PHYTOLOGY. 



NEW MOSSES PKOM SCOTLAND. 

 By JAMES STIRTON, M.D., F.L.S. 



Campy/opus brevipilus grows in great luxuriance in the Island of 

 Benbecula, to such an extent, indeed, that it may fairly be esti- 

 mated as constituting about a sixth part of the vegetation of the 

 lower lands bordering on the sea. On the higher grounds it is 

 sparser, and assumes different aspects ; but, on the whole, the 

 tufts, while still as dense as usual, have the individual stems 

 quickly delapsing or separating in the hand (just as in Grimmia 

 funalis). The stems themselves are much more robust, as well as 

 longer, and, with the leaves attached, quickly assume a dark or 

 purplish-dark colour beneath the apex, and down to the point of 

 attachment, resembling much C. atrovirens, and having a habit 

 quite different from the typical state of C. brevipilus. The ex- 

 treme state of this condition has no hair points on any part of the 

 stem, and does not show the growth interrupted in the successive 

 years. In this condition, also, there are no auricles, or scarcely 

 any, to be seen at the base. A few colourless cells (two or three 

 of which are occasionally slightly tinged with red next the nerve), 

 having the usual thin irregular walls, are pretty often seen quite at 

 base, as in all the so-called non-auricular species, but these are at 

 times wanting or are left behind on the stem in the act of separa- 

 tion. The leaves are, in consequence, somewhat narrowed at 

 base, and the nerve a little upwards occupies about one-third of 

 their breadth. The rest of the areolation corresponds to that 

 seen in the usual state of C. brevipilus. The apices of the leaves 

 have very often coloured or colourless teeth, which are also, in 

 many instances, to be seen on the back of the nerve near summit. 

 Such a state is so strongly differentiated from the type that I have 

 been tempted to raise it to the rank of a sub-species under the 

 name Campylopus pelidnus. It is certainly much more 

 deserving of specific distinction than C. paradoxus. 



