PHASCUM crispum.
Curled-leaved Earth-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
Gen. Char. Capsule ovate, without any separate lid,
deciduous. Veil minute, deciduous.
Spec. Char. Stem branched. Stem-leaves very small,
alternate; the floral ones awlshaped, curled and
twisted when dry. Capsules several.
Syn. Phascum crispum. Hedw. Sp. Muse. 21. Crypt,
v. 1. 25. t. 9. Sm. FI. Brit. 1151. Dicks. Crypt,
fasc. 4. 2. Turn. Muse. Hib. 2.
G a t h e r e d near Bedford by the Rev. Dr. Abbot, and
communicated to Mr. Sowerby in January 1805. It is annual,
bearing fruit in the winter or early spring.
The stems grow in tufts, and are mostly branched, spreading,
leafy, about a quarter of an inch high. Leaves light
green, often yellowish, entire; the lower ones extremely
small, alternate, lanceolate, concave; the upper ones gradually
larger and closer: the floral leaves much the largest,
clustered, single-ribbed, long-pointed, much curled and twisted
when dry; dilated and pale at the base. Capsules few, terminal,
nearly sessile, erect, elliptical, with a little oblique
point, brown when ripe. Veil with a longish summit.
This being now ascertained as the true Phascum crispum,
it is necessary to apply the following synonyms and character
to our tab. 618.
PHASCUM multicapsulare.
Many-fruited Earth-moss.
Spec. Char. Stem branched. Stem-leaves alternate ;
the floral ones linear-lanceolate, straight. Capsule?
numerous.
Syn. Phascum multicapsulare. Sm. FI. Brit. 1152.
Ph. sphærocarpon. Abbot. 230.
Ph. crispum. Swartz. Muse. Suec. 17.
T h i s is commonly of a duller green, and has much more
numerous capsules. The floral leaves are more lanceolate,
not contracting suddenly, and do not curl in the same manner
by drying.