Beckett. — On New Zealand Mosses. '285 



Obs. Hooker ("Handbook N.Z. Flora," p. 476) considers 

 this to be a form of Hypnum cupressiforme, L. ; and this view 

 is supported by Mitten in his " Austrahau Mosses," p. 39, 

 where he gives it as a synonym of H. cupressiforme, var. minor, 

 H. f. and W. ("Fl. Tasm.," ii. p. 212). 



Pilotrichella billardieri, Hampe (Neckera). 



" Cauhs turgidus, elongatus, pendulus, inordinate ramosus, 

 ramis brevibus, usque unciaHbus turgidis, obtusiuscuhs, foHa 

 turgide imbricata, ex basi cordata cochleariformia (basi et apice 

 inflexa) integerrima, nervis binis brevioribus distantibus notata, 

 seta brevis, crassa, basi fohis paucis lanceolatis invokita ; theca 

 brevis ovata, operculo conico obtuso, peristomii dentibus 

 rubris. Hab. Ad arbores Apollo Bay. Obs. Hue Isothccium 

 flexile, Brid., ii., p. 362, ex Nova HoUandia, La Billardiere. 

 NeckercB miqueliancs, CM., ex habitu convenit; ab Neckera, 

 molle differt ; habitu robustiore foliis binervibus et operculo 

 obtuso."— "Linnsea," 1859-60, p. 637. 



The leaves are often nerveless, as in Pilotrichella molle, 

 and I was unable to detect any nerve in the leaves of the 

 specimen in Herb. Helms., identified by Dr. Mliller. The very 

 robust habit, the turgid foliage, and the more obtuse and 

 blunter ramuli form the most distinctive characters. Mitten, 

 in his " Catalogue of Australian Mosses," p. 34, recognises this 

 as distinct from P. molle. 



Hab. Hanging from trees in damp forests. Fisher's 

 Bush, Oxford. Long Creek, Mount Fife, Kaikoura ; No. 13b 

 (identified by Dr. Mliller). Kelly's Eange, Westland. Peel 

 Forest; T.W.N. B. 'kelson: Grant. Greymouth, Westland; 

 No. 41 ; in Herb. Helms. ; named by Dr. Mliller. 



Polytrichum (Pogonatum) australasicum, Hp. and CM. — 



PolytricJium tortile, Hooker in Flora N.Z., ii., 96, non 



Swartz. 



" P. tortili simillimum. Dioicum, folia e basi sub-vaginante 

 brevi sub - laxe areolata pellucida lanceolata obtusiuscula 

 planiuscula apicem versus spinulosa serrulata, dorso spinulosa, 

 suprema conformia, omnia siccitate intense viridia, nervo lato 

 multo-lamelloso apicem folii fere totum occupaute ; theca 

 cylindraceo-oblonga subcernua fusca ubique Isevis, operculum 

 conico-apiculatum obtusum breve. In Australia Felici sub 

 No. 25, sine loco indicato. A P. tortile, Sib., Fl. Ind. Occid. 

 distinguendum." — " Linnsea," 1853, p. 500. 



The Australasian plant seems to be quite distinct from 

 Swartz's P. tortile of the West Indies, being distioguished by 

 its more obtuse leaves, its comal leaves being of the same 

 form as the others, and particularly by its smooth cylindric 

 capsule. Mitten, in Musci Austro-Amer., p. 418, describes the 



