2Q2 FRYE 



Upper leaves erect to patent, when dry more or less closely applied 

 to the stem, narrowly lanceolate to awl-shaped from a thin sheath- 

 like base, smooth at back; lamina i cell thick, but narrow. Margin 

 not bordered, slightly if at all incurved, mostly sharply toothed to 

 hairy above (not hairy in North American species). Lamellae on 

 upper side only, numerous, not wavy from side to side, entire, mar- 

 ginal cells mostly somewhat enlarged and somewhat oval. Vein 

 broad outside of sheath, excurrent as a red point. Cells of sheath 

 without chlorophyll, elongated-rectangular to linear, narrower 

 toward the margin; cells of limb iso-diametric, thick walled. 



Calyptra cucullate, usually with short hairs at tip, sometimes 

 smooth. 



Capsule inclined, oblong or ovate, 2 4 angled, smooth, often 

 semilunar in cross section, with numerous 2-celled stomates. Peri- 

 stome present; teeth pale, with yellowish axis. Lid conic, more or 

 less beaked. Pedicels single or two on a tip, elongated, thick. 



Number of species in western North America, i ; total number of 

 species, about 18. 



1 , Polytrichadelphus lyallii Mitt. , in Journ. Linn. Soc. 1 864, p. 49. 

 Oligotrichum lyallii Lindb., in Act. Soc. pr. Fauna et Fl. Fenn, 1868, 



p. 102. 

 Polytrichum angustidens Lindb. 11 in Bot. Centralb. Vol. 84. 



Named after Lyall. 12 



Plants robust, dirty yellow to brownish green. Stems fastigiately 

 branching from the middle, sometimes simple, naked at the base, 

 densely foliate above. 



11 Prof. J. M. Holzinger, of Winona, Minnesota, kindly sent some Polytrichum angus- 

 tidens Lindb., co-type material, No. 1121 of the collection by Sandberg in northern 

 Idaho. A comparison of this with Polytrichadelphus lyallii Mitt, indicates that they 

 are the same. The leaf characteristics even down to the marginal cells of the lamellae 

 agree. The number of lamellae is 35-45. The capsules sent were young and shrunken; 

 the angles cannot therefore be made out with certainty. Lindberg says, "capsules 

 acutely 4-angled," but if his material was likewise young and shrunken, one could 

 easily surmise an error here. The other capsule characteristics agree with Polytricha- 

 delphus lyallii. The calyptra would at once distinguis h Polytrichum from Polytricha- 

 delphus, but it is wanting in the writer's material; since Lindberg omits it in his 

 description, one surmises it was wanting in his as well. More evidence is necessary 

 to convince the writer that Polytrichum angustidens is not Polytrichadelphus lyallii. 



12 David Lyall, surgeon and botanist attached to international survey. 



