302 Transactions. — Botany. 



Art. XXX. — Notes on some New Species of Neio Zealand 

 Musci : Genus Phascum. 



By R. Bkown. 



[Read before the PhilsopMcal Institute of Canterbury, 2nd August, 1893.] 

 Plate XXXVIII. 



There do uot appear to be very many species of Phascum in 

 New Zealand. During the course of a number of years I have 

 carefully searched for plants belonging to this genus in all the 

 localities I have visited, and have only been rewarded by the 

 discovery of five species. Two of these are described in the 

 Handbook of the Flora of New Zealand, the other three 

 are new species. Tiiey are all small, tender, and inconspicu- 

 ous plants, very liable to be overlooked, or taken for young 

 plants belonging to other genera. The capsules of all these 

 three species are immersed among the leaves, and in dry 

 weather are entirely hid by the leaves incurving over and pro- 

 tecting them from the effects of the weather. This is no doubt 

 an explanation of their non-discovery. 



In this extremely interesting genus the capsules are in- 

 dehiscent, there being neither valves nor operculum by which 

 the spores can be shed ; these can only be liberated by the 

 decay of the capsule or its rupture through the spores ger- 

 minating within. 



This genus has been divided by botanists into a number of 

 subgenera, only three of which are represented in New Zea- 

 land. They are found growing in patches, on damp clay and 

 sandy banks, during the winter and early spring months, and 

 are in fruit from June until November. After this period they 

 are generally dried up by the hot winds prevailing about that 

 time, and are then very difficult to find. 



Phascum (Acaulon) ajnculatum, Hooker and Wilson, is 

 very common all over the Port Hills, and on the plains in the 

 neighbourhood of Christchurch. 



Phascum (Pleuridium) nervosum, Hooker, is also to be 

 found in the same localities, but is not so common as the 

 previous one. 



Phascum (Pleuridium) lanceolatum, uov. sp. 



Plants perennial, small, growing in dense dark -green 

 patches, monoecious. Stem ?,\\ori, ^-^rm., branched. Branches 

 fastigiate, Jin. Leaves spreading or erecto-patent, oblong, 

 rounded at the apex, apiculate or oblong-lanceolate, acumi- 

 nate. Nerve excurrent, forming an apiculus. Margins entire, 



