6 ASTOMI. \_Phascum. 



Pleuridium alternifolium. Brid. Meih. p. 10. (and PL globiferum, 

 ejusd.) Moug. et Nestl n. 707. (mixed with Ph. subulatumj. 



HAB. Moist banks, rare. 



This plant is remarkable for its slender lengthened shoots, 

 the distant and alternate position of the leaves, and for the fruit 

 being immersed in perichsetial leaves, which are larger and 

 much longer than those of the stem, and which appear to have 

 a lateral insertion in consequence of the prolongation of the 

 terminal shoots. Its barren stems are not unlike those of Dicra- 

 num varium. The seeds are about 16 in each capsule, very 

 large, greenish, angular. The capsule itself is between mem- 

 branaceous and carnose, faintly reticulated, greenish, semi- 

 pellucid, so that the seeds are rendered visible within, as in- 

 tended to be represented in the young state of the fruit in 

 English Botany. Sometimes two or more capsules are seen in 

 the same perichcetium. 



3. P. crispum ; leaves lanceolato-subulate flexuose crisped when 

 dry. (TAB. V.) 



P. crispum. Hedw. St. Cr. v. 1. t. 9. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 2. 

 Smith, Fl Brit. p. 1151. Engl Bot. t. 1680. Brid. Meih. p. 9. Moug. 

 et Nestl. n. 703. Funck, Deutschl. Moose, t. 1. n. 3. Hook. Fl. Scot. P. 

 II. p. 121. Am. Disp. Muse. p. 7. Nees et Hornsch. Bnjol. Germ. v. 

 1. p. 57. t. 6. /. 13. 



P. multicapsulare. Smith, Fl. Brit. p. 1152. Engl. Bot. t. 618. 

 (sub nom. P. crispij. 



P. rostellatum. Brid. Meih. p. 9? Nees et Hornsch. Bryol. Germ. p. 

 58. t. 6.f. 14? 



HAB. Banks and fields. 



The P. rostellatum has the capsule subpedicellated and the 

 lid rostellate ; but we think it may fairly be considered a variety 

 of P. crispum. Indeed Drs. Nees and Hornschuch look upon 

 the P. multicapsulare as not specifically distinct from rostella- 

 tum ; and that, we feel satisfied, is not to be distinguished from 

 the present species. 



4. P. subulatum; leaves subulate-setaceous straight, their nerve 

 disappearing below the point. (TAB. V.) 



Phascum subulatum. Linn. Sp. PL p. 1570. Hedw. St. Cr. v. 1. 

 t. 35. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 1. Smith, Fl. Brit. p. 1149. Engl Bot. 

 t. 2177. Schwaegr. Suppl. v. 1. p. 1. Moug. et Nestl. n. 112. Funck, 

 Deutschl Moose, t. 1. n. 1. Brid. Meth, p. 1. Hook. FL Scot. P. II. 



