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PHASCUM cuspidatum.
Sharp-leaved D w a r f Earth-moss.
CRYPTOGAM1A Musci.
Gen. Char. Capsule ovate, without any separate lid
deciduous. C e i l minute, deciduous.
Spec. Char. Stem slight. Leaves ovate, concave,
hair-pointed; the upper ones folding over each
other. Capsule broad-oval, nearly sessile.
Syn. Phascum cuspidatum. Hedw. Sp. Muse. 22. Sm.
F I . B r i t . l \ 5 5 . R elh. 413. Sibth. 273. Abbot.
229. E h rh . Crypt. 162. T u rn . Muse. H ib . 3.
P. acaulon. L in n . Sp. P L 1570, *. Huds. 466, f.
W i th . 784. Hull. 251. Curt. L o u d . fa s c . 4.
t. 66. F L D a n . t. 249. ƒ. 3.
Sphagnum acaulon bulbiforme maius. D i l l . Muse. 251.
t. 32. f . 11.
S. acaulon, foliis in bulbi for mam consestis, maius’
R a i l Syn. 105, & J
C o m m o n on sandy or gravelly banks, heaths or neglected
garden walks, in the month of March. It forms broad even
patches, conspicuous enough, and readily recognized*
The root is apparently annua], though it often makes offsets.
Stems short, simple, though not always solitary. Leaves
pale green, almost white at their base, crowded, ovate, concave,
entire, pointed, furnished with a strong* mid-rib and
tipped with a hair; all imbricated or folded together, except
the small lower ones. Capsule on a short oblique fruit-stalk
springing from a bulb, oval, broad, indeed almost globular,
brown, smooth, quite concealed by the leaves. The minute
veil may be seeu in our figure, crowned with the style, and
sticking to the top of the capsule. Some abortive flowers
surround the base of the bulb.