INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 491 



universal character. The species vary greatly in size, but a 

 large number even of our European representatives are 

 amongst the finest of mosses, whether as regards the size of 

 the leaves or the beauty of the peristome. Timmia is re- 

 markable for its having the habit of Folytrichum, in conse- 

 quence of the sheathing base of the leaves, and their spreading 

 tips. Aulacomnion androgynum has abundant large tufts 

 of gems upon distinct peduncles. In Aulacomnion palustre, 

 on the contrary, these organs are far more rare ; in both, the 

 sporangium is striated. The genus Bryuon, without any of its 

 dismemberments, contains thirty-three British species, many of 

 which, ■with their large abundant sporangia, are extremely 

 ornamental ; but the crown of all are the species of Mnium 

 and Ginclidium, with their large ligulate or orbicular leaves, 

 and abundant often aggregate sporangia. Few Cryptogams 

 are finer than well-grown fruited specimens of Mnium punc- 

 tatum, and undulatum,. The latter is one of the commonest 

 ornaments of our woods, but it is rare to find it in fruit. All 

 these are especially European forms, but Brachymenium, is 

 as essentially tropical. India, Java, and Mexico are its 

 favourite abodes, but there are one or two species at the Cape, 

 and one doubtful species is found in the Falklands. Bryum, 

 however, and its more immediately allied genera, are amply 

 represented in the south ; of the genus Bryum, alone. New 

 Zealand possesses nineteen species, with two of Mnium,, and 

 one of Orthodontium,. Mnium, moreover, has a beautiful 

 representative at the Cape, in M. umbraculum,. 



21. Meesiei, Br. & Sc, Mont 



Sporangium irregularly obovate or obconic, sub -erect, taper- 

 ing below into the very long stem, gibbous at the back ; peri- 

 stome double, not hygroscopic. 



545. The species of this group are all inhabitants of 

 marshes, remarkable for their very long peduncles and spo- 

 rangia, approaching in character those of Funaria. Palu- 

 dellcij squarrosa, which like many dioecious mosses is rare in 

 fruit, is remarkable for its squarrose foliage ; Meesia uliginosa 

 is our only certain Meesia. Amblyodon dealhatus, as the 

 name implies, has short blunt outer teeth, above which the 



