9 y [ 2237 ]
GYMNOSTOMUM imberbe.
Branched, Green Beardless-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musa.
G en. Char. Caps, without a fringe. L i d deciduous.
Veil separating entire from the base.
Spec. Char. Stem much branched, spreading. Leaves
ovate, »without rib or nerve, green at the point.
Capsule bell-shaped, nearly sessile.
D I S C O V E R E D on d r y ro ck s u p o n m o u n ta in s in th e west of
Ire la n d b y Miss H u tc h in s , wh o in 1809 sent specimens to Mr.
T u rn e r, w h ic h h e h a s k in d ly c om m u n ic a te d to u s.
T h is moss comes ne are st to G. ciliatum, t. 1179, from
w h ic h i t differs in w a n tin g th e essential c h a ra c te r o f that
spe c ie s, th e w h ite tra n s p a re n t p o in t o f its leaves, even o f the
u p p e r a n d lo n g e r ones w h ic h ov e rto p th e fru it. T h e re is also
a m o re m em b ran o u s h a b it in a ll th e leaves, a n d th e ir margins
a re alw ays somewha t revolute. T h e o ld ones a re v e ry black.
T h e c ap su le s, w h ic h ra re ly o c c u r, a re o b scu re ly furrowed and
th e ir m o u th s c o n tra c te d , b u t w h e th e r th is be th e effect o f d ryin
g in a y o u n g sta te m a y a dm it o f d o u b t. W e h a v e seen no lid.
E h rh a r l’s own sp e c im en o f his Hedivigia Anodon, C ry p t. 192,
a p p ro a c h e s th is in h a v in g rev o lu te leaves, w ith m u ch less
tra n s p a re n c y in th e ir tip s th a n is u su a l in ciliatum ; b u t those
w h ic h su rro u n d its f ru it h a v e th e p ro p e r p e llu c id a n d even
frin g ed te rm in a tio n , n o t to b e seen in o u r imlerle; n o r do the
co lo u r a n d h a b it o f E h r h a r t ’s p la n t resemble o u rs, b e in g prec
ise ly lik e th e comm o n ciliatum.