422 Transactions. — Botany. 



Art. LIV. — Notes on Ncio Zealand Mosses : Genus 



Orthotrichum. 



By Bobert Brown. 



[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 7th November, 



1894.] 



Plates XXXV.-XLII. 



From the following list of the genus Orthotrichum it will be 

 seen that I have been enabled to collect and describe forty 

 new species, and have still some others which I am at present 

 keeping back by reason of insufficient material, data, &c. 



There yet remain immense tracts of mountainous country 

 in New Zealand that the foot of man has never trod, and, 

 when systematic research in these localities is undertaken, it 

 may confidently be expected that very many more species of 

 this genus, as well as others, will be discovered. 



In New Zealand, the species of this interesting genus are 

 found either on trees or rocks, where a humid atmosphere 

 surrounds them, principally in hilly or mountainous districts. 

 They are very constant in their habitats, and particular as 

 regards the conditions required by them. I have only thus far 

 found two species growing qw both trees and rocks — viz., 

 Orthotrichum brevisetum s and 0. latifolium of this paper. A 

 few of them have extended distribution, but by far the greater 

 majority appear to be very local ; and, until a more extensive 

 search has taken place, it is not possible with certainty to say 

 how or where they are distributed. 



Species of this genus are found from near the sea-level to 

 an altitude of upwards of 6,000ft., and may readily be dis- 

 tinguished from other mosses by their tufted habit of growth, 

 their large mitriform calyptra (most commonly pilose), and 

 their more or less pyriform capsules. The outer peristome 

 has either 16 geminate or 8 bigeminate teeth. When the 

 peristome is double the inner row consists of 8 cilia, alter- 

 nating with the divisions of the outer teeth. 



The colours of the calyptra and capsules in several of the 

 species vary considerably, increasing in brightness as they 

 approach maturity, and losing their rich red or golden colours 

 as they fade away. Hence colour is of little value in the 

 identification of species of this genus. 



Excess of moisture is a condition which is very detrimental 

 to the growth of the Orthotrichum. I had a good opportunity of 

 verifying this fact during one of my collecting expeditions at 

 the head of the South Fiord, Lake Te Anau, in December, 1888. 



