198 TASMANIAN BRYOPHYTA, 



U.S. TAS. 



CoNOSTOMUM Swaitz. 



Small, erect in dense tufts. Leaves lanceolate, keeled, 

 imbricate; nerve excurrcnt ; margin serrate; cells rectariii,- 

 ular. Capsule broadly obovate, striate, inclined, on a 

 long seta ; lid small with an oblique rostrum, calyptra large 

 for the family, cucullate; peristome teeth linear-lanceolate, 

 connivent in a cone and adhering together at the apex. 



Cofosfomnm 2y^isi^ium H.f et W. 



Small, tufted, erect, yellowish-green with erect innova- 

 tions from below the fertile apex. Leaves erect, imbricate, 

 lanceolate, very acute, 1-2 mm. ; nerve bold slightly to much 

 excurrent. Seta yellow, slender, 2-3 cm. ; capsule broadly 

 ovate or nearly globose, inclined striate when dry, 2 mm. 



Common on mountain plateaux and occasionally at a 

 low elevation. 



Couostomiim ausfrale Swart z. 



In d=ense bright green tufts of similar habit to the last 

 but lao^ger. Leaves narrow lanceolate, erect, imbricate 

 with a long hair point, 2-3 mm. inclusive, external surface, 

 except at the base coarsely papillose; neirve bold, loni;, 

 excurrent. Seta 3-4 cm. ; capsule erect or nearl)?^ so, globose, 

 shining, striate when dry, 3 mm. 



Mt. Wellington, Mt. Field, Western Tiers. 



Fam. 9— SPLACHNACEAE. 



Erect, clustered, w^th few short dichotomous branches. 

 Leaves broad, membranous and flaccid, nerve slender, 

 smooth; cells large, thin walled, rhombic or pentagonal. 

 Capsule erect on a long seta, small and cylindric upon an 

 apophysis often large or exceeding the capsule ; lid very 

 small, convex or conic; calyptra small conic or cleft on 

 one side; peristome of 16 geminate or 8 bigeminate nar- 

 row-lanceolate teeth, sharply reflcxed when drv. 



A well defined family readilv distinguished by the 

 peculiar capsule. 

 Tayloria. Apophysis long, cylindric, but little broader iiian 



the spore-case. 

 Tetraplodon. Apophysis spLciienl, much broader than tlie 



spore-caS'C. 



Tayt.oria Hook. 

 Medium sized, sometimes elongating. Leaves large celled, 

 of delicate texture, spathulate. Seta bold, capsule erect, 

 ^pore case short narrow cylindric with a longer cylindric 



