i ;
The representation of this moss in “ English Botany,” is so
little characteristic, that I have not hesitated to give it a place in
the present work ; more particularly as I am desirous of placing
it in immediate contrast with Hypnum alpestre. In regard to
the nerve in the leaf, less confusion exists than in H . alpestre,
yet there is a good deal of inconsistency. H e d w i g describes
the leaf as nerveless, and Sir J a m e s S m i t h does the same in
the last edition of the “ Compendium.” D i c k s o n is said to
figure a single nerve : B k i d e l says it is “ obsolete binerve
S c h w a e g r i c h e n “ semi-binerve.” H o o k e r and T a y l o r
affirm it to be either faintly 2-nerved at the base, or to have a
single short nerve. From my own experience in the examination
of numerous Scottish, French, and Swiss specimens, I am
inclined to join W e b e r and M o h r in characterizing it as only
2-nerved; and in doing so, I conjecture that those specimens
in which the leaf has been described as 1-nerved, belong to
H . alpestre. I may here observe, that, in habit, the H . alpestre
of S w a r t z (which is 2-nerved), is intermediate between
the H . alpestre of this work and H . molle; and if the leaf
with its nerve were taken as the leading character, it would be
united to the last-named species; and the H . alpestre I have
figured, would remain distinguished by a single nerve, as long
and as strong as that of H . molle is short and weak.
The colour of this species is sometimes altogether pale, with
a reddish tinge at the top and at the base : in other cases (as
in the specimens from the Clova Mountains), it is pale at the
summit, and dark lurid or even blackish-green below. Colour,
however, affords no mark of distinction. It is chiefly separated
from H . alpestre hy its flaccid texture, the loose, irregular imbrication
of the leaves, and their mostly secund direction at the
upper part of the plant. The capsule is also more cernuous,
and much thicker and rounder.
Figs. 1 ,2. H. molle, natural size. Fig. S. Lmver leaf o f the branches. Figs. 4, 5.
Upper leaves. Fig. 6. Perichaetvum. Fig. 7- Perichcelial lecf. F ig 8.
Capsule. Fig. 9. Teeth from the outer peristome. Pig. 10. A poi-tion o f the
inner peristome ; magnified.
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