NEW AND RARE SCOTTISH MOSSES 177 



pointed cell, the length of which varies from 10 to 18 ; a thin section 

 of nerve shows a transverse row of 3 to 6 pellucid cells, each 9 to 

 1 8 across ; margin closely and narrowly recurved, so closely that 

 under the microscope it is impossible, in the majority of instances, 

 to detect any chink, and the whole appears merely thickened behind ; 

 pagina below somewhat clasping, composed of pellucid oblong cells, 

 22 to 32 by 8 to n, such cells ending gradually and transversely 

 in dense opaque, obscure cells, rounded or bluntly quadrate, in 

 longitudinal parallel series, 8 to 1 1 long, the whole surface in front 

 and behind, as well as on the nerve, densely papillose. A thin 

 section of the pagina shows a single row of small pellucid cells 

 surrounded on either side by a dense layer, whence arise the 

 papillae, which, however, are absent in the sheathing portion. On 

 the ground, Orkney, 1887. 



I have described the structure of the leaf minutely because, 

 with the exception of B. Brebissoni, I cannot recall another having 

 such a margin which is practically thickened behind. Once seen, 

 this moss has a peculiar fades, which would alone enable one to 

 recognise it in the field. 



GRIMMIA HALOPHILA. Densely tufted, dark green above, dark 

 brown or nearly black below, with rufous radicles sparingly interspersed; 

 stems about i inch long, commonly fastigiato-ramose ; leaves rather 

 dense, erecto- patent when moist, appressed when dry, and only 

 slightly contorted near apex, broadly lanceolate or ovate lanceolate, 

 slightly acuminate, pagina more or less indexed so as to render the 

 leaf in front more or less acutely hollow, margin entire, broadly 

 recurved nearly to apex ; cells near central base oblong, 20 to 30 by 

 9 to 1 6, shorter outwards and upwards ; general areolation obtusely 

 quadrate in parallel longitudinal rows, large, 8 to 14 diameter, in 

 single layer, not papillose ; nerve strong yellow, then reddish, ulti- 

 mately reddish throughout, solid, projecting behind, flattish in front, 

 breadth near base 70 to 90, tapering and extruded in a longish 

 tapering coloured acumen which is often as much as 120 long. 



On the ground, " imbedded in sandy soil," seashore, island of 

 Unst, Shetland, 1884. 



This is evidently allied to G. maritima, although it differs from 

 it in several essentials, as in the much larger areolation, in the 

 strongly reflexed margin, longly excurrent nerve, etc. From G. 

 apocarpa and all its varieties it differs in the areolation not being 

 sinuous in any part of the leaf, long coloured acumen, etc. 



GRIMMIA MARITIMA, var. TRACHYPHYLLA. This variety has been 

 found in many places on the west coast of Scotland, and was first 

 gathered in North Uist, an island of the Outer Hebrides. It is 

 characterised by the large tufts as well as generally by their rusty-red 

 colour in the lower two-thirds ; by the presence of large pellucid 

 papillae on the margins of the upper leaves, especially on the upper- 



