Gymnostomum.~\ GYMNOSTOMI. 21 



as cellular, and nearly as white and delicate as that of a Jun- 

 germannia. We were so fortunate as to meet with it last year 

 (1825) amongst the steep, precipitous rocks of Ben Nevis, in 

 considerable plenty. Patches of earth of some inches in diame- 

 ter were covered with the beautiful yellow green of its large 

 foliage, and the numerous setae were gradually thickened up- 

 wards so as to pass almost imperceptibly into the capsule. 

 No one can have an idea of the beauty and delicacy of texture of 

 this plant who has not seen it growing; for from its highly 

 juicy nature it turns almost black in drying. 



Schwaegrichen's character for his (Edipodivm, " Peristomium 

 millum aut exigua membranula indivisa ; Flos hermaphroditus, 

 terminalis," seems to offer no mark of distinction whatever from 

 Gymnoslomum, where we prefer retaining this moss, unlike as it 

 is in habit to the rest of the genus. The membrane across the 

 mouth of the capsule is only to be seen in the fresh state of 

 the plant. Obovate bodies are imbedded at the base of some 

 of the leaves in a clustered manner, such as we find in many 

 Jungermannice, and they may probably be considered as gem- 

 mce. The plant was first found on the English mountains, 

 (Ingleborough, Yorkshire,) by the Rev. Mr. Dalton, and Dr. 

 Hooker ; and it was from specimens there gathered, (and not 

 upon Ben Lawers as Sir James Smith has mentioned by mis- 

 take,) that the figure in English Botany was taken. Mr. Don 

 was the first to discover it in Scotland, on the Clova mountains ; 

 where we have also gathered it in company with Mr. Drum- 

 mond. 



The stems of this and all the remaining species of the genus, 

 scarcely exceed half an inch in length. 

 7. G. ovatum; leaves ovate erect concave piliferous, their 



nerve furnished with a ^ranuliferous membrane, lid rostrate. 



(TAB. VII.) 

 . vulg'are ; capsule ovate. 



Gynmostomum ovatum. Hedw. St. Cr. v. 1. t. 6. Smith, Fl. Brit. 



p. 1160. Emjl Bot. t. 1889. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 9. Moug. et Nestl. 



n. 308. Hobson, Brit. Mosses, v. 2. n. 7. Schwaegr. Suppl. v. 1. p. 27. 



Punch, Deutschl. Moose, t. 4. n. 3. Drummond, Muse. Scot. v. 2. n. 8. 



Hook. Fl. Scot. P. II. p. 122. Brid. Mcth. p. 12. Am. Disp. Muse. 



p, 10. Nees et Hornsch. Bryol Germ. v. 1. p. 128. t. 9. / 5. 



B 3 



