TRICHOSTOMUM lineare.
Linear-leaved Fringe-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musd.
G en. Char. Caps, oblong. F r in g e of 32 capillary,
straightish teeth, approximated or united in pairs.
S pec. C h a r . Leaves linear-lanceolate, imbricated,
acute. Capsule elliptical. Lid conical, oblique.
Stem erect.
Syn. Trichostomum lineare. Sm. FI. B r i t . 1246. Winch
B o t . Guide, 105.
Bryum lineare. Dicks. Crypt, fa s c . 3 . 6 . t. 8. ƒ . 2.
W i th . 837. H u ll. 265.
M r . D IC K S O N d isc o v e red th is m o s s i n th e s o u th o f S c o tl
a n d . T h e R e v . H . D a v ie s h a s g a th e r e d it in m a n y parts
o f N o r th W a l e s , a n d M r . W i n c h h a s c om m u n ic a te d i t to
M r . S ow e rb y f rom ro c k s in th e O u s e B o u rn n e a r H a d d r ic k ’s
m il], N o r th um b e r la n d . I t g row s in w e t p la c e s , o n a c alcare
o u s o r s a n d y s o il, a n d b e a rs its f ru it in th e s p rin g .
R o o ts p e r e n n ia l. S tem s tu f te d , b r a n c h e d , e r e c t, a n inch
o r in c h a n d h a l f h ig h , le a fy . L e a v e s lo o s e ly im b ric a te d , rather
s p r e a d in g , v a ry in g f rom a n a r row , a c u te , a lm o s t lin e a r , to an
o v a te f o rm ; th e y a re in d e e d a lw ay s r a th e r b ro a d a t th e ir base;
th e ir m a rg in is e n tir e a n d s om ew h a t re v o lu te , a n d th e y have
a s tr o n g re d d ish r i b ; th e ir c o lo u r in M r . D a v ie s ’s spec
im e n s is y e llow ish , in M r . W i n c h ’s in c lin in g to a b lackish
h u e , b o th in d ic a tin g a w a te ry p la c e o f g row th . F ru its ta lk s
r e d , n e a r a n in c h lo n g . C a p su le e r e c t, e llip tic a l, sm o o th ,
b row n . L id n e a r ly o f th e s am e l e n g th , c o n ic a l, w ith an
o b liq u e ta p e r p o in t. F r in g e r e d d is h , d e lic a te , s tr a ig h t, sh o rter
th a n in m a n y o th e r sp e c ie s.
T h e h a b it o f th is p la n t r a th e r in d ic a te s a Tortula, b u t the
f r in g e is tr u ly th a t o f a Trichostomum.