74 



BRITISH MOSSES. 



Plates VII, VIII. 



DICRANUM. 



TRUE FORK MOSS. 



Figs. 1, 2. Generic Character. 



These mosses vary considerably in appearance, but they have all at the same 

 time a great " family likeness/' and the capsule placed under the microscope will 

 at once reveal the most beautiful and singular peristome, deep red, forked, 

 apparently carved and sculptured in lines and bars, and every tooth exquisitely 

 incurved. The stems are of different lengths, the leaves of various forms, but all 

 are long and narrow at the apex. Some of the larger species when not in fruit, 

 form tufts of the brightest emerald green, almost the brightest indeed of any 

 moss. 



Capsules erect or curved and oblique, varying from oval to cylindrical, and 

 sometimes apparently narrowing into the fruitstalk, occasionally strumose, never 

 round. Calyptra very conspicuous from its long beak. Lid also with a long 

 beak. Peristome (1) of sixteen forked and barred teeth, joined at the base, 

 {confluent) incurved. Plants tufted, stems branched. Leaves various, areolae 

 (2) irregularly, four-sided (quadrate), becoming gradually larger towards the base 

 of the leaf. 



L POLYCARPA. 



Stems two inches long, tufted, fastigiate, rooted in every part of the stem. 

 Leaves spreading, crisped when dry, nerve ceasing below the apex. Capsule 

 striated. 



Fig. 3. Diceanum polycaepum. 

 Many-fruited Fork Moss. 



Colour. Yellow green. 

 Stems. Long, fastigiate. 



