260 Dr. Smith's Remarks on the Generic Characters of Mosses, 



mosses., as almost to authorize a separation*; and I am inclined 

 to regret that this greatest name in mosses has been removed to a 

 distant tribe of plants, with which it has no peculiar associability. 

 Let me now draw this subject, to a conclusion by suggesting a 

 mark, which, I presume, may serve to distinguish some genera in 

 which the Hedwigian characters are least satisfactory, I mean the 

 capsule being longitudinally furrowed. I have long ago indicated 

 this character in English Botany, under Bartramia, but have not 

 till lately adverted to it in Mnium ; I am however persuaded that 

 it is equally certain in both. It is chiefly seen in the ripe fruit, 

 and the number of furrows is 16, answerable to the teeth of the 

 outer fringe. It keeps the real Mnia of Dillenius together, except 

 the first, which is the Tetraphis pellucida, and it associates with 

 them most naturally the Arrhenopterum of Hedwig. Having ex- 

 amined every Bryum which has come in my way, I can aver that 

 a smooth capsule is essential to that genus. The same may almost 

 be said of Hypnum ; for I know no described species with a fur- 

 rowed capsule except the undulatum, and perhaps the ornithopo- 

 dioides. I have indeed lately received a number of exotic mosses 

 with furrowed capsules from my worthy friend Mr. Menzies. 

 These will probably come under Mnium; but it requires more time 

 than I can just now bestow to examine accurately the terminal 

 or lateral origin of all their fruit-stalks. I am ready to allow that 

 this character of the furrowed capsule, which appears so sufficient 

 to characterize a genus,- already indicated by its habit, in dou- 

 ble-fringed mosses, is, in those with a single fringe, of no further 

 importance than to distinguish species. Who does not know that 

 the most essential principles of generic distinction, the germen in- 

 ferior or superior for instance, are sometimes of no validity at all ? 



* Mr. D. Turner has just suggested to me that the female flowers in several Aidctangia 

 are lateral ; which is a sufficient mark. 



Witness 



