114 HANDY BOOK OF 
fore, briefly notice a few of the rarest, or most beautiful, 
and then pass on. 
The Bryum argenteum, or Silvery-thread] moss, though 
frequent on sunny banks and walls, on roofs and rocks, is 
deserving of especial notice. The capsules are egg-shaped, 
upright when green, pendent when ripe; and this for the 
purpose already noticed, namely, that of scattering the 
seeds upon the earth as from a reversed pitcher. The leaves 
are egg-spear-shaped, ending in hairs, but so pressed against 
the stems, as hardly to be distinguishable by the naked 
eye ; the fruit-stalks rise from the base of the shoots to 
nearly half an inch ; and he who subjects the capsule to a 
magnifying glass, will readily discover that the lid is short 
and blunt, that the mouth is elegantly fringed, and the veil 
deciduous. The plant grows in patches about half an inch 
high ; in autumn, and early in the winter, of a vivid green, 
then shining and silvery white, especially when dry, a 
peculiarity which distinguishes the Silvery - thread moss 
from all others of its brethren. 
The gravel- walks of Oxford Physic Garden, in the time of 
Dillenius, were pleasingly ornamented with variety 2, of 
which the shoots were pale or dark-green, occasionally 
shining, the leaves more crowded, and the mouth of the 
capsule without a fringe. We know not whether this kind 
still holds its accustomed place ; but our botanical friends, 
who visit Oxford, will do well to seek for it. 
Bryum cubitate, Elbow-stalked thread-moss, and largest 
of all the Brya, may be readily distinguished by its golden- 
coloured, reddish-brown, and brightly glittering fruit- 
stalk, having an elbow-like bend a little above the base, 
and upholding a depressed and pendant, club-shaped, and 
very long capsule, with an upright and numerous-toothed 
fringe. The shoots are somewhat branched, rather re- 
cumbent at the base, and the stems are trailing, often three 
inches long, the leaves occasionally bristle-pointed, but nut 
uniformly so. 
