/ o y [ 1601 ]
BRYUM bicolor.
Two-coloured Thread-moss.
CR YPTOGAMIA Musci.
G e n . C h a r . Outer fringe of 16 teeth, broad at the
ba se : inner a toothed membrane. Flowers termi--
nal. Capsule ovate-oblong, smooth. Veil smooth.
S p e c . C h a r . Stem very short, branched at the base.
Leaves ovato-lanceolate, pointed1. Capsule ovate,
obtuse, pendulous.
S y n . Bryum bicolor. Dicks. Crypt, fasc. A>. 16. Sm.
FI. Brit. 1355. Turn. Muse. Hib. 121. t. 11. f . 2.
B. n. 66, varietas parva. Dill. Muse. 397. t. 50.
ƒ - 66, F , G.
C ommunicated by Mr. w. Bmuton from the neighbourhood
of Ripon, Yorkshire. It bears capsules in March,
and is supposed to be perennial. I have it from Switzerland,
and have also gathered it near Rome. It loves a barren sandy
soil.
The plants grow in rather loose tufts, and are very short,
throwing up a branch or two from their base which rises above
the original stem. Leaves pale yellowish green, imbricated,
ovato-lanceolate, acutely pointed1, entire, single-ribbed, nearly
flat, not inflated. Fruitstalk from the top of the primary
stem, though apparently from the base of the branches, half
an inch or more m height, red and shining, its top curved and
often greenish. Capsule pendulous, ovate or obovate, obtuse,
red, or partly yellowish, generally of a deep blood red. Lid
convex: with a little point, often red, sometimes yellowish,
shining. Fringe yellow or of a' tawny hue.
Dillenius thought this a variety of B. ecespititmm, but that
is much larger and greener, and has hair-pointed leaves.