The Extinguisher Mosses. 



207 



THE EXTINGUISHER MOSSES. 



BY M. G. CAMPBELL. 



The Encalyptce, or Extinguisher Mosses, form a very natural 

 group, which, notwithstanding the extremely variable peristome, 

 are easily distinguished from all others by the structure and com- 

 parative size of the calyptra, which is cylindrico-campanulate 

 below, longer than the capsule, and with a rather long rostrum, 

 like a little tower or round spire at the apex, while at the base it is 

 usually fringed, torn, or crenate, and is persistent, defying wind 

 and rain, and falling away only with the lid when the spores are 

 perfectly ripe. These spores are granular, and of a yellowish- 

 brown colour. The species may be found growing on dry or 

 moderately moist rocks, and on walls and stones, especially 

 those of calcareous origin. The stems are branched, here and 

 there beset with radicles, erect, bearing terminal seta, and 

 perennial; the fruit-stalk is so firm and tenacious as to remain 

 on the stems for several seasons. The generic name is 

 derived from iv in, and KaXvirrhs, covered, shrouded, or 

 enveloped, i. e., covered in, in allusion to the persistent, bell- 

 shaped calyptra entirely enclosing the capsule. 



The most generally met with is 

 JSncalypta vulgaris, or the common ex- 

 tinguisher moss, of which we give a 



considerably magnified illustration, 



with a naked capsule still more magni- 

 fied, and having on its lid, with long 



tapering beak. The moss may be 



found growing on stone walls, also 



on banks and rocks, especially such 



as are of calcareous nature. It has 



rather short stems, rarely half an 



inch long, but branched and radi- 



culose. Its leaves are erect, more or 



less spreading, and, in general, more 



or less apiculate, though in one variety 



they are obtuse and concave at the 



apex j the margin plane, crenulate, or 



scabrous with papillae; the nerve strong, 



purplish, often more or less excurrent, 



but sometimes ceasing below the apex, 



and the leaves are somewhat crisped 



when dry. The capsule is subcylindri- 



cal, smooth when moist, but frequently 



more or less plicated or rugose when 



dry; of thin texture, and somewhat tapering from the base. 



The annulus is simple and persistent, and being coloured at an 



ENCALTPTA VULGARIS. 



