188 BRYACE.^. [Discelium. 



clavate, Calyptra split its whole length on one side and opened, 

 generally remaining attached to tlie pedicel by its constricted 

 base. Oaj^sule ovate-globose, cernuous, thick, on a long reddish 

 pedicel twisted to the right, the sporangium free. Lid large, 

 convex, conical. Teeth of the peristome 16, simple, striolate, 

 reddish, split from the base to the middle along the divisural 

 line ; articulations distant. 



64. DISCELIUM, Brid. 

 The only genus, with the characters of the tribe. 



1. D. nudum, Brid. The only species, characterized above. 

 — Bryol. Univ. i. 'SQQ ; Bryol. Eur. t. 297. Bryum nudum, 

 Dicks. Fasc. iv. 7, t. 10. 



Hab. Clayey grouud ; Canton, Illinois (J". IFo?/"). A very rare species. 



Tribe VIII. SCIIISTOSTEGEyE. 

 Plants annual, produced from a persistent confervoidal pro- 

 thallium. Stems very tender and delicate, radiculose at base, 

 mostly simple, of two forms, the sterile frondiform, with leaves 

 vertically inserted and confluent at their base, the fertile frondi- 

 form in the lower j)art, or naked, bearing the flowers at the apex 

 with a few minute tufted and horizontally attached leaves ; areo- 

 lation loose. Flowers terminal, loosely gemmiform ; anthers and 

 archegonia few, without paraphyses. Calyptra minute, narrowly 

 mitriform, covering the lid only. Capsule small, subglobose, 

 soft, on a long soft .pedicel, with distinct sporangium, thick col- 

 umella, and small convex lid. Peristome none. Spores minute. 



65. SOHISTOSTEGA, Mohr. 



The only genus, with the characters of the tribe. 



1. S. OSmundacea, Web. & Mohr. Plants widely and 

 loosely cespitose, about one cm. long, bright or glaucous 

 green, brown below, from a golden yellow shining prothallium : 

 segments of the compound leaves rhomboidal, the simple ones 

 lanceolate, very soft ; areolation rhomboidal, slightly chloro- 

 phyllose : flowers dioecious : lid short, with a red border. — 

 Bot. Tasch. 92 ; Bryol. Eur. t. 279. JInhwi, Dicks. 1. c. i. 3, 1. 1. 



