MR. E. 8. SALMON ON THE GENUS NANOMITRIUM. 165 
These three species, N. tenerum, N. synoicum, and N. Austini, 
are, as pointed out by Philibert (5. p. 55), closely allied, and it 
is not surprising, therefore, that the capsules of all exhibit the 
same structure, and consequently the same regular dehiscence. 
In N. equinoctiale we find no signs of a rudimentary lid; the 
capsule-wall is composed of cells which show no differentiation 
in any part (fig. 6), so that this species is probably truly cleisto- 
carpous. In respect of inflorescence, also, N. equinoctiale differs 
from the three species mentioned above, which are all synoicous. 
Philibert (5. p. 57), in his account of N. equinoctiale, says: 
“Dans toutes les plantes fructiféres que j'ai observées je n'ai 
jamais trouvé que des archégones sans aucun mélange d'anthé- 
ridies; et d'un autre côté j'ai observé une plante male, naissant 
isolée sur le protonema . .. Cette espèce serait done dioique.” 
Mitten (8), in the original description of the species, thus 
deseribed the male infloreseence : * Flos maseulus e stolonibus 
confervoideis femineo connexis oriundus, vel in ramulo brevi 
lateralis." 
In the Kew specimens of N. equinoctiale (Musci Amaz. et 
And. 443) the inflorescence occurs in two distinet forms—(1) 
dioicous, the male plant, formed of five or six leaves, enclosing a 
few antheridia, springing from the protonema near a female 
plant (fig. 7); (2) autoicous, the male branch arising laterally 
from the female stem, just below the perichetium (fig. 9). So 
far as I have been able to observe in the rather limited material, 
the two forms of inflorescence occur in about equal numbers. 
The male plants that I have seen have always sprung from the 
protonema, and were not attached by radicles to the female plant 
(rhizautoicous), so that N. @quinoctiale is apparently truly 
polyoicous (autoicous--dioicous). The cells of the capsule of 
N. equinoctiale are firmer than those of the three species 
mentioned above, and the prominent apiculus suggests rather 
Ephemerum. 
I was not able to find any calyptra, although a few young 
capsules were seen. 
This again points to Ephemerum, as in this genus the calyptra 
is frequently fugitive; whilst in Nanomitrium tenerum, synoicum, 
and Austini the capsules up to maturity are surmounted by 
the minute, closely appressed calyptra. Mitten (8) gives for 
N. equinoctiale simply the description: “calyptra archegonio 
styliformi elongato." Philibert does not describe the calyptra. 
