MOXA OF ECOKOMIO PLANTS. 277 



order Musci, of the class Cryptogameae of Linnaeus, of which 

 about 1000 species are known to botanists. They have a wide 

 geographical range, but are most abundant in the temperate 

 zones and on the elevated regions within the tropics, and a 

 few within the Arctic zone. In Northern Europe the genus 

 Spliagnwn occupies extensive tracts of boggy country, and by 

 its successive growth and decay in the course of ages becomes 

 peat, which forms the common fuel of the North. Above 300 

 species are native of this country, of which some are common to 

 all situations, growing on lawns, trees, old walls, and in shady 

 woods. A few are peculiar in their places of growth, such as 

 Schistostegia osmunclacea ornamenting caverns with its lumi- 

 nous golden hue, while Cindidotus fontinaloides and Fontmalis 

 anti^yretica grow upon rocks, stones, or woodwork in running 

 streams. As a whole, they possess no important economic 

 properties. Some species of Sphagnum, and several species of 

 Hypimn, are used for stuffing cushions and for packing, and 

 small fancy brooms are made of Polytriclium commune. They 

 are, however, highly interesting to study, and many books have 

 been written respecting them. 



Moss, American or New Orleans {Tillandsia mneoides), 

 a small epiphytal plant of the Pine Apple family (Bromeliace^), 

 native of tropical and sub-tropical America, growing in profusion 

 on the cypress trees in the regions of the Mississippi. In 

 Jamaica it is called Old Man's Beard. It has slender leaves, 

 4 to 6 inches long, which, after being subjected to dressing, 

 are used as a substitute for horsehair, and imported into this 

 country. 



Moss, Ceylon. (See Ceylon Moss.) 



Mother Cloves, a trade name for the young fruits of the 

 Clove tree. {See Clove.) 



Moulds. {See Pungi and Mucor.) 



Mowana. {See Baobab.) 



Moxa, a name applied to several substances used for 

 producing a blister by slow combustion, such as Amadou 

 {Polyporus fomentarius) and Artemisia chinensiSj the latter a 



