498 HYPNACE^. 



be held a variety of the present plant, for in specimens sent me by Mr. Whitehead 

 from Dolgelly, the stem-leaves have exactly the squarrose-recurved direction of H. 

 squarrosum, though wider at base, and more shortly acuminate; the characters 

 attributed by Lindberg to the fruit, moreover, viz. , a short striated capsule, and short 

 seta, are equally applicable to forms of H. squarrosum. The leaves vary in form and 

 direction on the same stem, and it is altogether a somewhat ill-defined, but neverthe- 

 less very remarkable variety. It is more rigid and robust than the type, with a habit 

 somewhat approaching that of slender forms of the following species. 



7. Hylocomium triquetrum B. & S. (Hypnum triquetrum L.) 



(Tab. LX. K.). 

 Very robust, rigid, 4-8 inches high, deep bright green or 

 yellowish, in large mats. Stems more or less ascending at base 

 or altogether erect, very stout and rigid, simple or slightly 

 divided, branched unequally and irregularly, or with pinnate but 

 not complanate branches which are close and give the plant a 

 bushy appearance. Leaves very large, 2 or nearly 3 lines long, 

 rigidly divergent or horizontally spreading from the base both 

 ■wet and dry, rarely secund, straight, very stiff and scariose, 

 glossy, widely deltoid-triangular, at base widely rounded- 

 auriculate from a rather narrow decurrent insertion, then 

 gradually tapering upwards to a wider or narrower acute point, 

 hardly acuminate, plicate, especially when dry, closely denticulate 

 all round, with two parallel slender nerves reaching about f the 

 length of the leaf ; upper areolation resembling that of H. 

 squarrosum, at basal angles wide, pellucid, hexagonal-oblong, 

 but not so distinct as in the last species nor forming such marked 

 auricles ; back of the leaf in the upper half scabrous with rather 

 close, stout, spinulose papillas. Seta i-i| inches long; capsule 

 rather large, turgidly oblong, gibbous at back, almost smooth or 

 widely striate when dry and empty ; lid acutely conical. 



Hab. On the ground in woods, hedges, etc. Common. Fruit not common, 

 winter. 



This is one of our most robust and finest species, especially when fully developed 

 and luxuriant ; like the last species it is a more lowland plant than the preceding 

 species of the genus. It is abundantly distinct in its robust, rigid stems, tumid and 

 bristling with the squarrose, straight, not recurved, plicate, deltoid leaves. The 

 branches are very unequal, sometimes short, obtuse, with leaves similar to those of 

 the stems, at others longer, slender and attenuated, at the apex at least, with the 

 leaves very much smaller and narrower. 



Owing to the very rigid, yet elastic texture of the plant, this moss is largely used 

 for packing china, and other brittle articles. 



8. Hylocomium rugosum De Not. (Hypnum rugosum 



Ehrh., Schp. Syn. et plur. auct.) (Tab. LX. D.). 



Stems more or less procumbent or ascending, not radiculose 

 nor with paraphyllia, twice or thrice divided, with the divisions 



