HYPNUM b l a n d um . n e a t c l u s t e r e d f e a t h e r .
MOSS.
HYPNUM blandum ; caule subpinnatim ramoso ; foliis subarcte imbricatis erectiusculis ovatis conca-
vis acutis estriatis serrulatis, nervo sub summum apicem evanescente ; seta scabra ; oper-
culo conico-acuminato.
HYPNUM blandum. Lyell MSS.
Class and Order. CRYPTOGAMIA MUSCI.
[Nat.ural Order. MUSCI. Linn., Juss., Decand.]
GEN. CHAR. Seta lateralis. Peristomium duplex: ext. dentibus sedecim; int. membranaceum, sedecim-lacinia-
tum, ciliis stepe interpositis. Calyptra dimidiata.
Gen. Char. Fruitstalk lateral. Peristome double: ext. of sixteen te e th : the int. membranaceous, with sixteen
segments, and cilia frequently interposed. Calyptra dimidiate.
Caules in cæspitibus latis densissimis congesti, repentes,
subvage ramosi, ramis pinnatis, nunc patulis,
saepissime erectis, simplicibus, brevibus, paulu-
lum curvatis, apicibus obtusiusculis.
Folia intense atque obscure viridia, nitentia, erectius-
culaj subarcte imbricata, concava, apice acuta,
nunc acuminulata, estriata, per totum fere mar-
ginem minute serrulata, nervo valido concolore
sub summum apicem evanescente instructa. Pe-
richoetialia lanceolata, longe acuminata, subener-
via ; inferiora breviora, subpatula ; superiora e-
recta, appressa.
Seta vix unciam longa, erecta, paululum flexuosa, cro-
cea, papillis numerosis minutis scabra.
Capsula ovato-oblonga, horizontaliter inclinata, vel nutans,
viridi-fusca.
Operculum coniço-acuminatum, capsula concolor.
Calyptra dimidiata, pallide fusca.
Peristomium duplex : ext. e dentibus sedecim lan-
ceolatis, acuminatis, rufis, transversim striatis :
int. membrana flava, reticulata, sedecim-laciniata,
segmentis ciliis solitariis vel duobus his alternan-
tibiis.
Stems collected together in broad very dense tufts, creeping,
rather irregularly branched, the branches pinnate,
sometimes spreading, often erect, simple,
short, a little curved, obtuse at their points.
Leaves deep and rather lurid green, but shining, nearly
erect, rather closely imbricated, concave, acute
a t the extremity, sometimes acuminulate, destitute
of strife, minutely serrated throughout nearly
their whole margin, the nerve stout, of the same
colour, disappearing below the very extremity.
Pericheetial leaves lanceolate, much acuminate,
almost nerveless; the lower ones shorter, somewhat
patulous; the upper ones erect, appressed.
Fruitstalk scarcely an inch long, erect, a little flexu-
oSe, croceous, rough with numerous minute tu bercles.
Capsule ovato-oblong, horizontally inclined or drooping,
greenish brown.
Operculum conico-acuminate, of the same colour as
the capsule.
Calyptra dimidiate, pale brown.
P eristome double : ext. o f sixteen lanceolate, acuminate,
reddish, transversely striated, teeth .- int. a
yellow reticulated membrane, cut into sixteen
segments, and, alternating with these, are one or
two cilia.
1, 1. Hypnum blandum, nat. size. Fig. 2. Single plant. Fig. 3, 3 ,3 . Leaves. Fig. 4. Perichretium.
Fig. 5. Leaf of ditto. Fig. 6. Capsule. Fig. 7. Operculum. Fig. 8. Calyptra. Fig. 9. Portion of the outer
■ peristome. Fig. 10. Portion of inner ditto;—all more or less magnified.
The credit of discovering this new species of Hypnum, and of distinguishing satisfactorily its characters, is entirely
due to my most valued friend Charles Lyell, Esq. who finds it on one spot only, in Cadnam lane, near his seat of
hartley Lodge, Hants, and.then bearing fruit most sparingly, between the months of November and January.
lhe first aspect of the moss, and the general shape o f the leaves, are strikingly similar to those of H. murale:
but the resemblance holds in these points only; for in all other respects this is abundantly different, and approaches
nearer to H. rutabulum ; having, like that individual, the primary divisions of the stem vaguely branched, and the
secondary ones tolerably regularly pinnate (though these pinnas are frequently erect); and, what is of more consequence,
it has a rough fruitstalk, and a more or less conical operculum. It is in the leaves that the discriminating
marks are to be found ; and these in our present plant are nearly erect, exactly ovate, very concave, acute, or at
™°st> t h a t but seldom, acuminulate, of a compact texture, having no strife, their margins very minutely serra-
ed, and the nerve strong and running very nearly to the point: whilst in H. rutabulum the leaves are patent, almost
quarrose, of a somewhat cordate figure, plane, or only towards the base slightly concave, much acuminated, of a
se membranaceous texture, more or less striated, their margins evidently serrated, and the nerve faint, disappear-
jf middle o f the leaf. To these may be added, though as characters perhaps of minor importance that
• oianaum is of a much smaller size, more rigid habit, has a narri 1 ' ’ * ■ culum. •e drooping
is H more upon these differences than is, perhaps, necessary; but, in a ge
■ a .Hypnum, distinguishing marks cannot be laid down in few words, and I trust
Wl' s®rve t0 IieeP H. blandum for ever apart from H. rutabulum; and there is i
I >y to be confounded. |
ooJ h.er®ls a degree of neatness and co
BES H H. purum and murale. but
JL 0 f j o j specific name of blandum.
cords with it.
apsule, and a longer operwded
with species, i
ase which I h
other with which i
ipactness in the mode of growth of this plant, similar to what lhay be ob-
ertainly not like that of H. rutabulum, which has induced my friend to as-
In no continental work of Muscology do I find any species that well ac