110 Mosses — Grimmia and Schistidiiim. 



which are subsecund and spreading, with recurved margins, 

 and which gradually taper into long, rough, diaphanous, glossy 

 hair-points, which spread outward when in a dry state. The 

 capsule, too, is thicker and shorter, and attached to a shorter 

 fruit-stalk ; but the red teeth of the peristome are longer, more 

 tapering, and more deeply cloven — indeed, so very long and 

 slender are they, that the upper portion not unfrequently breaks 

 off, and remains attached to the fallen lid ; the annulus is 

 broader, and whereas the inflorescence of G. trichophyllcu is 

 dioicous, that of G. Shultzii is monoicous, the barren gemmi- 

 form flower being always found in the vicinity of the peri- 

 cha3tium. It fruits in April and May. 



Growing on shady or moist alpine rocks in Scotland, Wales, 

 and Ireland, in large green or brownish patches, we have Grimmia 

 patens, or the tall alpine Grimmia, its stem reaching from two to 

 four inches long, or even more, branched and fastigiate, nude of 

 leaves in the lower part, and decumbent at the base ; the leaves 

 are muticous, i.e., destitute of the slender point ; they are of firm 

 texture, erect and rigid when dry, rather glossy, the margin 

 recurved below, and carinate, with a stout nerve dorsally two- 

 winged, by which curious peculiarity the species, even in a 

 barren state, may be easily recognized. The perichastial leaves 

 are shorter than the rest, wider below, and somewhat sheathing. 

 The capsule is of a pale brown, smooth at first, but distinctly 

 furrowed when dry, and attached to a rather short, pale, curved 

 fruit-stalk, the annulus largo and distinct, teeth of the peristome 

 long and bifid, or bi-trifid at the apex, confluent at the base ; 

 lid with rather a long beak, sometimes straight, sometimes 

 oblique, and the calyptra usually five-lobed at the base. Its 

 season of fruiting, like that of G. Schnltzii, is April and May ; 

 but, from the growth of innovations in the stem leaving the 

 fruit in a lateral position, it often escapes observation. 



Grimmia Donniana, or Bonn's Grimmia, grows in small, 

 round, hoary tufts, with branched stems that seldom exceed a 

 quarter of an incli in length. Tho leaves are narrowly lanceo- 

 late, and tapering into roughish diaphanous hair-points scarcely 

 lis* Ifr" tho length of the entire leaf', which is ereoto-patent when 

 growing, erect and slightly flexuosc when dry, carinate, of a 

 dark green, with a slightly-thickened border, the very obvious 

 nerve prominent at the bach, and continued to the hair-point. 

 The perichsstial leaves are longer than the others; the capsule 



quite erect, oval oblong, of a pale yellowish brown, with iliinnish 

 Avails, and Sub-exC6rted : in one variety immersed. The lid is 



short, conical, seldom more than one-third the length of tho 



Capsule, more or less ohinse, sometimes slightly apicnlale, 



entire, and without any marginal groove for the annulus, which 

 is persistent. The teeth OI the peristome are rather broad, 



