158 DIPLOPERISTOMI. 



discoverer, Mr. Starke, and find them to agree in every par- 

 ticular. Its habit is very different from that of the preceding 

 species ; it is more straggling in its mode of growth, and the 

 leaves are broader and shorter, especially those of the main 

 stem, which are widely cordate, with a suddenly acuminated 

 point. 



b. Nerve shorter than the leaf, or none. 



* Leaves entire. 

 f Leaves ovate, or elliptical. 



11. H. molle; leaves loosely imbricated rotundato-ovate obtuse 

 concave entire faintly two nerved at the base or with one 

 short nerve, capsule ovate cernuous, lid conical. (TAB. 

 XXIV.) 



Hypnum molle. Dicks. PI. Crypt. Fasc. 2. t. 5. f. 8. Hedw. Sp. 

 Muse. t. 70. f. 710. Smith, Fl. Brit. p. 1312. Engl Bot. t. 1992. 

 Hook. Fl. Scot. P. II. p. 142. Funck, Deutschl Moose, t. 40. / 18. 

 Moug. et Nestl. n. 730. Hobson, Brit. Mosses, v. 2. n. 56. Drummond, 

 Muse. Scot. v. 2. n. 64. Brid. Meth. p. 162. Arn. Disp. Muse. p. 

 59. Schwaegr. Suppl v. 1. P. II. p. 220. 



Hypnum alpestre. Swartz, Muse. Suec. p. 63. t. 6. /. 15. Hedw. 

 Sp. Muse. t. 64. / 14. 



HAB. Alpine rivulets in Scotland. 



This plant usually is found from two to three inches in 

 length, much tufted, and consequently with the branches often 

 erect, and bare of leaves at the base. Leaves of a thin mem- 

 branaceous texture, very dark, lurid green colour, concave, 

 varying in the nerve, which is either single or double. Swartz's 

 plant, (H. alpestre J is certainly of a more rigid texture, its 

 leaves are more patent, and the nerve is more evident in 

 general, the colour is yellower at the extremities of the 

 branches ; yet we cannot look upon them otherwise than as the 

 same species; but Mohr's H. trifarium, which Schwaegrichen 

 has made a variety of H. stramineum, differs in its larger 

 size, narrower leaf, and longer nerve. On the other hand, 

 Schleicher's H. uliginosum, which Mohr allows to be his 

 H. trifarium, exactly corresponds with our plant. , 



