§ 15. HYPNUM P r o p e r .— Stems procumbent or ascending, irregularhj divided,
with a more or less densehj pinnate ramification, sparingly villous: leaves ovate-lanceolate,
more or less long-acuminate, usually subsecund or falcate-secund, obsoletely
bicostate, membranaceous, shining ; cellules linear, compact : capsule annulate,
mostly oblong and erect-cernuous: opet'culum conic, more or less rostellate.
46. I I . lllo llltS C lllB l, Ilcdw. Dioecious ; grows in soft mats ; stems
procumbent or ascending, dichotomously divided ; the divisions very closely
and pinnately ramulose, much as in. No. 45; branchlets incurved at their
points ; leaves suddenly lanceolate-attenuate from a broad base, falcate-secund,
serrate ; capsule horizontal, turgid-oval. — On rocks aud on the ground, iu dense
woods; mostly in mountainous regions. (Eu.)
47. I I . c u p r c s s i i o i ' i n e , L. Dioecious ; stems creeping, irregularly or
subpinnatcly ramulose ; leaves broadly oblong-lauceolatc, attenuated, often serrulate
at the point, falcate-secund ; capsule oblong or cylindrical, crcct-ccrnu-
ous ; annulus broad ; operculum convex-conic, more or less acutely rostellate.
— Hilly districts, on the tmnks of trees, rocks, or on the ground, in shaded
places. — Very variable. (Eu.)
48. I I . im p o n c n s , Hedw. Dioecious ; stems prostrate, extended, divided,
regularly and closely pinnate ; leaves broadly ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate,
falcate-secund, sbarply serrate at the point, the margins below reflexcd ;
capsule cylindrical, suberect, slightly inciuwed. — On the ground, and on decayed
logs ; forming extensive thin mats, in localities not mountainous. — One
of our most common species. (Eu.)
49. I I . r e p t i l e , Michx. Monoecious ; stems slender, creeping, elongated,
suhpinnately ramulose ; leaves ovate-oblong, moderately acuminated, subsc-
cnnd, more or less falcate, strongly serrate at the point; capsule cylindrical,
erect-cernuous ; operculum large, rostellate from a tumid base. — Smaller than
the last ; occurs only in mountainous districts, where it is very common. (Eu.)
50. I I . c i i r v i f ò l i u m , Hedw. Dioecious; in general aspect like No. 47
and 48, but larger, and not so pinnately ramulose ; readily recognized by its
large, cemuous, and, -when dry, sulcate capsule ; and by the conspicuous whitish,
plicate, perichætial leaves. — Grows with No. 48.
51. I I . I l a l d a i i ì à i i u n i , Grev. Monoecious; stems creeping, irregularly
branched ; branches subcompressed ; leaves ovate-lanceolate and broadly
oblong-lanceolate, entire, spreading, more or less secund ; capsule elongated,
cylindrical, nearly erect, slightly incurved ; operculum acutely conic or subros-
tcllate. — Grows in same places as the last. (Eu.)
52. I I . iie iiiO T Ò S iin i, Koch. Monoecious ; stems creeping, elongated,
with several main divisions, which are closely subpinnatcly and fasciculately
ramulose ; branclilets subcompressed ; leaves ovate-lanccolatc, with a long and
narrow strongly semate and subflexuous point, patent, more or less secund;
capsule oblong, erect-incurved; operculum short-conic. — Decayed logs, on
summits of the Alleghany Mountains. — Aboiit the size of No. 48. (Eu.)
53. I I . p r a t è n s e , Koch. Dioecious (in European specimens pseudo-
monoecious, Bryol. Europ.) ; stems ascending, divided, subfastigiately branched;
branches sparingly ramulose; cauline leaves subcomplanatc, decurvcd at tho
apex (those of the branches secund-falcate), ovate-lanceolate, minutely scrnilato
above; capsule cernuous, incurved-oblong; operculum convcx-conic. — Wet
rocks on the ground, forming loose spongy masses, New York : rare. — Resembles
No. 50, and large forms of No. 47 ; but its ramification and mode of growth
arc quite different. (Eu.)
§ 16. RHYTÍDIUM, Sulliv. — Stems prostrate; the main divisions robust, rigid,
arcuate-ascending, irregularly pinnate, with short suhuncinate branchlets : leaves
ovate-lanceolate, attenuated, often, secund and subfaleate, undulate-rugose, semicostate
; areolation compact, linear, fiexuous : capsule cylindrical, arcuate-horizontal :
operculum conic, shortly rostellate : calyptra large.
54. II. rug'dsiim, Ehrh. Dioecious; stems erect, 2 '- 3 ' high; foliage
yellow or fulvous. — Grows in large elastic cushions, mostly in exposed places,
on limestone rocks : not uncommon; but extremely rare in fruit. (Eu.)
§17. BRACHYTHÈCIUM, Bryol. Europ. — Stems prostrate, rarely suberect;
ramification profuse, irregular, occasionally subpinnate : leaves erect-patent, usually
ovate or ovate-lanceolate, more or less acuminate, the margins below recm'ved; areolation
rhomboidal, more or less elongated ; costa ceasing half-way, or continuous :
capsule ovate or oblong, cernuous or subei'ect : operculum convex-conic : pedicel
smooth or scabrous.
* Pedicels smooth.
55. I I . iiitcns, Schreb. Monoecious; stems tomentoso, suberect, 3 '- 5 '
long, interruptedly and suhpinnately ramulose ; leaves yellowish-green, sliining,
elongated-lanceolate, attenuated, strongly sulcate-plicate ; costa light, subcontinuous
; capsule oblong, cernuous ; operculum short, convcx-conic, apiculate ; annulus
laz’ge; pedicels U - 2 ' long. — Sphagnous swamps, Northern and Middle
States. (Eu.)
56. Ï Ï , saIcH>rdsiun, Hoffm. Monoecious; stems 3 ' - 4 ' long, prostrate,
irregularly branched ; leaves moderately acuminated from a rounded base, sub-
serrulate, slightly striate ; areolation broader and more lax neai’ the base ; costa
slender, vanishing about midway ; capsule gibbose-ovate, turgid, cemuous; annulus
small; pedicels 6 " -1 0 " lo n g ; pcrichætial leaves subsquarrose. — On the
ground, decayed logs, rocks, &c. ; common and variable.—Eoliage yellowish-
green aud shining. (Tab. V.) (Eu.)
57. II. lætulu, Brid. Very like (and often confounded with) No. 56 ;
but more slender, with an erect-cernuous oblong-cylindrical capsule and dioecious
inflorescence. — Similar situations.
58. II. actiBiiiiiàtuiii, Beauv. Dioecious; resembles the last species;
but is every way smaller ; stems prostrate, closely entangled ; the branches
crowded, ascending ; leaves slightly spreading, ovate-lanceolate, serrulate near
the point, costatc beyond the middle, the margins broadly recurved; capsule
cylindrical, nearly regular, erect, or slightly curved ; annulus none ; ciliolæ of
the inner peristome present or absent. (Leskea acuminata, LTíJíc.) — On the
ground and decayed logs, in moist, shady places. — Prominent among its many
varieties arc var. ru p ín c o lum : leaves shorter ; branches suhjulaccous ; capsule