Colenso. — Description of new Cryptogamic Plants. 233 



Capsule oblong, spotted with dark-red spots, tubercled, pen- 

 dulous ; operculum long, half length of capsule, acute, and 

 slightly recurved ; calyptra long, conical, narrow, obtuse, smooth, 

 laciniate at base. 



Hab. In dark, low woods, near Norsewood, County of Wai- 

 pawa ; 1885 : W.C. 



Obs. A species allied to the preceding (H. vamulosa), but 

 shorter and less dendroidal, with fewer branches ; leaves much 

 larger, not so dark, and not blackish when dry, with a longer 

 nerve, and minute marginal cells ; fruit-stalk much longer and 

 twisted ; capsule thicker, tubercled, and pendulous ; and 

 calyptra lacerated at base. It is also a much scarcer plant ; 

 only a few fruiting specimens obtained. Leaves do not moisten 

 readily. 



9. H. obtusata, sp. nov. 



Plant small, tufted, erect, ^ - f inch high, branched from 

 near base, with 3-6 branches, branches recurved. Leaves very 

 small, -J^th inch long, rather loosely disposed and sub-imbricate, 

 broadly elliptic, very obtuse, serrate, the young ones and 

 branches light green, very dark green when old, also when 

 dry, fringed at margins below ; nerve stout, short, bifid, 

 cellular ; cells large orbicular, alike throughout ; dorsal and 

 ventral leaves similar but smaller ; perichaetial broadly-ovate, 

 suddenly contracted and acuminate at apex, entire, nerveless ; 

 cells large-oblong. Fruit-stalk erect, 5 lines long, bulbous at 

 base, smooth, dark brown ; 2-3 on a branch. Capsule, oblong, 

 drooping ; operculum nearly length of capsule, slightly 

 recurved, acute ; calyptra conical, smooth, acute, apiculate, 

 entire at base or very slightly ragged. 



Hab. In low, wet, shaded woods near Norsewood, County of 

 Waipawa ; 1885 : W.C. 



Obs. A peculiar and pleasing little species. Its leaves are 

 often fringed at (or within) the margins on the under side with 

 minute, jointed, cylindrical cellular bodies, in thick, powdery 

 clusters, resembling the soredia of some lichens. Sometimes all 

 the leaves on a branch are thus fringed, and, again, sometimes 

 a branch is without any. 



10. H. curviseta, sp. nov. 



Plant small, erect, i inch high, sub-dendroidal ; stem short, 

 £ inch, dark- brown, leafy, with numerous brownish-red rootlets 

 at base ; 4-5 short sub-rosulate branchlets at top, spreading, 

 decurved. Leaves very thin and pale ; lateral sub-oblong- 

 obovate, obtuse, 1£ lines long, upper half coarsely serrulate, the 

 lower basal margin excised ; nerve 1, stout, not extending to 

 middle, bifid, the branch nerve very short; cells large, orbicular, 

 pretty uniform throughout, but larger and oblong at base ; 

 dorsal and ventral leaves broadly-ovate-orbicular, very obtuse ; 



