[ 1590 ]
S P L A C H N U M ovatum.
Ovate Gland-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
G en . Ch a r . Caps, cylindrical, placed on a f l e s h y
receptacle. F r in g e simple, o f 16 teeth, standing
in pairs.
Spec. Ch a r . R e c e p t a c l e o v a t e , b r o w n i s h . L e a v e s
o v a t e , a c u t e , e n t i r e .
Sy n . Splachnum ovatum. D ic k s . C r y p t, fa s c . 2. 2.
Sm . FI. B r i t . 1 1 7 2 . H e dw . S p . M u se . 54. t. 8.
f . 4— 6. W i th . 793. H u ll. 246. T u r n . Muse.
H ib . 15.
P h a s c u m p e d u n c u l a t u m . H u d s . ed. 1 . 3 9 7 .
B r y u m a m p u l l a c e u m , f o l i i s s e r p y l l i p e l l u c i d i s , c o l l o
c r a s s i o r e . D ill . M u s e . 344. t. 44. f . 4.
B . e r e c t i s g i g a r t i n i s c a p i t u l i s , f o l i i s s e r p i l l i p e l l u c i d i s ,
o b t u s i s . D ill, in R a ii S y n . 93. t. 3 .ƒ . 2.
T h e s e specimens were gathered by Dr. Francis Buchannan
in 1782, at Leney near Stirling, his native place. The glen
of Leney has recently been celebrated in the beautiful poetry
of Mr. Walter Scott; and from these romantic and sequestered
scenes, a long residence in various parts of India has neither
perverted the taste, nor weaned the heart, of our friend.
Splachnum ovatum grows on alpine spongy bogs in Scotland,
Wales, Ireland and the north of England. The capsules
are perfected in June or July. Roots annual. Stem short and
simple. Leaves of a broad ovate figure, rather obtuse, with
a small point, entire, reticulated, furnished with one strong
rib. Fruit-stalk about an inch long, straight, rigid, lawny,
paler upwards. Receptacle ovate or somewhat globular, at
first green, but soon becoming brown, smooth, not wrinkled.
Capsule contracted, much shorter and narrower than the receptacle,
tawny. Fringe at length reflexed. Lid conical.