Musctr Exorict.-—Browniani. 
SPLACHNUM OCTOBLEPHARUM. 
Splachnum foliis oblongo-obovatis integerrimis superio- 
ribus piliferis, capsula apophysique cylindraceis, den- 
tibus 8 integris. (Tas. CLXVII.) 
Has. In truncis arborum emortuarum in Insula Van Diemen, 
D. Brown, ° 
Caules subunciales, laxe cespitosi, siniplices vel innovationibus di- 
visi, inferne tomento purpureo-fusco densissime obsiti, superne 
innovationibusque foliosi. Fodza pallide viridia, laxe imbri- 
cata, patentiuscula, flexuosa, oblongo-obovata, integerrima, re- 
ticulata, inferiora laticra, breviter acuminulata, nervo su 
cem evanescente, superiora longiora, nervo ultra apicem in pi- 
lum longum, rigidum vix serrulatum excurrente. Perigonialia 
lanceolata, acuminata, reflexa. os masc. terminalis, sed ob 
innovationes non raro lateralis, discoideus. Anther@ parve,. 
clavate. Fila succulénta numerosissima, pallide fusca, arti- 
? 
ptraque desunt. Columedla exserta, capitata. Peristomium 
paulo intra marginem capsul insertum, e dentibus 8 siccitate 
incurvis, madore erectis vel etiam reflexis, flavo-fuscis, inte- 
gris, transversim striatis atque lineis tribus longitudinalibus 
\ 
° 4 
obscure notatis. 
Notwithstanding that the peristome of this moss consists of 
eight teeth only,—at least in the perfect specimens which I pos- 
sess,—and these as entire as the teeth of Ocioblepharum serra- 
tum,—yet the plant has so completely the habit of a Splachnum, 
and especially of S. angustatum, that I cannot bring myself to 
separate it from that genus, Should it however be hereafter 
found to havea calyptra resembling that of Octoblepharum serra- 
tum, it might fairly be ranked with that species, under the name 
of Orihodon, which Mr. Brown has established with excellent 
characters, in the 12th volume of the Transactions of the Lin- 
nean Society. That gentleman has noticed, what I omitted to 
observe in O. serratum, the three longitudinal lines visible in 
each tooth of the peristome, as is seen in this Sp/achnum,—indi- 
cating, as Mr. Brown observes, the coalescence of four teeth. 
Fig. 1, plants male and female, mat. size. Fig. 2, male plant, 
and Fig. 3, female ditto. Fig. 4, lower, and Fig. 5, upper, stem 
leaves. Fig. 6, perigonial leaf. Fig. 7, anthers. Fig. 8, suc- 
culent filaments. Fig. 9, capsule, with the teeth erect. Fig. 10, 
capsule, with the teeth arched over the mouth, as seen when moist. 
Fig. 11, teeth of the peristome.—magn, 
