a
HYPNUM dendroides.
Tree-shaped Feather-moss.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci.
Gen. Char. Caps, ovate-oblong, from a lateral scaly
sheath. Outer fringe of 16 teeth, dilated at the base:
inner a variously-toothed membrane. Veil smooth.
Spec. Char. Stem erect, simple. Branches clustered,
terminal. Leaves ovate, single-ribbed, finely serrated.
Lid pointed. Capsules erect.
Syn. Hypnum dendroides. Linn. Sp. PL 1593. Sm.
FI. Brit. 1283. Buds. 503. With. 859. Hull.
272. Relh. 430. Abbot. 250. Dicks. Dr.
PI. 96. H. Sicc.fasc. 13. 21. Ehrh. Crypt. 16.
Turn. Muse. Hib. 1S8.
H. dendroides seriteum, setis et capsulis longioribus
erectis. Dill. Muse. 313. t. 40 . f . 48.
H. erectum, arbusculam referens, ramulis subrotundis
confertim nascentibus. Raii Syn. 81.
F o u n d in moist shady woods and boggy grassy pastures,
producing its fruit, though very rarely, In spring, summer,
or autumn. Mr. Mackay gathered our specimens on the island
of Innesfallen, Killarney, in August 1805, at which time some
capsules were quite ripe, others just beginning to swell.
The species before us is readily known by its tree-like form
of growth, which gives it a pretty and peculiar aspect. The
roots are long and creeping. Stems solitary, simple and scaly.
Branches clustered, cylindrical, straight, acute, covered with
imbricated shining leaves, which vary in colour, and are ovate,
rather minutely serrated, furnished with a rib and 2 longitudinal
plaits. Sheath cylindrical. Capsules erect, slenderly
elliptical. Lid conical, pointed. Inner fringe'divided almost
to the base into uniform slender teeth : hence Swartz has referred
it to Neckera ; and his opinion is sanctioned by the colour
and texture of the part in question.