T O R T U L A cuneifolia.
Wedge-shaped Screw-moss.
CRYPTOGAMlA Musci,
Geni Char. Fringe simple, o f numerous capillary
teeth, spirally and repeatedly twisted together1.
Spec. Char. Stem very short, mostly simple. Leaves,
obovate, reticulated, pellucid, slightly pointed.
Capsule cylindrical. Lid conical.
Syn. Tortula cuneifolia. Sm. FI. Brit. 1257* Turn.
Muse. Hib. 51.
Bryum cuneifolium. Dicks. Crypt, fasc. 3. 7. With.
811. Hull. 256.
B. murale [3. Huds. 477.
B. humile, pilis carens, viride et pellucidum. Dill.
Muse. 356. t. 45. ƒ 15.
W e have often sought in vain for this moss about Oxford,
where Dilleiiius says it is very common. Mr. Turner collected
the specimens here represented on some old banks at Hopton,
Suffolk, near Yarmouth, in April 1805.
According to Dillenius its root is biennial. Stem very short
and mostly simple. Leaves wedge-shaped, or rather obovate,
entire, of a bright pellucid green, very strongly and conspicuously
reticulated, furnished with a central nerve, and either
quite blunt, or tipped with a small short point, never with a
hair. Fruit-stalk half an inch or more in height, of a tawny
hue. Capsule erect, pale brown, cylindrical, a little swelling.
Veil awl-shaped. Lid about half as long as the capsule, conical,
acute, slightly curved, reddish. Fringe bright red.
Its leaves are totally distinct in form and texture from the
common Tortula muralis, with which it has been confounded.