J o o. [ 2394 ]
BRYUM triquetrum.
Long-stalked Thread-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musd.
G en. Char. Outer fringe o f 16 teeth., broadest at the
base; inner a toothed membrane. Flowers terminal.
Capsule ovate- oblong, smooth. Veil smooth.
S p e c . C h a r . S tem s u b d iv id e d . B r a n c h e s s im p le ,
e r e c t. L e a v e s s p r e a d in g in th r e e row s , o v a to -
la n c e o la te , s h a r p - p o in te d , fin e ly s e r ia te d . C a p su
le s le n d e r - p e a r s h a p e d , o b liq u e a n d in c u rv e d .
L id c o n ic a l.
Syn. Bryum triquetrum. Turn. Muse. Hib. 115.
Mnium triquetrum. Linn. Sp. PI. 1578, excluding
the synonyms. Ehrh. Phytoph. 59..
M e e s ia lo n g is e ta . Hedw. Sp. Muse. 173. Crypt,
v. 1. 56. t. 21, 22. Swartz. Muse. Suec. 43.
W e introduce this stately moss to the acquaintance of British
botanists, on the authority of Mr. Turner, who mentions
it as discovered by Dr. Scott, “ about the borders of some lake
in the north of Ireland.” It bears fruit in July, and is perennial,
growing always in a spongy peat soil. Having never
seen Irish specimens, we are obliged to have recourse to Swedish
and Swiss ones, in very fine preservation ; by which we
are enabled to correct certain inaccuracies in our predecessors.
The stems grow in tufis, and are several inches high'; not
simple, but branched; the annual shoots indeed are usually
simple and upright. Leaves in three rows, spreading, light
green, nearly ovate, keeled, with a sharp point more or less
elongated, a strong rib, but no awn ; the edges under a high
magnifier prove to be finely serrated, by no means entire.
The leaves of former seasons are permanent, blackened, intermixed
with rusty-black down. Young flowers, encompassed
with star-like leaves, terminate the branches. These seem destined
to bear fruit in the following summer. The fruitstalks
are terminal, solitary, uncommonly long, (even three or four
inches,) somewhat wavy, red and very elegant; Capsule pale
brown, smooth, pearshaped, a little oblique, bent where its cavity
reaches the solid base, or spurious apophysis. Lid conical,
short, acute. Outer fringe short and blunt, as described
by Hedwig.