/ ol .
BRYUM alpinum.
Red Alpine Thread-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
G en. Char. Outer fringe of 16 teeth, broad at the
base: inner a toothed membrane. Flowers terminal.
Capsule ovate-oblong, smooth. Veil smooth.
S pec. C h a r . Stem branched, erect. Leaves ovato-
lanceolate, acute, imbricated. Capsule oblong,
pendulous.
Syn. Bryum alpinum. Linn. Mant. 309. Sm. FI.
Brit. 1353. Huds. 490. With. 841. Hull. 254.
Lightf. 738. Turn. Muse. Hib. 125. '
B. hypnoides pendulum sericeum, coma insigni atro-
rubente. Dill. Muse. 394. t. 50. f . 64.
N o t unfrequent on the highest alpine rocks of Britain,
where it bears fruit in the early part of summer, and is readily
known by its beautiful shining hue variegated with green and
red. In wet situations, and by time, the leaves, as well as
other parts, assume a dark and blackish colour.
The stems are branched, and form dense tufts of various
heights. Leaves closely imbricated every way, green, purple
or red, with a silky gloss, ovato-lanceolate, acute, entire,
with a strong rib, often more red than the rest of the leaf.
When dry they are closely pressed to the stem. Fruit-stalks
about an inch long, solitary, straight, red, rising above the
branch. Capsule more or less pendulous, when young obovate,
then cylindrical or ovate, red or brown. Lid convex with a
little blunt point, reddish. Fringe pale or reddish.