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Dixon: NEW AND RARE AFRICAN MOSSES 79 
twice the length of that of the present plant; the capsule is ‘“‘hori- 
zontalis, asymmetrica, oblonga, laevis,’’ while here it is erect, 
only very slightly curved and asymmetrical, subcylindric, and 
lightly plicate when dry. 
VESICULARIA SPHAEROCARPA (C. Miill.) Broth. 
Barberton, Transvaal, 1914, H. A. Wager 256, 250. 
I was at first inclined to consider this plant distinct from the 
insular species, and I understand from Mr. Wager that Dr. Broth- 
erus takes the same view. I have, however, examined a fairly long 
series of plants of the insular -V. sphaerocarpa, and I believe that the 
Transvaal plant may well come within its range. The principal 
points of difference that I have observed are the slightly wider 
cells in the present plant, and the usually more shortly pointed 
leaves. Montagne’s specimens, however, show some degree of 
variation in these respects, and I have found among them some 
stems with equally short-pointed leaves, while the cells vary a good 
deal in width, and occasionally quite match those of the Trans- 
vaal plant. The leaf apex may be either entire or denticulate. 
At the most I think the South African plant can only be looked 
upon as a slightly divergent regional race. Dr. Brotherus, it may 
be noted, has recently recorded V. sphaerocarpa from Beni, in 
Central Africa. 
Rigodium dentatum Dixon, sp. nov. 
Pergracile. R. gracili Ren. & Card., et R. kilimandscharico 
Broth. habita simile; caulis primarius longe repens, secundarius 
erectus, subdendroideus, ramis ramulisque numerosis, confertis, 
saepius curvatis, filiformibus, rigidis. Folia caulis primarii sub- 
appressa, secundarii patentia, late deltoidea, sensim longe tenut- 
acuminata, argute denticulata; folia ramea minora, concavia, erecto- 
patentia, late ovata, anguste acuminata, marginibus anguste 
reflexis, per totam longitudinem, praecipue superne, dense argute 
denticulatis. Costa foliis caulinis debilis, circa medium folium 
attingens, rameis ramulinisque pertenuts, saepe obsoleta. Cellulae 
foliorum caulinorum breviter lineares, subsigmoideae, incrassatae, 
foliorum rameorum subsimiles, breviores, serie unica marginali 
multo breviores, latiores, limbum denticulatum conspicuum pul- 
chre exhibentes; alares sat numerosae, subquadratae, obscurae. 
Cetera ignota. [FIc. 9. 
