BRACHYTHECIACEAE 257 



thecium Starkei (p. 248), with the leaves wide-spreading 

 and lying flat on either side of tJie stem, apparently in 

 two rows. If the plants are fruited, and the operculum 

 has not fallen off, the long beak of the operculum is the 

 distinguishing characteristic. The plants are larger 

 than Isopterygium, and appear larger than Brachy- 

 thecium Starkei, as the longer leaves make the branches 

 look broader, but they so closely resemble Plagiothe- 

 cium that they cannot be distinguished in the field 

 except when in fruit, and before the operculum has 

 fallen off. The capsule is more slender than in Brachy- 

 thecium, but resembles that of Plagiothecium and 

 Isopterygium. 



