l8 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 



Barbiila aliiseta Card., B. gracilifonnis Schimp., and B. gracilcsccns 

 Schimp. are very closely allied species, especially the last two. 



According to authentic specimens B. gracilcsccns is distinguished 

 from B. gracilifonnis by its flexuose leaves when dry (not stiff and 

 suhimhricated), often narrower, with the acumen a little longer and 

 thinner. I have not detected any differences in areolation, costa, or 

 recurvature of the leaf margins. And inasmuch as I have found forms 

 that could not be definitely connected with either species, I am much 

 inclined to believe that these so-called species are in reality but forms 

 of a single one. 



BARBULA TERETIUSCULA Schimp. in C. M. Syn. i: 614. 1849 



Puebla: (907) ; Fort de Lorette (4622). Morelia: Loma Santa 

 Maria (/Sf^ p. p.). 



BARBULA SUBTERETIUSCULA Card. Rev. Bryol. 36: 85. 1909 

 Puebla: Rancho Posadas (4808). 



BARBULA BOURGEANA Besch. Rev. Bryol. 36: 35. 1909 



Puebla: (4996) ; Rio San Francisco (4999) ; Hacienda Alamos 

 (4637). 



BARBULA ORIZABENSIS C. M. Linnaea 40: 638. 1876 



Puebla: Hacienda Alamos (578); Cerro Guadalupe (4616); 

 Rancho Guadalupe (4590 p. p.). Distr. Federal: Mixcoac (9464, 

 9467). 



All of tlicse plants are sterile but are identical with the type, which 

 I have been able to examine. 



The author compares this species with B. spiralis Schimp. It is 

 distinguished, he says, by its less twisted leaves and its cylindrical 

 capsule. These characters are rather intangible and valueless to one 

 who has seen a series of specimens of B. spiralis. Happily other 

 important and obvious characters are available: In B. orizahensis the 

 margins of the leaves are merely reflexed and not revolute ; they are 

 plane at the apex, the costa is thinner and not widened in the acumen, 

 and finally the areolation is chlorophyllose and papillose almost to 

 the base. These characters establish the true position of B. orisahensis 

 by the side of B. ungiiiculata and not of B. spiralis. 



I have noticed in all my specimens, as well as in Pringle's no. 10574, 

 the presence of abundant moniliform pr()i)agula in the leaf axils. 



