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UIDYMODON oBscURus.
Obscure Didymodon.
C la s s a n d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA MUSCI, i i j i n .— N a t . O r d . MUSCI, Juss. ^o.
GEN ERIC CHARACTER.
Seta terminalis. Peristomium simplex e dentibus l6 vel 32, per paria approxi-
matis, vel ad basin unitis. Calyptra dimidiata.—H o o k .
Seta terminal, peristome simple, of 16 or 32 teeth, approaching in pairs, or
united at the base. Calyptra dimidiate.
S PEC IF IC CHARACTER.
D idym od on o b s c u ru s ; caulibus dense ctespitosis, ramosis ; foliis lanceolato-su-
bulatis, apicem versus subserratis, siccitate tortuosis, nervo valido percur-
rente ; theca sub-erecta ovata, opercuh oblique rostrato.
D. stems densely tufted ; leaves lanceolate-subulate, somewhat serrated towards
the point, tortuose when dry, the nerve strong, running to the
apex ; capsule nearly erect, ovate, the lid obliquely rostrate.
D idym od on obscurus, K a u f. in Sturm’s Deutschl. Flora, Fase. 16. No. 9.
cum icone.—Schwaegr. Suppl. 2. p. 80. t. \2S.~Funck, Deutschl. Moose,
t. 14.
D icran um polycarpum. Hook. Tayl. Muse. Brit. p. 57- t. 18.—Hook. Ft.
Scot. 2. p. 133.—Hobs. Muse. Brit. v. 2.—Crev. FI. Fdin. p. 240.
W e is s ia cirrata, Moug. et Nestl. Stirp. Fxsicc. No. 406.
H ab. Rocks in subalpine districts. Pentland Hills.
Plants growing in dense round tufts 1-3 inches broad, and rather light green
colour. Stems crowded, branched, half an inch to near two inches in
length. Leaves Very numerous, long, spreading, lanceolate and acuminated,
at the apex subulate, somewhat recurved at the margin, when
dry much crisped. They are furnished with a strong nerve reaching
to the point, where a few irregular serratures are usually visible. Below,
the colour of the leaves is yellowish or brownish, at the extremity
bright green. Reticulation minute. Fruitstalk not half an inch in length,
slender. Capsule ovate, even, very slightly inclined, green till quite
mature, afterwards becoming brown. L id about h alf the length of the
capsule, pale red at the base, furnished with an obliquely subulate
beak. Peristome composed of 32 teeth, placed in pairs, rather broad at
their base, very slender upwards, transversely striated, and often almost
moniliform, from contraction at the joints.