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of the species is the (usually) broadly revohite margin of the leaf, 

 from base to point. The capsule is curved in the middle from an 

 erect base, the operculum is shortly conic and very obtuse. The 

 leaves'are often serrulate at the apex, shortly bicostate, and furnished 

 with a larger or smaller, usually not well defined patch of very short 

 and minute, more or less obscure cells at the basal angles. In mode 

 of growth, ramification, and in the reticulation of the leaves it is 

 variable. I have what appears to be a form of this species also 

 from Monterey, Mexico, 



(13.) Hypnum Alaskanum^ L. & J. Hab. Alaska, W, H. Dall. 

 A fine species and deserving a more complete description than our 

 authors have given it. They describe it by now comparing and now 

 contrasting it with Hypnum Schreberi, Willd, to which they in the 

 main liken it. The form of the leaf, excepting that it is not invo- 

 lute-acuminulate at the apex, is much as in that species ; but in size, 

 facies, closely pinnate ramification, texture of the leaves, presence of 

 paraphyllia on the stem, &c,, it is totally distinct, being a true Pleu- 

 rozium^ as the following description from specimens communicated 

 by Mr. James will show : 



[Hylocomnium (Pleurozium) kX^^dcCinm— Hypnum Alaskanunty 



Z. 6^ y. in Proc. Amer. Acad., Boston, for 1879, p. 139. — Stems 

 closely pinnately and bipinnately branched, and, as well as the 

 branches, densely paraphyllate, about ^ — |' wide ; branches widely 

 preading, (the ramuli very short and mostly divaricate), sub- 

 depressed, obtusish or acutish. Paraphyllia much divided, the 

 divisions capillary. Stem-leaves large, broadly ovate, rotundate- 

 obtuse, concave, smooth, of a firm texture, even, or here and there 

 sulcate-striate, particularly near the lower margins, which are usually 

 (either broadly or narrowly) revolute and often apparently solid, 

 shortly and obscurely somewhat bi-pluricostate ; the margins remotely 

 serrate-denticulate ; ordinary cells elongated, linear, subvermicular, 

 remarkably obtuse at both ends, more or less discrete, opakish, — the 

 interstices more or less confluent ; the basal cells somewhat widened, 

 but scarcely shorter, solid, dark fulvous, not well defined; both in 

 the centre and at each margin, where they are the most conspicuous, 

 these fulvous cells extend upwards for a longer or shorter distance, 

 often forming cost?e-like stride. Branch-leaves much smaller and less 

 denticulate, otherwise similar. Inflorescence and fruit not seen. 

 Nearest to depauperate forms of H, spienJem^ (Hedvv.) from which, 

 however, it is readily distinguished by its more uniform less com- 

 pound ramification, obtuse smooth more shortly bicostate more 

 opake less serrulated leaves, with more obtuse and more discrete 

 cells, &c.] 



(14.) Ephemerum spinulosum^ Schimp.— The remarks here made 

 by Schimper, as well by L. & J. upon both this species and Epheme-^ 

 rum crassinervupn, Schwgr., although true enough upon the whole, 

 throw no new light upon these two protean mosses. I have spent 

 hour after hour vainly trying to arrange my specimens and to sepa- 

 rate them into intelligible forms, and should hail with delight a dis- 

 sertation upon them that would point me the way out oi the difficulty. 

 ' (15.) Systegium erythrostegiufn, Bruch <!v: Schtmper, Phascum 



