

 vermicular, rather obtuse, 10-15 times as long as wide, but often 

 shorter and linear-rhomboid ; angular distinct, sub-quadrate, the 

 greater number small, opaque, with granular contents, greenish, 

 a few below these at extreme angles rather larger, pellucid, 

 orange or hyaline, incrassate ; forming small, clearly defined, 

 but not inflated nor distinctly hyaline auricles. Perichaetial 

 bracts not plicate, denticulate. Seta i-i£ inches long, red. 

 Capsule usually suberect, curved, especially towards the orifice, 

 sub-cylindric or oblong ; lid conical-acuminate or rostellate, rarely 

 rostrate. Dioicous. 



The variations of this common moss take the form of greater 

 or less degrees of robustness, more or less regular pinnation, 

 differences of colour, of the imbrication, curvature, and acumina- 

 tion of the leaves, the form and direction of the capsule, and 

 other points. The principal British forms may be described as 

 follows : — 



Var. ji. resupinatum Schp. (H. resupinatutn Wils., mult, 

 auct.). Slender, the branches of ten almost filiform, mostly erect 

 or ascending, usually of a silky, pale or yellowish green aspect ; 

 leaves straight or only slightly curved, homomallous and pointing 

 upwards or almost erect and pointing forwards, narrow, oblong- 

 lanceolate, entire or denticulate. Capsule erect and symmetrical 

 or very slightly curved or inclined ; lid conical with a long, acute 

 beak, distinctly rostrate. 



Var. y. filiforme Brid. Extremely slender, procumbent or 

 pendent, stems long, distantly pinnate, with long, straight, 

 parallel, very slender, almost filiform branches ; forming smooth, 

 very low patches ; leaves very, small, very regularly and neatly 

 imbricated in two rows, falcato-secund or hamate; usually 

 denticulate. Fruit rare, small. 



Var. 8. minus Wils. Slender, but rather more robust than 

 the last, more regularly and closely pinnate. Leaves small, 

 short ; margin distinctly recurved in the lower half. Capsule 

 small. 



Var. i. mamillatum Brid. Slender, more or less prostrate ; 

 leaves regularly imbricated in two rows, narrow, denticulate ; 

 lid conical, shortly apiculate. 



Var. £. ericetorum B. & S. Slender, more or less regularly 

 and complanately pinnate ; stems and branches often flattened 

 and sub-complanate ; very pale green, more or less erect, or 

 ascending. Leaves less crowded, strongly falcate. Seta long, 

 slender. 



