Colenso. — Description of new Cryptogamic Plants. 227 



capsule, with a slender recurved beak ; calyptra very small, 

 J^th inch long, only covering the upper part of the operculum, 

 broadly conical, obtuse, roughish, brownish, the base irregular 

 and slightly sub-crenulate. 



Hab. In damp, shady woods, generally scattered among 

 other mosses, etc., on rotten logs, both patent and pendulous ; 

 Seventy-mile Bush, County of Waipawa ; 1879-1885 : W.C. 



Obs. I have long known this fine moss in its barren state, 

 and, from my first detecting it, I supposed it to be specifically 

 distinct from the only known species of this genus, C. pennatum, 

 Brid. During the winter of 1885, I succeeded in obtaining 

 fruiting specimens, which have fully confirmed my supposition. 

 It differs from C. pennatum in several particulars : in size, form 

 (often much and largely branched), and in its proliferous habit ; 

 when the tips are bowed down low among other mosses, etc., 

 they often take root, and send forth new plants ; in shape of 

 leaves, particularly the dorsal and perichaatial ones ; in struc- 

 ture of capsule with peristome, in operculum, and in calyptra ; 

 as shown in both Sir W. J. Hooker's admirable drawings and 

 dissections (" Musci Exotici," vol. ii., tab. 163), and also in 

 those of La Billardiere (" Nov. Holl. Plant.," vol. ii., tab. 253), 

 with their respective descriptions. Sir J. D. Hooker has also, 

 in addition, noticed very briefly two varieties of C. pennatum 

 — var. a. minus, and var. /3. apiculatum ; but as far as I can 

 make out from his very short descriptions, this species is widely 

 distinct from those two forms also ; most certainly from the 

 first, var. minus, which is a much smaller moss, with orbicular 

 leaves, etc. (a drawing of it is given in his " Flora Antarctica," 

 vol. i., tab. 62, fig. 3) ;• this small variety was originally dis- 

 covered by him at Lord Auckland's Islands in 1840 ; and, 

 subsequently by myself, in New Zealand, on the banks of the 

 upper Bangitikei Biver, in 1848. From the other variety, 

 apiculatum, this species also differs, as that moss is said to have 

 " shorter leaves " than the type, which are also " apiculate." 

 Evidently, only barren or incomplete specimens of those two 

 varieties mentioned by Sir J. D. Hooker were known to him. 



This moss has caused me a large amount of extra labour, 

 extending over several years, in revisiting so often those different 

 localities in the high woods where I had detected and marked it, 

 but always in vain until this year. It bears fruit in the autumn- 

 winter, but not then plentifully ; many places of its growth may 

 be repeatedly visited, and very many plants examined, without 

 detecting a single capsule. 



Genus 71. Hookeria, Smith. 



§ II. Mniadelphus. 



a. Leaves with thickened margins. 



* Leaves serrulate. 



1, U. smaragdina, 



