FISSIDENTACEAE IN THE Q.M.C. CABINET. 583 



and I should scarcely have regarded it as an aquatic species 

 comparable with rivularis or crassipes. It is a handsome moss, 

 usually fruiting profusely, and thickly matted with purple 

 radicles, though these are not so abundantly developed in the 

 young plants as in the older. 



Fissidens rivularis, a truly aquatic moss, was originally found 

 by Mr. E. M. Holmes at Hastings in 1884, and this has hitherto 

 been the only British station. Some time ago I was fortunate 

 in adding a second station near Sidmouth, which appears to be 

 identical in physical conditions with Mr. Holmes's original one. 

 It occurs on rocks kept constantly wet by dripping water, and 

 in deep shade. Often it is quite hidden by an overgrowth of some 

 freshwater algae, and the fruit appears to be rare. The broad 

 yellow nerve and border, with its aquatic habitat, sufficiently 

 indicate it. 



Fissidens polyphyllus is another more or less aquatic species. 

 The slide of this moss was already in the Quekett Microscopical 

 Club collection, and was sent to me with other slides of mosses 

 for verification by the Hon. Curator, Mr. Sidwell. No locality 

 is given, but it occurs very rarely in North Wales, Devon and 

 Cornwall. The fruit appears to be extremely rare, and has 

 perhaps only once been found, by M. Camus near St. Rivoal 

 in France. It is always barren in England, or at least has not 

 been found fruiting. 



Fissidens taxifolius is a very common species on stiff argil- 

 laceous soils, and is one of the most easily recognised of the 

 Fissidentaceae. These comprise the various species of Fissidens 

 at present represented in the collection of the Quekett Micro- 

 scopical Club. I am hoping, however, that it may be possible 

 to add other species at a later date, possibly to make up the 

 entire series. 



The genus is a very natural and distinctive one owing to 



