/ 0) i . [ 1462 ]
DICRANUM virens.
Green Spur-fruited Fork-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
Gen. Char. Caps, oblong. Fringe of 16 flat, cloven
teeth, a little inflexed.
Spec. Char. Stem branched. Leaves linear-lanceolate,
twisted when dry. Capsule curved, smooth, with
a prominence at the base.
Syn. Dicranum virens. Swartz. Muse. Suec. 33. Sm.
Ft. B r it. 1406. Hedw. Sp. Muse. 142. Crypt, v. 3.
7 7 . t. 32. Turn. Muse. Hib. 69.
M r . T U R N E R , in h is w o rk o n Irish Mosse s, gives th e prese
n t species as a n a tiv e o f th a t c o u n try , and we have also received
Sco ttish specimens from M r. G . D o n , ga the red on the
h ig h la n d m o u n ta in s , an d have compared th em with Dr.
Sw a rtz ’s origina l Swedish ones. I t is p e ren n ia l, and bears
fru it in th e sum m e r m o n th s .
T h e stems fo rm tu fts , an d are 2 or 3 in ch e s h ig h , erect,
lea fy, b r a n c h e d ; b la c k ish an d d owny in th e ir lower part.
Leaves o f a fine b rig h t g re en, lin e a r-lan c eo la te , en tire , slightly
revolute, keeled, w ith a central r i b ; dila ted and clasping the
stem a t th e ir b a s e ; taper an d sh a rp a t th e p o in t, curved and
tw isted by dry in g . F ru it-s ta lk s a t first te rm in a l, solitary,
a b o u t a n in c h lo n g , slen d er, b row n w h en old, sheathed with
broad leaves (a) a t th e ir base, Capsule re d -b row n , cylindrical,
m u c h c u rv ed , sm o o th (n o t fhrrowed as in D. strumiferum and
polycarpum), tap e rin g a t th e b a se , and fu rn ish e d w ith a sharpish
p rom in e n c e o r sp u r. Veil p a le , tipped w ith b rown. Lid
co n ic a l, ta p e rin g , sh o rte r th a n th e capsule, sometimes curved.