The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

48 MUSCI-ACROCARPI-PER1STOMI. [Polytrichum.
chostomum. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, acuminated, margined, entire,
waved, crisped when dry; nerve strong. Perichcetial leaves nearly as
long as the fruit, much acuminated. Capsules nearly sessile, often on
very short branches, but terminal, oblong, smooth. Lid conico-acuminate.
Calyptra sometimes split on one side. Peristome red, teeth or
cilia very slender, rigid.
22. Polytrichum. Linn. Hair-Moss.
Seta terminal. Peristome single, of 32 or 64 short equidistant
incurved teeth; their summits united to a horizontal membrane,
closing the mouth of the capsule. Calyptra dimidiate,
small. (Muse. Brit. t. I.)—Named from noxvg, many, and doi%, a
hair, in allusion to the calyptra being generally invested with a
dense mass of hairs, which are indeed the "fila succulenta " of the
flower, carried up by the calyptra.—A very natural Genus.
Leaves mostly rigid, resembling those of an Aloe in miniature :
the nerves more or less distinctly lamellated or striated.
* Calyptra naked. (Catharinea, Ehrh.)
1. P. unduldtum, Hedw. (undulated Hair-Moss); leaves membranous
lanceolate waved the margins plane toothed denticulate
the nerve winged, capsule cylindrical curved, lid subulate.
Hedw. St. Cr. v. 1. p. 16, 17. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 91. Fl. Brit,
p. 1382. E.Bot. t. 1220. Schwaeyr. Suppl. v. I. p. 330. Hobs.
Brit. Mosses, v. 1 . n. 1 3. Drum. Muse. Scot. v. 2. n. 20. Muse.
Brit. ed. 2. p. 43. t. 10.
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Bryum undulatum, Linn.—Bill. Muse,
t. 46./. 18.
Moist shady banks and in woods, frequent. Fr. Oct.
2. P. hercynicum, Hedw. (Hercynian Hair-Moss); leaves
lanceolate rigid entire their sides involute, their nerve broad
impressed with furrows, capsule oblong suberect, lid conical.
Hedw. St. Cr. v. 1. p. 15. Fl. Brit. p. 1381. E. But. t. 1209.
Schwaegr. Suppl. v. 1. p. 329. 31usc. Brit. ed. 2. p. 44. t. 10.
On elevated mountains, abundant. Fr. July.—The leaves are, as it
were, intermediate in texture between the preceding and following
species.
** Calyptra covered with succidentfilaments.
-j- Leaves entire, their margins involute.
3. P. piliferum, Schreb. (bristle-pointed Hair-Moss); leaves
lanceolato-subulate their margins involute entire terminating in
a pellucid hair-like point, capsule ovate obtusely quadrangular
furnished with an apophysis, lid conical. Schreb. Fl. Lips. p. 74.
Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 82. Fl. Brit. p. 1375. E. Bot. t. 1199.
Schwaegr. Suppl. v. 1. p. 313. Hobs. Br. Mosses, v. 1. n. 14.
Drum. Muse. Scot. v. 2. n. 17. Muse. Brit. ed. 2. p. 44. t. 10.
P. commune, y. Linn.—Dill. Muse. t. 54. f.
3.
Heathy places, frequent. Fr. Sprang. Stems short, bare of leaves
at the base
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