o. [ 1 S 6 0 ]
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
G e n . C h a r . Caps, ovate-oblong, from a lateral scaly
sheath. Outer fringe of 16 teeth, dilated at the base:
inner a variously-toothed membrane. Veil smooth.
S p e c . C h a r . Stem prostrate, pinnated. Leaves lanceolate
awlshaped, concave, ribless, curved to one
side. Lid beaked.
S y n . Hypnum cupressiforme. Linn. Sp. PI. 1592.
Sm. FI. Brit. 1331. Hedw. Sp. Muse. 291. Crypt,
v. 4. 59. t. 23. Huds. 500. With. 858. Hull 2 7 2 .
Relh. 435. Siblh. 298. Abbot. 248. Dicks. H.
Sice. fasc. 8. 2 1 . Turn. Muse. Hib. 193.
H. crispum cupressiforme, foliis aduncis. Dill. Muse.
287. t. 37. ƒ. 23.
H. repens crispum cupressiforme. Raii Syn. 89.
V e r y c om m o n a b o u t th e ro o ts o f tr e e s a n d o n ro c k s a n d
s to n e s in d r y w o o d s , w h e r e i t fo rm s b ro a d e la s tic p a tc h e s ,
e a s ily s e p a ra b le f r o m w h a t th e y g row u p o n , a n d b e a r in g
c a p s u le s a b u n d a n t ly in A p r il a n d M a y .
S tem s e n ta n g le d , p in n a t e d , le a fy , th e i r b r a n c h e s f la tte n e d
o n th e u p p e r s id e , a n d h o o k e d a t th e p o in t s . L e a v e s l ig h t
s h i n i n g g r e e n , o f te n t aw n y , e n t i r e , w i th o u t r ib s , t a p e r -
p o in t e d , c lo s e ly im b r ic a te d , th e i r p o in ts a ll c u rv e d to th e
u n d e r sid e o f th e b r a n c h . S h e a th s la x . S ta lk s u p r ig h t , r e d ,
w a v y , a n in c h o r m o r e in l e n g th . C a p s u le c y lin d r ic a l, a l i ttle
c u r v e d . L id c o n v e x , w i th a lo n g is h ta p e r b e a k .
H. compressum o f L in n a e u s 's Mantissa, 3 1 0 , D ill.f. 2 2 ,
is a p a le s le n d e r v a r ie ty o f th i s , /3 o f FI. Brit., fo u n d in
m o i s t o r s h a d y p la c e s , b u t n o t c o m m o n ly .
H. cupressiforme-'\% a n e x c e lle n t m o s s fo r a n y k in d o f
p a c k in g , e ith e r o f r o o ts , s p e c im e n s , o r a n y th in g w h ic h r e -
' q u ir e s a s o f t e la s tic c o v e r in g . M a n y in s e c ts s h e lte r th em se
lv e s b e n e a th it d u r in g th e s e v e rity o f w in te r .