1114 



is applicable only to one, and that not a general form of the species. 

 Indeed it is only by means of specimens apparently authentic in Mou- 

 geot and Nestler's ' Stirpes Crypt. Voges. Rhen. No. 807,' that I am 

 enabled to identify this moss. If I am right in my conclusions, the 

 more general state of this species is one which does not present any 

 appearance of contorted and recurved ramuli, nor any unilateral or 

 falcate direction of the leaves. It often assumes a large size, with 

 very large leaves, when growing in water, and in this state has been 

 called S. laxifolium by Mr. Valentine (though he ultimately regarded 

 it as only a variety of S. acutifolium), and has not long ago been re- 

 ported as a new species gathered in Devonshire by the Rev. C. A. 

 Johns. S. contortum is readily known from S. cymbifolium and S. 

 compactum, by the ovate-acute leaves, which are nevertheless prae- 

 morse at the apex. An excellent additional character is found in the 

 cellules of the main stem being disposed in only one layer, in which 

 respect it differs from all known species, except S. subsecundum. 

 Found in Cheshire and Nottinghamshire. 



S. subsecundum (Nees ab Esenb.), has not yet been found in Bri- 

 tain, but I think it right to mention it here, and the more so, because 

 in the collection of Mougeot and Nestler, it has been confounded with 

 S. contortum. The leaves of S. subsecundum are somewhat unilate- 

 ral, ovate, acute, not prcemorse at the apex, very concave, but other- 

 wise not readily distinguishable from S. contortum, with which they 

 agree in their very small cellules. It may be that S. subsecundum is 

 only a variety of S. contortum, and if I mistake not, S acutifolium is 

 equally variable in reference to the apex of the leaf, or otherwise two 

 species are confounded under that name. 



S. molluscum (Bridel), is a beautiful little soft species, found about 

 Warrington and in Wales, many years ago, by myself; more recently 

 by Mr. Spruce in Yorkshire, and by Mr. Sidebotham in Oxton-bog. 

 This has small, ovate, concave, acute leaves, scarcely prsemorse at 

 the apex, and the cellules large, if compared with S. subsecundum 

 and S. contortum. It is beautifully characterised by the peculiar 

 shape of the cellules of the ramuli ; each of these cells (unlike the cy- 

 lindrical ones of the other species) is curved at top so as to stand out 

 from the ramulus, and the circular orifice at the extremity is thus ren- 

 dered very conspicuous: 



aS". acutifolium (Ehrh.), is known by the ovate-lanceolate acute 

 leaves, which, when dry, have the margins unchanged. The leaves in 

 one variety are very regularly packed in five rows. It is very common. 



