GYMNOSTOMUM microstomum.
Small-mouthed Beardless-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
Gen. Char. Caps, without a fringe. L id deciduous.
Veil separating entire from the base.
Spec. Ch ar. Stem nearly simple. Leaves awlshaped,
incurved by drying. Lid awlshaped. Capsule elliptical,
much contracted at the mouth.
Syn. Gymnostomum microstomum. Hediv.Sp.Musc.32.
Crypt, v. 3. 71. i. 30 , B. <$m. FI. Brit. 1165.
Swartz. Muse. Suec. 21.
Bryum microstomum. Dicks. Crypt, fasc . 4. 9.
M r . DICKSON mentions this curious little moss as growing
in pastures. We have compared his native specimens with
ours sent by Dr. Swartz, and they precisely agree, as well as
with Hedwig’s figure and description ; but we are obliged to
take our drawing ^from some of Swedish growth, a measure
we think it our duty to acknowledge, though there is no uncertainty
nor ambiguity in the case.
This was supposed to be the smallest of its genus, but it
yields in that respect to some later.discoveries. The roots are
perennial. Stems tufted, very short, for the most part quite
simple, but occasionally they are divided at the bottom. Leaves
dense, lightish green, awlshaped, or rather lanceolate when
wet, keeled, pointed, entire, broad at the base; when dry
curled inward. Fruitstalk taller than the stem, upright, capil-
lary, twisted when old and dry. Capsule erect, elliptical, very
small, dark brown, smooth, its mouth reddishj greatly contracted.
Lid awlshaped, oblique, shorter than the capsule.
We suspect the peculiar adhesion of the lid to the central
Column, which is noticed in t. 1951, and some others of this
genus, chiefly, if not exclusively, belongs to species whose
capsule is dilated at the mouth. Do these circumstances indicate
any generic difference?