Phascum.-] A S T O-M I. 5 



1. n. 10. Brid. Meth. p. 6. Hook. Fl Scot. P. II. p. 121. Nees et 



Hornsch. Bryol Germ. v. 1. p. 35. t. 4<./ 1. 



P. stoloniferum. Dicks. Crypt. Fasc. 3. t. 7./. 2. Smith, Fl. Brit. 



p. 1157. Engl. Bot. t. 2006. 

 HAB. Shaded sandy banks. 



Under this species is to be included P. stoloniferum of Dick- 

 son, which has already been judiciously made a variety of P. 

 serratum by Mr. Turner in his Muse. Brit., and which seems to 

 differ solely in the lower parts of the conferva-like shoots being 

 browner, and the joints there nearly obsolete. The only leaves of 

 this curious plant combine to form the perichcetium ; and these are 

 liable to some variations in their serratures, and in their more 

 or less acuminated points. The PJiascum cohcerens of Hedwig, 

 which is incorrectly represented (Sp. Muse. t. 1.) with the 

 leaves broad and nerveless, (to which, perhaps, may be added 

 the Phascum crassinervium of Schwaegrichen, and Nees and 

 Hornsch. and Ph. stenophyllum of Voit, although no conferva- 

 like shoots are figured by these authors) differs from our plant 

 in having a strong nerve. 



Sprengel and Schwaegrichen, indeed, ]iave looked upon the 

 Conferva-like shoots as adventitious, and belonging to a real 

 Conferva ; but in all our numerous specimens they are unques- 

 tionably a part of the plant. The Capsules contain about 100 

 seeds, which are large in proportion to those of other Phasca, 

 P. alternifolium alone excepted. These seeds are somewhat 

 angular, rather pellucid at the angles, as if a portion of the 

 cellular substance was still attached to the seeds. We can find 

 no columella ; the inner membrane is very delicate ; the ex- 

 terior thin and strongly marked with reticulations. 



* * Conferva-like slioots none. 

 f Leaves more or less subulate. 



2. P. alternifolium; stems elongated, leaves entire lanceolato- 

 subulate remote, innovations from immediately beneath the 

 fruit. (TAB. V.) 



Phascum alternifolium. Dicks. Crypt. Fasc. I. p. 2. t. 1. / 2. 

 Smith, Fl. Brit. p. 1157. Engl Bot. t. 2107. Schwaegr. Suppl v. 1. 

 p. 10. t. 10. Funck, Deutschl Moose, t. 1. n. 18. 

 A3 



