344 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 


regular, or gibbous ; lid conico-rostrate, sub-alpine moist rocks and 
peaty soil. . 
Of the minute family of Earth-Mosses, two very rare ones may be | 
mentioned, Lphemerum coherens, and £. tenerum; the only r 
recorded locality for the last one being the weald of Sussex 
(Mitten). Phascum rectum, the straight-necked Earth-Moss is 
frequent in fields and on banks near the coast: also found near the 
sea is Schistidium maritimum, the sea-side Grimmia; growing in 
dull-green or brownish patches; leaves rigid, not hair-pointed, 
straight, lanceolate, acuminate, keeled; nerve strong, reddish- 
brown, excurrent, margin plane; capsule obovate with a rostellate 
lid ; teeth large and perforate. 
Common on rocks and walls, especially on the limestone is 
S. apocarpum, the sessile Grimmia, from the capsule being seated 

Fig. 45. Fig. 46. Fig. 47. 
immediately on the apex of the stem, and surrounded by the upper 
leaves. Plant cspitose ; leaves spreading, lanceolate, acuminate 
from an ovate, erect base ; upper ones with white points ; margins 
much recurved ; nerve ceasing below apex; capsule elliptical, and 
pellucid, with an oblique beaked lid; teeth dark red; calyptra 
divided at base. 
A variety, S. rivulare, with turbinate capsules and dark green 
obtuse leaves, grows by streams. 
Allied to the above are the Rhacomitriums or Fringe-Mosses ; of 
which &, e/lipticum, the oval-fruited Fringe Moss is found on moist 
alpine rocks in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 2. aciculare, the 
dark-mountain Fringe Moss, frequents wet mountainous rocks by 
streams, and has stems 1—3 inch cespitose, decumbent and naked 
at base, branches very leafy ; leaves spreading or secund ; ovate- 
