142 



BRITISH MOSSES. 



FlG. 10. PoiYTRICHUM GRACILE. 



Slender Hair Moss (a) . 



Colour. Pale green. 



Stems. In thick tufts, two inches long. 



Leaves (b) . Base sheathing, tapering above, margin transparent ; serrated. 

 Floiuers and Fruit. Capsule on long seta, angles not very prominent, calyptra 



not quite covering the capsule. Summer. 

 Locality. Common in moorland districts. 



Fig. 11. Polytrichia formosum. 

 Showy Hair Moss (a) . 



Colour. Dark green. 



Stems. Yery long, in loose tufts. 



Leaves (b) . Long, serrated, acute, spreading. 



Flowers and Fruit. Seta thickish, capsule large, lid long, beaked, capsule hori- 

 zontal ; when old, brown. Summer. 

 Locality. Woods and hedges. 



(b.) Capsule four-angled. 



Fig. 12. Polytrichum commune. 

 Common Hair Moss (a) . 



Colour. Deep green. 



Stems. From a few inches to a foot long, in very large thick patches; branched. 

 Leaves (b) . Sheathing and dilated at the base, serrated both on the margin and 



back, twisted when dry, very long. 

 Flowers and Fruit. Barren flower, large and green ; capsule large, calyptra 



reddish, seta reddish. Summer. 

 Locality. In heathy wild places, very abundant, and gathered in large quantities 



to make brooms, mats, and baskets. 



