SCHISTOSTEOEI. 161 



basal membrane ; fruitstalk lateral (cladocarpous) ; vaginula 

 perfect. 



33. MIELICHOFERIA, Nees fy Hornsch. 



Cladocarpous. Sporangium pyriform or clavate ; peristome 

 simple, of sixteen teeth, confluent at their dilated base, narrow 

 above, occasionally perforated below ; veil cuculliform. 



1. M. nitida, Hornsch.; leaves erecto-patent, larger and 

 more crowded above, ovato-lanceolate, serrated above ; sporan- 

 gium suberect, pyriform; lid conical, very short. Hook, fy 

 Wils. t. Ixi.; Hook. Muse. Ex. t. 101. 



On moist rocks. Found in a barren state only by Dr. 

 Greville, at the head of Glen Callater. Bearing fruit in August 

 and September. 



The British specimens belong to the var. ft. yracilis, which 

 has densely tufted stems, shorter and more crowded imbricated 

 leaves, and an erect sporangium. 



FAMILY II. ACROCARPI. 



Fruit terminal. 



ORDER X. SCHISTOSTEOEI, Br. & Schimp. 



Sporangium subglobose ; peristome wanting ; veil hood- 

 shaped or mitriform ; spore-sac adnate with the walls of the 

 sporangium ; lid convex ; spores radiating ; leaves distichous, 

 free at the base or confluent ; leaf-cells large ; rhizoma peren- 

 nial. 



34. SCHISTOSTEG-A, Mohr. 



Characters those of the Order. 



1. S. osmundacea, Web. fy Mohr. Hook, fy Wils. t. viii. ; 

 Eng. Bot. t. 2213. ; (Plate 14, fig. 4) ; Moug. $ Nest. n. 1013. 



