I860.] ORTHOTRICHUM ANOMALUM. 363 



limits in these two do appear to approximate ver}^ closely. There 

 arCj however, in my opinion, diagnostic features in both, which 

 must ever keep them separate, and in order that the difficulty in 

 their recognition may be obviated as far as possible, I will briefly 

 allude to those points of difference that exist between the two. 

 In 0. cupulatum the capsule is always more or less obovate or 

 globoso-ovate, never oblong, with a longer or shorter neck gra- 

 dually tapering into the capsule, which is much paler in colour, 

 and with paler, thinner, more uniform striae; the operculum has 

 a longer and more acute beak, springing from a more convex base, 

 of a pale yellow colour throughout, except at its margin, which 

 is bright red. The calyptra is always cupulifojin or broadly cam- 

 panulate, even when the capsule is still young and undeveloped, 

 and generally but slightly hairy; very frequently quite naked, 

 even in the typical state of the species, but more especially in 

 what may be called its aquatic varieties. The teeth of the pe- 

 ristome are considerably longer, paler in colour, and of very thin 

 texture.^ In the ordinary form the capsules are always either 

 immersed or slightly emergent, and in that state it is not very 

 probable that any error could arise in the diagnosis ; but, as often 

 happens in some of its varieties, particularly the aquatic forms 

 already alluded to, the pedicel becomes more or less considerably 

 exserted (0. nudum, Dicks.) ; then it is that the danger of con- 

 founding the two is most likely to occur ; but in these states of 

 the plant, if due attention be paid to the general form of the 

 capsule, and the broad, naked, shiningf calyptra, there can be 

 but little risk in determining their identity. 



Since writing the foregoing, I have, through the kindness of 

 my old and valued friend, Mr. John Nowell, received specimens 

 of 0. anomalum, Hook, and Tayl., and of 0. cupulatum, gathered 

 by him in various parts of the kingdom, or sent by correspondents. 

 Amongst the former are some collected in Scotland, where, it is 

 not stated, and in the capsules of some of these there certainly 

 are indications of sixteen strias, the supernumerary ones being 

 however short, faint, and indistinct, as compared with the Aber- 

 dour plants. Moreover the form of the capsule, the longer twisted 



* The areolation of the leaves is minutely and irregularly hexagonal; in the 

 other, beautifully and uniformly imnctiform. 

 t Olivaceous or rufous. 



