Mosses and Lichens 



shape, concave or somewhat grooved; apex acute to short taper- 

 pointed; margin with small sharp-pointed teeth above; base grow- 

 ing somewhat down the stem; -vein extending 2 /z of the length 

 of the leaf; cells, median, linear; basal, broader; alar, enlarged. 

 Habit of flowering. Male and female flowers on different 

 plants (dioicous). 



Veil (calyptrd). Split up one side. 



Spore-case. Large, oblong or egg-shaped, horizontal or 

 inclined. 



Pedicel (seta). Thick and rough, red-brown, I to i inches 

 long. 



Lid (operculwn). Conical, with an abrupt slender point. 



Teeth (peristome). As in the genus. 

 Annulus. Large. 



Spores. Chestnut colour, mature in 

 autumn. 



Distribution. Universal in mountainous 



regions. 



Brachythecium Starkii, (Brid.) Br. 

 & Sc. 



Habit and habitat. In dark-green, loose 

 mats on fallen logs and old tree-trunks in 

 moist mountain regions. 



Name. The specific name was given 

 in honour of Robert M. Starke. 



Plant (gamelophyte). Prostrate, branch- 

 ing, the branches ascending, arched, % t ! 

 inch long. 



Leaves. Branch-leaves distant, spread- 

 ing, oval, lance-shaped, narrowly acute or 

 taper-pointed; apex usually half twisted; 

 base somewhat decurrent; margin 

 serrate; vein extending beyond the 

 middle; cells, the middle linear, the 

 basal shorter and broader; the alar 

 starku. plant. few, rhomboidal to quadrate ; stem- 

 leaves broadly oval and long taper-pointed, less strongly serrate, 

 cells looser. 



Leaves at the base of the pedicel (pericbatial leaves}. Longer 

 and narrower. 



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