Purdieane. N. O. Musci. 
TAB. DCCXLVIII. 
LerrotTHeca speciosa. Hook. et Wils. 
Caule erecto subramoso, foliis patentibus subsecundis ovato- 
lanceolatis marginatis serratis evanidinerviis, capsula erecta 
oblonga, operculo conico-subulato. 
Has. Maracaybo, in moist woods on the mountains. W. Purdie, 
Sept. 1844, 
Planta spectabilis, dioica.  Caulis uncialis, innovando ra- 
mosus. Folia dissita, patula, subacuminata, inferne margine 
reflexa, siccitate torta, saturate viridia, nervo infra apicem 
evanido, areolis elongato-hexagonis majusculis. Seta sesqui- 
uncialis, rubra, subflexuosa. Capsula subcylindrica, magna, basi 
apiceque attenuata, pallide brunnea, ore rubro. Annulus revo- 
lubilis. Peristomii externi dentes longissimi angustissimi, Vi 
trabeculati, rubri: interni membrana brevis flava, processibus 
irregularibus brevibus instructa. Operculum capsula dimidio 
brevius, erectum, rubrum. Calyptra subulata, torta, luteola. 
A larger species than L. Gaudichaudii, Schwaegr., differing 
essentially in the serrated margined leaves, of a different tex- 
ture, and the nerve ceasing below the apex. In the inner 
peristome it approaches very near to Brachymenium. The 
cellules of the leaves contain a loose, oblong body, probably 
the dried mass of chromule. The male flowers we have not 
seen, 
Tas. pecxtvi1. Plants; nat. size. Fig. 1, 2. Leaves 
ais Les 2 
magnified. f.3. Apex of ditto; more magnified. f. 4. Small — 
perichetial leaves. f. 5, Vaginula, f.6, Capsule, operculum . 
and calyptra. f-7. Capsule, peristome, and annulus. f 8, 9. 
at and inner view of portions of the peristome .—all mag- 
ne e 
