138 



BRITISH MOSSES. 



Plate XX. 



POLYTEICHEiE. 



Fig. 1. Characteristics op Order. 

 Mosses rigid and aloe-like, with long, pointed leaves, long fruitstalks and 

 large capsules ; the calyptra, in most species, covered with silky hair (hence the 

 name, Hair-moss) . The summit of the columella (a) is very large, and the teeth 

 (b) are attached to it, the spores, which are large, escaping- through them. The 

 hairs of the calyptra (e) are jointed. 



ATRICHUM. 



Generic Character. 

 Calyptra without hairs j lid with long beak. 



Fig. 2. Atrichum undulatum. 

 Crane's Billed Moss (a) . 



Colour. Dark green. 



Stems. One inch long, sometimes branched. 



Leaves (b) . Long and waved, nerved, upper part serrated, lanceolate. 

 Flowers and Fruit. Monoicous. Capsule smooth, with long curved beak. 

 Spring. 



Locality. Damp places. Common. 



Fig. 3. Atrichum crispum. 

 Wave-leaved Crane's Billed Moss (a) . 



Colour. Pale green. 



Stems. Half-inch long, slender. 



Leaves (b) . Waved when dry, ovate-lanceolate, serrated, bordered ; very trans- 

 parent, cells large. 

 Flowers and Fruit. Barren when found in Britain. 

 Locality. Damp places. Not common. 



