D IC R A N UM pusillum.
D w a r f Fork-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
Gen. Char. Caps, oblong. Fringe o f l 6 flat, cloven
teeth, a little inflexed.
Spec. Char. Stem simple. Leaves capillary, ribless,
nearly upright. Capsule ovate, inclining, with a
slight prominence oh one side at the base.
Syn. Dicranum pusillum. Hedw. Sp. Muse. 139.
Crypt, v. 2 . 80 . t. 29> B . Sm. FI. B rit. 1 2 19.
Swartz Muse. Suec. 38. Sibth. 282.
Bryum parvulum. Dichs. Crypt, fa s c . 3. 7* With.
832. Hull. 2 63.
O l IR specimens of this pretty little Moss were gathered by Mr.
Turner at Belton, Suffolk, not far from Yarmouth. The same is
found also in Scotland and Oxfordshire, as well as probably elsewhere
in this island.
Hedwig asserts it to be perennial. The stems are a line °r
two only in height, forming dense patches, unbranched. Leaves
spreading very slightly in every direction, pale green, brown when
old, very narrow, concave, or somewhat keeled, at the base, where
they are considerably dilated ; but we believe they have no actual
rib or nerve, whatever appearance the fold of the keel may sometimes,
give. Fruitstalks very slender, shining, sheathed at the
base, yellowish, tinning black with age. Capsule ovate, abrupt,
turned to one side, pale brown, smooth, with a small reddish
tumour at the base on the under side. Lid with a taper curved
beak, as long as the capsule. Fringe large in proportion, of a
fine red.
The flowers are said to be produced in autumn; which is very
probable, as the capsules are found with us in the early spring.