136 



BRITISH MOSSES. 



TETRAPHIDE^E. 



Fig. 7. Characteristics of Order. 



Capsule on long seta, erect, regular, sub - cylindrical ; peristome united to the 

 columella, divided into four teeth, which are marked with longitudinal lines ; 

 calyptra mitriform. Plants perennial, in very thick patches on banks, and about 

 the roots of trees. Steins much crowded, leaves small below. 



Fig. 8. Tetraphis pelluctda. 

 Pellucid Four-tooth Moss (a) . 



Colour. Dark green. 



Stems. In thick patches, branched, radiculose below, slender. 



Leaves (6) . Small below, larger above, ovate-lanceolate, three-ranked. 



Flowers and Fruit. Monoicous. Barren flower on a branch growing out of a 



female flower; capsule on long pedicel, with a red border at the mouth. 



Autumn. 



Locality. In shady places, roots of trees, &c. 



Fig. 9. Tetrodontium Brownianum. 

 Mr. Brown's Moss (a) . 



Colour. Yellow green. 



Stems. Scarcely any, branches none. 



Leaves (&). Few, very long, linear, those of the perichastium ovate-acuminate. 

 Flowers and Fruit. Monoicous. Seta long, reddish ; capsule oval ; calyptra 



large. Summer. 

 Locality. Rocks in the north of England. 



This is a singular species, almost without stem ; the true leaves probably beiug 

 those of the perichaetium, the very long lower leaves being intermediate between 

 branches and leaves. The only affinity between Tetraphis and Tetrodontium is in 

 the structure of the peristome. 



