260 Dr. Smith's Remarks on the Generic Characters of Mosses, 
mosses, as almost to authorize a separation*; and I am inclined 
to regret that this greatest name in mosses has been removed to a 
distant tribe of plants, with which it has no peculiar associability. 
Let me now draw this subject to a conclusion by suggesting a 
mark, which, I presume, may serve to distinguish some genera in 
which the Hedwigian characters are least satisfactory, I mean the 
capsule being longitudinally furrowed. I have long ago indicated 
this character in English Botany, under Bartramia, but have not 
till lately adverted to it in Mnium ; I am however persuaded that 
it is equally certain in both. It is chiefly seen in the ripe fruit, 
and the number of furrows is 16, answerable to the teeth of the 
outer fringe. It keeps the real Mnia of Dillenius together, except 
the first, which is the Te trap his pellucida, and it associates with 
them most naturally the Arrhenopterum of Hedwig. Having ex- 
amined every Bryum which has come in my way, I can aver that 
a smooth capsule is essential to that genus. The same may almost 
be said of Hypnum ; for I know no described species with a fur- 
rowed capsule except the undulatum, and perhaps the ornithopo- 
dioides. I have indeed lately received a number of exotic mosses 
with furrowed capsules from my worthy friend Mr. Menzies. 
These will probably come under Mnium ; but it requires more time 
than I can just now bestow to examine accurately the terminal 
or lateral origin of all their fruit-stalks. I am ready to allow that 
this character of the furrowed capsule, Avhich appears so sufficient 
to characterize a genus, already indicated by its habit, in dou- 
ble-fringed mosses, is, in those with a single fringe, of no further 
importance than to distinguish species. Who does not know that 
the most essential principles of generic distinction, the germen in- 
terior or superior for instance, are sometimes of no validity at all ? 
* Mr. D.Turner has just suggested to me that the female flowers in several Anktangia 
are lateral 5 which is a sufficient mark. 
Witness 
