Part 1

A SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH MOSSES, CONTAINING DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL THE GENERA AND SPECIES, (WITH LOCALITIES OF THE RARER ONES) FOUND IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, BASED UPON WILSON’S “BRYOLOGIA BRITANNICA,” SCHIMPER’S “SYNOPSIS,” ETC.

BY CHAS. P. HOBKIRK,

_President of the Huddersfield Naturalists’ Society_.

LONDON:

L. REEVE & CO.,

5, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

MDCCCLXXIII.

PREFACE.

It is not my desire that this little volume should be looked upon as anything more than what is expressed in the title, simply “A SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH MOSSES,” and as a kind of _vade-mecum_ to the working Bryologist, as well as a guide to beginners. It is not altogether an original work, nor yet is it a mere compilation, for nearly every species has been carefully examined under the microscope before being described, and then the diagnoses compared with other works, principally that great text-book of British Bryologists, “Wilson’s Bryologia Britannica.” Besides this work, I have also largely consulted, and drawn from, Bruch and Schimper’s “Bryologia Europæa,” Schimper’s “Synopsis,” Dr. Mueller’s “Synopsis,” the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, the _Bulletins_ of the Royal Botanical Societies of France and of Belgium; and last, but not least, the valuable papers recently contributed by Dr. Braithwaite to “Journal of Botany,” “Grevillea,” and the “Monthly Microscopical Journal,” and also some papers by Mr. Mitten in the first-named publication.

In the general arrangement of the genera and species, I have mainly followed the “Bryologia Britannica,” as I did not consider myself justified in departing widely from it, although many of our principal Muscologists look upon it as very faulty; but I did not hold my authority sufficient to alter what has become a classical arrangement amongst us: and more particularly as both Dr. Braithwaite and the Rev. J. Fergusson are engaged upon more critical examinations, prior to the publication of new and more natural arrangements. The Analysis of the Genera is principally founded upon the same part from Wilson, and is intended not as an arrangement, but merely a key.

In the “Appendix” will be found a few omitted species, and alterations of nomenclature, as well as a few _errata_, which should be noted in the margin at their proper places.

I much regret that, by an oversight, I have omitted to insert var. δ _squarrosulum_ under _Sphagnum cymbifolium_, gathered by my friend Mr. Bagnall, in Sutton Park, Birmingham; and the same locality should be added after _Hypnum aduncum_, _H. Sendtneri_, and _H. intermedium_.

I must here express my gratitude and thanks to those gentlemen who have so kindly assisted me in its preparation, both with the loan or gift of specimens of the rarer and newer species, and also for the diagnoses received from several, where specimens were not attainable. Amongst these gentlemen I must specially thank Dr. Hooker for his kind permission to use the Herbarium specimens and Library at Kew, and Mr. J. G. Baker, F.L.S., for his valuable assistance in doing so; also Dr. Braithwaite, F.L.S., Mr. J. Bagnall, of Birmingham; Dr. F. Buchanan White, of Dunkeld; Dr. Fraser, of Wolverhampton; Rev. J. Fergusson, of New Pitsligo; Mr. Carruthers, F.L.S., of British Museum; Mr. G. E. Hunt, of Manchester; Mr. John Sim, of Strachan; Mr. W. Galt, of Edinburgh; M. P. Goulard, of Caen, Calvados; and lastly, all those gentlemen and ladies who so readily came forward as subscribers to the number of upwards of 200, to assist in the publication of the volume.

CHAS. P. HOBKIRK.

HUDDERSFIELD, _February, 1873_.

LIST OF CONTRACTIONS USED IN THIS VOLUME.

br. _branches._ br. l. _branch leaves._ cal. calyp. _calyptra._ caps. _capsule._ fem. _female._ fl. _flower._ fr. _fruit or fructification._ infl. _inflorescence._ innov. _innovations._ l. _leaves._ m.m. _millimetres._ ped. _pedicel_ or _seta_. per. perist. _peristome._ per. l. and p. l. _perychætial leaves._ per. teeth. _teeth of peristome._ perig. l. _perigonial leaves._ st. _stem._ st. l. _stem leaves._

NOTICE TO COLLECTORS.

It is my intention, as soon as sufficient material can be accumulated, to publish “A Geographical Distribution of the British Mosses,” and, in furtherance of this object, I should esteem it a great favor if all collectors throughout the kingdom would kindly be at the trouble of forwarding to me, as early as convenient, complete lists of the Mosses found by themselves or their friends, in their several districts, with any notes they may think desirable respecting them, and, where possible, the range and habitat of the various species. I feel sure I have only to mention this to ensure an abundant return of information for a work which is really wanted, and shall, so far as any exertions on my part can ensure it, be really valuable.

C. P. H.

ANALYSIS OF GENERA.

SECT. I. ACROCARPI.

Fr. terminal (or in a few instances cladocarpous).

DIVISION A. Capsule without a deciduous lid.

_a._ caps. bursting irregularly.

ARCHIDIUM (3). Perennial; caps. _globular_, _sessile_; calyptra thin and membranous, irregularly torn in the middle; _spores large_; infl. monoicous; barren fl. gemmiform, two-leaved or naked in axils of perichætial leaves. PAGE 26.

PHASCUM (4). _Annual._ Caps. ovate or roundish, very shortly _pedicillate_; calyptra campanulate; spores _small_, roughish; infl. monoicous; barren fl. gemmiform either at base of plant, or axillary, rarely terminal and discoid. 26.

_b._ caps. bursting regularly.

ANDREÆA (1). Caps. oval erect, opening by four _longitudinal slits_, sessile on a stalked vaginula; calyptra mitriform, thin; spores small, at first clustered together in fours: perennial. 21.

DIVISION B. Capsule with a deciduous lid.

I. PERISTOME NONE.

_a._ caps. sessile on a stalked vaginula.

SPHAGNUM (2). Perennial, aquatic; caps. globular, sessile on the turbinate fleshy stalked vaginula; lid flattish, calyptra surrounding the ripe caps., ruptured near the middle; spores as in _Andreæa_. Infl. monoicous or dioicous. 23.

_b._ caps. pedicillate; vaginula sessile.

α. caps. cylindrical; lid with a straight beak; calyptra mitriform.

ENCALYPTA (29) (In part). Caps. erect, regular, oblong or ovate-lanceolate, smooth or striate, lid conical with a longish almost filiform beak; calyptra very large, covering the capsule, fringed at base (peris. when present of 16 teeth, inner of 16 alternating erect cilia). Infl. monoicous or dioicous; barren fl. gemmiform, axillary or terminal. 74.

β. caps. oval, lid with an oblique beak; calyptra dimidiate.

GYMNOSTOMUM (5). Perennial; leaves of close firm texture, with small dense areolæ; barren fl. gemmiform, in monoicous species placed near the base of perichætium. 31.

POTTIA (21). Annual or biennial; l. rather succulent, with lax quadrate or rectangular areolæ, the lower ones enlarged. Infl. monoicous; barren fl. near the fertile, naked, or gemmiform with three leaves. 55.

γ. caps. roundish-pyriform; lid obliquely rostrate.

STYLOSTEGIUM. (12). Perennial; caps. on a very short pedicel; calyptra small, cucullate, scarcely covering the lid; l. channelled, secund. Infl. monoicous; barren fl. gemmiform. 38.

ANODUS (11). Annual or biennial; caps. pedicillate; columella free; l. setaceous, erect. 38.

δ. caps. obovate or clavate; lid plane or conical; l. loosely reticulated.

* Calyptra mitriform.

SCHISTOSTEGA (70). Caps. small oval, lid convex; calyptra small, _at length dimidiate_; infl. dioicous terminal, barren fl. gemmiform; l. nerveless, vertically distichous, very tender, areolæ large rhomboid. 135.

PHYSCOMITRIUM (59). Annual or biennial. Primary stem terminated by a discoid barren fl. from below which rises a branch bearing a terminal fertile fl.; caps. clavate, lid convex; calyptra large inflated; l. spreading every way, nerved; areolæ large oblong, acute. 127.

* * Calyptra dimidiate.

ŒDIPODIUM (69). Caps. with a long tapering apophysis, gradually passing into the fruit-stalk; lid plano-convex; infl. monoicous or synoicous; l. succulent broad, obtuse; areolæ roundish hexagonal, larger at base. 135.

ε. caps. globose; lid almost plane.

* Calyptra conico-mitriform, small; l. nerveless.

HEDWIGIA (30). Caps. immersed, sub-sessile; infl. monoicous, barren fl. axillary gemmiform; areolæ small quadrate, longer and flexuose below. 76.

HEDWIGIDIUM (31). Caps. exserted on a short pedicel; barren fl. terminal; stem stoloniferous; l. plicate longitudinally, areolæ longer. 77.

* * Calyptra dimidiate; l. nerved.

BARTRAMIDULA (60). Caps. on a curved pedicel, smooth, cernuous; infl. synoicous; lid small sub-conical; calyptra small cucullate; areolæ lax, oblong-hexagonal. 128.

II. PERISTOME SINGLE.

SUB-DIV. I. Calyptra mitriform.

† Calyptra plicato-striate.

_a._ teeth four.

TETRAPHIS (38). Perennial, caulescent, cæspitose; per. teeth long rigid, with irregular longitudinal lines; areolæ hexagonal. 98.

TETRODONTIUM (39). Annual, stem none, gregarious; l. few, very minute. 99.

_b._ Teeth 16, equidistant.

PTYCHOMITRIUM (35). Caps. erect, regular, tapering at base, annulus large, lid conico-rostrate; teeth bifid, not hygroscopic; calyptra deeply furrowed, mitriform, subulate above, shorter than capsule; infl. monoicous; barren. fl. gemmiform, generally axillary. 89.

_c._ Teeth 16, in pairs.

GLYPHOMITRIUM (34). Calyptra large ventricose laciniate below, entirely covering the capsule, contracted at the base; Infl. as in last; per. teeth hygroscopic reflexed when dry. 88.

ORTHOTRICHUM (36). (partly) Perennial in round tufts; caps. erect, immersed or exserted, pear-shaped or elliptical, with 8, rarely 16, coloured striæ; peristome either single or double, sometimes absent; outer of 32 teeth, connected so as to seem 8 or 16, broad and flat, inner of 8 or 16 equal cilia, or 16 alternately shorter ones; lid short, conico-rostellate; calyptra large campanulate, with about eight furrows, base somewhat torn, and mostly covered with short hair-like processes, but not contracted. 89.

† † Calyptra smooth, not plicate.

_a._ Teeth 16, equidistant.

* Perennial, caulescent, cæspitose.

ENCALYPTA (partly) [29.] _vide ante. p. 2._

SCHISTIDIUM. Caps. immersed, obovate or roundish, mouth wide; calyptra small, conico-mitriform, columella adhering to the deciduous lid; teeth large, barred, without medial lines, often perforate. Infl. monoicous or dioicous (included in _Grimmia_).

GRIMMIA (32). Caps. pedicillate, seta often flexuose, ovate or oblong, rarely ventricose, sometimes striated, teeth large lanceolate, barred, perforate, bi-trifid; calyptra five-lobed at base, sometimes dimidiate; columella free. Infl. monoicous or dioicous.; areolæ small dense, larger at base. 77.

RACOMITRIUM (33). Caps. oblong, erect, smooth, on a straight pedicel, teeth bi-trifid, sometimes very long, sometimes short, filiform unequal; calyptra large, with a subulate solid papillose beak, lid conico-subulate, straight; leaves with sinuous areolæ. Infl. dioicous. 86.

* * Annual or biennial, gregarious; leaves setaceous.

CAMPYLOSTELIUM (8). Caps. drooping, on a bent seta oblong, smooth; teeth long lanceolate, barred, entire at base, cleft at summit, and connected by a membrane at base; calyptra small, conico-subulate, five-cleft at base. Infl. monoicous; barren fl. gemmiform; areolæ minute, much enlarged and diaphanous at base. 36.

BRACHYODUS (9). Caps. oblong sub-striate, teeth very short truncate, partly confluent, equidistant; lid convex with a slender beak; calyptra conical, three to five-lobed at base, sub-dimidiate. Infl. monoicous gemmiform. St. very short, annual or biennial. 36.

_b._ Teeth 16, in pairs, plane, reflexed when dry.

SPLACHNUM (65). Caps. sub-cylindrical or ovate, on a very large spongy coloured apophysis; teeth lanceolate oblong obtuse, plane, yellowish; calyptra small, entire or lacerated at base. Infl. generally dioicous; barren, fl. capituliform, naked or with small scattered leaves. 133.

_c._ Peristome a conical plicate membrane.

DIPHYSCIUM (41). Caps. very large sessile, oblique ovate, gibbous; calyptra small, entire at base, scarcely covering the conical lid. 99.

SUB-DIV. II. Calyptra dimidiate.

_a._ Calyptra inflexed at base, at first conico-mitriform, caps. clavato-pyriform; teeth 16 or 32 plane, more or less paired, with a medial line.

DISSODON (68). Caps. oval, with a long solid tapering neck, lid conico-convex, obtuse, teeth 32, united into eight bi-geminate teeth, or into 16 pairs, linear-lanceolate, incurved when dry; leaves obtuse entire. Infl. monoicous or synoicous, barren fl. gemmiform. 134.

TAYLORIA (67). Caps. with a long clavate or sub-pyriform neck; teeth 16, or 32 cohering in pairs, reflexed when dry; leaves acuminate serrated. Infl. monoicous; barren fl. capituliform. 134.

_b._ Calyptra not indexed at base.

* Teeth in eight pairs, reflexed when dry.

TETRAPLODON (66). Caps. with a solid clavate or oval apophysis wider than itself; leaves loosely reticulated, acuminate. Infl. monoicous, barren fl. gemmiform or capituliform, 3–5–leaved. 134.

ZYGODON (37) (partly). Caps. erect, pyriform, striated, apophysate. Perist. double, single, or absent; outer teeth 32 united two or four together, representing 16 or 8 plane teeth, inner of 8 or 16 cilia, alternating; calyptra small cucullate smooth oblique, lid obliquely rostrate; leaves minutely dotted. 97.

* * Teeth 16 equidistant, simple, or nearly so.

‡ Caps. pyriform or oval, erect or inclined.

ENTOSTHODON (58). Caps. erect, pyriform, symmetrical; lid plano-convex, teeth short and broad triangular; calyptra inflated below, cucullate; leaves loosely reticulated. 127.

MIELICHHOFERIA (53). Caps. pyriform, inclined or horizontal, on a slender curved seta; calyptra small, not inflated; teeth longer, linear-subulate, confluent and dilated at base. 124.

BLINDIA (13). Caps. roundish, turbinate-erect; teeth 16 lanceolate, remotely barred, entire or perforate, sometimes cleft; calyptra angular at base, afterwards cleft on one side; seta short; perennial cæspitose. 39.

SELIGERIA (10). Caps. roundish-pyriform, smooth, teeth lanceolate obtuse, sometimes perforate, without medial line; calyptra small cucullate; leaves setaceous; stems annual or biennial gregarious, not cæspitose. Infl. monoicous, terminal gemmiform. 37.

BRACHYODUS (9). _See page 6._

RHABDOWEISSIA (7). Caps. shortly oval, eight-striate, wide mouthed, teeth lanceolate or subulate, barred, without medial line; beak slender, inclined; calyptra cucullate; leaves channelled lax; stems perennial, cæspitose. 36.

WEISSIA (6). Caps. oblong-ovate, smooth, teeth lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, free at base, without medial line, convex, sometimes perforate and bifid; leaves of close texture; stems as above. 33.

ANACALYPTA (22). Caps. oval on a long straight pedicel; teeth united at base by a membrane, plane, lanceolate, entire or perforate, no medial line; leaves succulent with lax areolæ; stem annual or biennial. 57.

‡ ‡ Caps. globose, nearly horizontal.

DISCELIUM (64). Almost stemless; caps. decurrent into the suddenly bent neck; teeth lanceolate, cleft half way from base upwards; leaves few minute, gemmiform. 133.

CATASCOPIUM (63). Caps. smooth, shining, neck bent, and tapering into the seta, mouth somewhat oblique; teeth short truncate, irregular, barred, with a medial line; leaves numerous, nerved, of firm texture. 132.

CONOSTOMUM (62). Caps. cernuous, obscurely furrowed when dry; teeth linear-lanceolate, barred, converging and united together into a cone; perennial. 132.

* * * Teeth 16, deeply bifid, equidistant.

‡ Caps. erect, symmetrical.

DESMATODON (23). Caps. oval or oblong, sometimes almost pendulous; teeth subulate, united at base by a membrane, bi-trifid; lid rostellate; leaves soft broad, papillose at back. 58.

‡ ‡ Caps. sub-erect, rather unequal.

CYNODONTIUM (15). Caps. ovate-oblong, or obliquely sub-pyriform, smooth, teeth lanceolate, connivent, dilated at base, entire or cleft to base, sometimes barred, deep red; lid rostrate. 39.

ARCTOA (14). Caps. oval or almost turbinate, striate, contracted below the wide mouth when dry; teeth lanceolate subulate, cleft, or perforate and entire, bars not prominent; lid large, obliquely rostrate. 39.

‡ ‡ ‡ Caps. cernuous or inclined, unequal.

DICRANUM (16). Caps. mostly cernuous, smooth or striated, regular, gibbous or curved, with a tapering apophysis, or sometimes strumose, teeth equidistant, confluent at base, incurved, lanceolate, cleft half way into unequal portions, barred, occasionally perforate, with a medial line; lid rostrate oblique; leaves of close texture, nerved and more or less secund; areolation linear at the base. 40.

[DICRANELLA. Plant smaller than in _Dicranum_, and less robust, areolation rectangular at the base, in other respects similar.]

LEUCOBRYUM (17). Caps., lid and peristome as in _Dicranum_. Leaves spongy, composed of a double layer of loose cellular tissue, white or pale glaucous green, sub-secund, nerve indistinct. 49.

FISSIDENS (71). Caps. cernuous or erect, more or less truncate, teeth long and tapering from a lanceolate base, cleft half way into unequal segments, geniculate, barred; fruit in some species _cladocarpous_, leaves vertically distichous. 135.

CERATODON (18). Caps. sub-cylindrical unequal, with a short ventricose or strumose neck; teeth deeply cleft, or of two equal subulate portions connected below by prominent trabeculæ, of two differently coloured laminæ, the outer red, the inner and broader yellow. 49.

‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ Capsule on an arcuate seta.

CAMPYLOPUS (20). Caps. oval or oblong, regular or gibbous on upper side, tapering at base, striated, lid conico-subulate or rostrate, teeth deeply bifid; calyptra large, fringed at base; leaves with a broad nerve. 50.

DICRANODONTIUM (19). Caps. elliptical smooth, teeth linear-lanceolate, cleft nearly to base into unequal portions, obliquely striate; calyptra not fringed at base. 49.

* * * * Teeth 32, in pairs, narrow or filiform.

DIDYMODON (25). Caps. erect, sub-cylindrical, teeth 32 (16 Wilson) linear-lanceolate, _not obviously united by a basilar membrane_, tender and fugacious, entire or perforate. 58.

TRICHOSTOMUM (26). Caps. erect, sub-cylindrical or oval, smooth, teeth 32 in unequal pairs (often so united as to appear 16 simple or perforate teeth), connected by a narrow basilar membrane, persistent. 60.

DISTICHIUM (24). Caps. as in last; teeth 32 (16 Wilson) not confluent at base, linear-lanceolate, entire, perforate or cleft, with a medial line; leaves _distichous_, setaceous from a sheathing base. 58.

TORTULA (27). Caps. mostly erect ovate-oblong, smooth, teeth 32 very long filiform _twisted_, articulate papillose, outer cellules yellow, inner red, often united into a membrane at base; leaves not distichous. 63.

CINCLIDOTUS (28). Caps. immersed ovate or oval, smooth, teeth 32 perfect or rudimentary, adhering at top to columella, contorted, anastomosing at base. 74.

* * * * * Teeth 32 or 64 equidistant, short, obtuse, connected at apex by a tympanum, formed of dilated apex of columella; nerve of leaf covered with vertical lamellæ.

† Caps. not angular.

ATRICHUM (42). Caps. cylindrical, erect or cernuous, calyptra narrow, almost naked, spinulose at apex only; teeth 32 ligulate rigid, united at base by a narrow membrane, leaves not sheathing, lamellæ few, nerve narrow. Columella round. 100.

OLIGOTRICHUM (43). Caps. sub-cylindrical, erect, gibbous, peristome as above; calyptra slightly setose at apex; leaves sheathing at base, more lamellated, nerve wider; columella winged. 101.

POGONATUM (44) Caps. ovate or urceolate, regular, erect or inclined, calyptra very hairy, peristome as above; leaves rigid, densely lamellated, nerve thick and broad. 101.

† † Caps. angular; teeth 64, rarely 32.

POLYTRICHUM (46). Caps. with a discoid apophysis, erect, when ripe horizontal; teeth 64 (in some species 32). Calyptra very hairy; leaves as in last. 102.

III. PERISTOME DOUBLE.

_a._ Caps. plano-convex.

BUXBAUMIA (40). Caps. very large, apophysate, oblique; outer teeth irregular reddish, opaque, inner a pale conical plicate membrane, calyptra small, only covering the conical obtuse lid, fugacious, entire or laterally cleft. 99.

_b._ Caps. cylindrical.

ENCALYPTA (partly) (29). _vide ante p. 2._

_c._ Caps. oblong.

ORTHOTRICHUM (chiefly) (36). _vide ante p. 5._

_d._ Caps. obovate, unequal, mouth oblique.

FUNARIA (57). Caps. obliquely pyriform ventricose, sub-erect or cernuous; outer perist. 16, obliquely lanceolate, teeth trabeculate, longitudinally striate, and connected at apex by a small circular disc, very hygrometric, inner a membrane divided into 16 lanceolate processes opposite to outer; calyptra inflated below. 126.