182 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 

S. fimbriatum, fringe-leaved bog-moss. 
S. cuspidatum, wavy-leaved bog-moss. 
S. contortum, black-stemmed bog-moss. 
S. squarrosum, spreading-leaved bog-moss. 
The first three are distinguished by a reddish tinge, and 5S. 
rubellum is rare in fruit. 
A large family is the Décranacee, or fork mosses, named from 
Sucpavov, a forked instrument. They belong to the dimidiate 
calyptra group of the acrocarpus or terminal fruited division, and 
vary considerably in size in the various species. 
The leaves are in five or eight rows, and are mainly distinguished 
by their secund character, that is, all turned to one side. The re- 
ticulation of the leaves is very variable, but usually small and dot- 
like ; the inflorescence is either monoicous or dioicous ; capsule 
erect or cernuous and varying from ovale to cylindrical. Calyptra 
cucullate, or hood-shaped, with a long beak, reaching half-way 
down the capsule; lid with a slender oblique beak, varying in 
length. Peristome single of 16 equidistant teeth. Annulus sel- 
dom absent. D. cerviculatum, the spur-necked fork-moss, is found 
frequently on sandy banks or black turf, growing in extensive 
patches, of a yellowish-green colour, with stems not half an inch 
high, and is so called from the goitre-like swelling at the base of 
the capsule. The leaves are lax, sub-secund, crisped when dry, and 
almost bristly at their apex. Four others of this genus are in fruit 
this month. D. polycarfon, many-fruited fork-moss, found on Al- 
pine rocks, but not frequent in fruit. D. Scottianum, after Dr. 
‘Scott, found on rocks. D. scoparium, broom fork-moss, very 
common on shady banks and rocks, capsule cylindrical, led with 
a long beak ; leaves secund, lanceolate-subulate with inflexed mar- 
gins and serrated at the apex. D. majus, tall fork-moss, found on 
shady banks and rocks in woods, with stems from four to six inches 
long, covered with radicular fibres, distinguished from D. scoparium 
by the pale aggregate fruitstalks, olivaceous cernuous capsules and 
long falcate or falchion-shaped leaves. Allied to the Dicranium 
are Blindia acuta, acute-leaved Blindia, and Ceratadon purpureus, 
so called from the bright purple of its fruitstalks, rendering it a 
great ornament to our walls in winter and early spring. It isa 
very common moss on banks, &c., not only through Britain, but 
in all parts of the world. Stems czespitose, or matted together ; 
leaves oblong-lanceolate, margin recurved, nerve excurrent, capsule 
oblong or oval and erect or sub-inclined, furrowed when dry. The 
teeth of the peristome are long, narrow, and deeply cleft, and form 
a very beautiful object under the microscope. 
This species is subject, according to locality, to many variations, 
and perhaps is best recognised in a barren state by the square 
character of its cells. 


