ill
lit
am not inclined to dissent. With Hypnum stramineum alone
is any confusion likely to arise, particularly in this country; for
the creeping stems of H . molle and H . alpestre separate them
at once, independently of other characters. Nothing can be
more manifest than the beautifully distinct trifarious arrangement
of the leaves in all the specimens which have come under
my observation; and though it sometimes happens that this
uniformity is apparently destroyed, by the occasional twisting of
the stem, it is restored immediately by artificially untwisting it.
In H . stramineum, on the contrary, the leaves are far more numerous,
and irregularly as well as more loosely imbricated;
they are besides more spreading, longer, and narrower, far less
concave, less broadly obtuse, and provided with a much shorter
nerve. In regard to colour, I do not think any stress can be
laid on that character. H . stramineum I have seen of a pure
though pale green ; and if W a h l e n b e r g be correct, a singular
difference exists between the H . trifarium of Sweden and
that of Scotland ; the former being, according to him, greener
than H . stramineum, while the latter, (the H . trifarium of
Scotland), has exhibited a deep brownish-purple, in three several
localities.
I regret that it has not been in my power to represent British
fructification; and not possessing even foreign fertile specimens,
I have copied S c h w a e g r ic h e n ’s figure o f the perichae-
tium and capsule. Without, however, deriving any additional
character from the fruit, there appear to me abundant marks
of discrimination.
Fig. I. Hypmm trifarium, natural size. Fig. 2. Upper portion o f a stem.
Fig. 3. Upper leaf. Fig. 4. Lower leaf. Fig. 5. PericJuBtium. Fig. 6.
Capsule; magnified.—7%e two last figures horromedfrom Schwaegriclien.