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HYPNUM albicans.
Whitish Silky Feather-moss.
P i
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 branched, ascending. Leaves imbricated,
ovate, pointed, three-nerved. Capsule
ovate, curved. Lid conical, pointed.
Syn. Hypnum albicans. Necher. Muse. 180. Sm. FI.
Brit. 1309. Hedw. Sp. Muse. 251. Crypt, v. 4. 13.
t. 5. Dicks. Crypt, fasc. 1.6 . H. Sicc.fasc. 5. 21.
With. 850. Hull. 269.
H. sericeum gracile albicans, capsulis subrotundis-
Dill. Muse. 328. t. 42. ƒ. 63.
H. terrestre erectum humilius albicans, ramulis tereti-
bus. Dill, in Raii Syn. 83.
G a t h e r e d by Mr. Turner on the sandy cliffs at Gorleston
near Yarmouth, where its fruit is to be found in March or
April. In general, though this moss is common in dry sandy
barren places, the fructification is rare.
The pale whitish green of the leaves, very shining when
dry, readily betrays this species. The stems are an inch or
two high, ascending, repeatedly branched, the branches clustered,
erect, round, leafy. Leaves closely imbricated every
way, ovate, pointed, concave, entire, with 3 ribs, which for
the most part disappear towards the point. Fruitstalks an inch
long, purple, springing from near the base of the branches.
Capsule ovate, short, curved and drooping, of a rusty brown,
smooth. Lid conical, with a little sharp, often oblique, point.