160 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



the stem ; sporangium erect and symmetrical ; lid acumi- 

 nate. 



A large variety occurs in sluices, and one not yet found in 

 this country, S. font anus (Moug. fy Nest. n. 1116), is an inch 

 or an inch and a half long, and occurs on the walls of wells 

 or in the water itself. 



8. P. incurvus, Schwceg. ; monoicous ; stem slender, assur- 

 gent ; leaves spreading, bordered, elongated, apiculate ; nerve 

 subexcurrent ; sporangium oblong, curved, cernuous ; male 

 flowers sessile at the base of the stem. Hook, fy Wils. t. liii. ; 

 Eng. Bot. t. 1368, description only ; (Moug. fyNest. n. 823.) 



On banks and in pastures. Bearing fruit in spring. 



This seems really to be a good species, differing in the posi- 

 tion of the male flowers, inclination of the sporangium, and 

 time of flowering. 



9. F. exilis, Hedw. ; monoicous. Stems very short ; leaves 

 few, obliquely lanceolate, not bordered, minutely toothed ; 

 dorsal wing ceasing above the base ; sporangium erect, oblongo- 

 elliptic ; lid obliquely rostrate. Hook, fy Wils. t. liii. ; Eng. 

 Bot. t. 1368; Lond.Journ. of Bot. 1845, t. 9. 



On shady banks in woods. England, Scotland, and Ireland. 

 Flowering in early spring. 



Extremely small. Stems very short, nearly erect ; leaves from 

 four to six, lanceolate, acute or apiculate, finely toothed ; nerve 

 strong, ceasing near the apex or excurrent ; fruitstalks short, 

 terminal ; sporangium erect ; lid as long as the sporangium ; 

 male flower at the base of fertile stem. Easily distinguished 

 by the absence of the border to the leaves. 



ORDER IX. MIELICHOFEEIEI, Br. & Schimp. 

 Sporangium with or without an apophysis ; peristome simple 

 or double ; when simple, of sixteen narrow teeth united by a 



