j'/pÆoerzoeivm-.
2830
GYMNOSTOMUM sphæricum.
Round-fruited, Beardless Moss.
CR YP TO G AMIA Musci.
Gen. Char. Fruit-stalk terminal. Mouth of capsule
naked, or occasionally with a horizontal membrane.
Calyptra dimidiate.
Spec. Char. Stem simple. Leaves oblong-ovate,
nearly entire, nerved nearly to the summit.
Capsule hemispherical; lid convex, slightly api-
culate. Calyptra campanulate, torn.
Svn. Gymnostomum sphæricum. Schzvaegr. Supp.
I. P. I. 21. t. 8. Bridel, Br. Un. v. 1. 97.
O n the borders of the Pool at Mere, in Cheshire, Sept.
1834.
Growing scattered, or occasionally in loose patches.
Stems about one fourth of an inch long. Leaves few, suberect,
concave, narrowly elliptical, rather obtuse, nerve
narrow, margin nearly entire, but marked here and there
by the prominent cells of the large reticulation. Fruit-stalk
half immersed in the foliage, about 3 lines in length, rather
thick. Capsule erect, and with the lid nearly globose, red,
when dry and mature much expanded at the mouth ; lid,
sometimes conical, sometimes convex with a small point.
Calyptra campanulate, variously torn at the base. Spo-
rules rather large, reddish.
Thi s moss has some resemblance to Gymnostomum trun-
catulum, but belongs to a different division, called by
Bridel Physcomilrion, so that its nearest British ally is
G. pyriforme.—W. W .