2878.
I1YPNUM ctespitosum.
Tufted Feather Moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
Gen. Char. Fruit-stalks lateral. Peristome double :
outer one of 16 teeth ; inner, a membrane cut
into 16 equal segments, and usually with intermediate
filiform processes. Calyptra dimidiate.
Spec. Char. Stems creeping, with short, simple,
incurved branches. Leaves ovate, concave,
spreading, secund, serrulate, with plane margins,
nerved above half way. Fruit-stalks rough.
Capsule erect, oblong. Lid conical, subrostrate.
T ^H IS new species was gathered in Nov. 1836 at Longford,
near Warrington, where both previously and since it
has been observed, growing abundantly in fruit, and in extensive
patches upon walls built of sandstone, in places where
it is exposed to inundation, in company with H. rutabulum.
It occurs also about the roots of trees in the same neighbourhood,
and in a few similar situations elsewhere about Warrington,
but mostly in a barren state. More recently this
moss has been observed near Frodsham in Cheshire, in places
not exposed to inundation. It has been carefully observed
for several years, and found to be constant in the above characters.
It is therefore now, with Dr. Taylor’s concurrence,
proposed as a new species. It differs from Ilypnum rutabulum
in its secund, glossy, patent and more rigid foliage, which is
by no means acuminated, but rather obtuse, and when dry
exhibits no appearance of striae. When growing it much resembles
II. blandum, (II. illecebrum, Schwcegr. Suppl. v. i. P. 2.
225,) and, as in that species, the branches are incurved. It
differs from both in the much more erect capsules, which are
of a more oblong shape. In the Frodsham specimens the
capsule is more elongated and slightly curved, and the lid has
a short inclined beak.—W. W.