NEW BRITISH MOSSES. 179 
with ascending sub-parallel branches ; shoots incrassated to- 
wards the extremity. 
Leaves of a fine lively green, imbricated, ovate, concave, 
patent, their apices pointing upward, appressed when dry, 
with a tendency to become secund,* widely areolate, the 
margins plane; nerve faint, seldom reaching the middle of the 
leaf, often forked and occasionally altogether wanting.t 
In L. polycarpa the leaves are lurid green or brownish 
(rarely of a full green colour), opaque, more loosely set, ovato- 
acuminate, but subobtuse at the summit, their apices point- 
ing outwards or to one side, keeled with the strong nerve, 
which either reaches quite to the point or vanishes just below 
it; the margins strongly reflexed ; the areolation obscure, the 
cellules being scarcely half the size of those in L. pulvinata. 
Inflorescence monoicous. Male flowers numerous, axil- 
lary, gemmiform. Female flowers : outer perichætial leaves 
ovate shortly acuminate, inner oblong-lanceolate ; all nerveless 
and diaphanous. 
In L. polycarpa the male flowers are fewer, proportionally 
much smaller, and include fewer antheridia. The outer peri- 
chetial leayes are ovato-lanceolate, tapering to a narrow 
point, the inner lanceolato-subulate and plicato-striate; all 
nerved nearly quite to the summit. 
Capsule olive-coloured when mature, after the emission 
of the seeds reddish-brown, scarcely inclined, el/iptic-oblong;t 
tapering gradually into the pedicel (spuriously apophysate), 
and also narrowed at its junction with the lid. Seeds green. 
Seta smooth erect, Vaginula oblong. 16 a Ss oe 
In L. polycarpa the mature capsule is greyish, erecto- 
arcuate, subcylindrical, more slender and usually much longer 
* This is peculiarly apparent in Wahlenberg’s specimens ; yet he says 
“ foliis siccitate adpressis, nec subsecundis.” Lr 
T Perhaps it would be more correct to say with Wahlenberg “foliis - 
nervo orbatis ;” for although the so-called nerve is quite as apparent 2. d = : 
his own specimens as in mine, it consists merely of one ortwo ro 
Diva narrower than the rest, and not of any absolute thickening @ 
ü , Gnd noi 
t So Wahl, « Capsulis oblongis, nec subcylindricis.” = 
