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[ 2033 ]
T O R T U L A muralis.
Wall Screw-moss.
CRYPTOGAMS Musci.
Gen. Char, F r in g e simple, o f numerous capillary
teeth, spirally and repeatedly twisted together.
Spec. Char. Stem mostly simple, very short. Leaves
ovate, acute, hair-pointed. Capsule cylindrical,
slightly elliptical. Lid conical.
Syn. Tortula muralis. Hedw. Sp. M u s e . 123. Sm. F I .
B r i t . 1256. Sibth. 284. T u rn . Muse. H ib . 50.
Bryum murale. L in n . Sp. P I . 1581. Huds. 477.
W i l h . S U . H u ll. 256. Relh. 423. A b b o t . 240.
B. tegulare humile, pilosum et incanum. D i l l . M u s e.
355. t. 4 5 ./. 14.
B. minus, erectis minus falcatis capitulis, foliis la-
tiusculis congestis, in pilum canescentem desinen-
tibus. R a i l Syn. 94.
NOTH ING can be more plentiful than this Tortula upon
walls arid roofs. It is perhaps the most common of all mosses,
and is known by the hoary appearance which the terminal
white hairs, various in length, give to its deep-green leaves,
and by the numerous brown capsules, nearly erect, and slightly
elliptical, with a reddish fringe of moderate length, which
appear in profusion throughout the spring.
The roots are perennial. Stems very short, though sometimes
divided. Leaves crowded, spreading, flattish, ovate,
or oblong-obovate, acute, entire, with a single rib. The
terminal hair is sometimes almost wanting, in which state
we have found the plant this year at Charlton. Fruitstalk
terminal, straight, reddish brown. Old capsule a little curved,
when the fringe falls off. Lid red, conical, not half so long
as the capsule, slightly oblique. Veil awlshaped, slender,
browqish.