6 PHASCUM. 



of our plants are nerveless. Sprengel and Schwaegrichen 

 have taken the conferva- like shoots for real Coiifervce ; 

 but in all the specimens that we have examined they ap- 

 pear most assuredly to be a part of the plant. The capsules 

 contain about 100 seeds ; these are large in proportion to 

 those of other P/iasca, except P. alternifolium alone. The 

 seeds are somewhat angular, rather pellucid, as if portions 

 of the cellules were still attached to them. There is no co- 

 lumella ; the interior .membrane is very delicate, the ex- 

 terior thin and strongly marked with reticulations. 



* * Creeping shoots none. 

 f Leaves more or less subulate. 



2. P. alternifolium ; leaves entire, lanceolate-subulate j inno- 



vations elongated. (TAB. V.) 



P. alternifolium. Dicks. Crypt, fasc. 1, p. 2. t. \. f. 2. Engl Bot. 

 t. 2107. 



HAB. Moist banks. 



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 the cauline ones, and 

 which appear lateral from the prolongation of a- shoot. 

 Barren stems are not unlike those of Dicranum varium. The 

 seeds are about 16 in each capsule, very large, greenish, 

 angular, without border. The capsule itself is between 

 membranaceous and carnose, faintly reticulated, greenish, 

 semi-pellucid, so that the seeds are seen within, as intended 

 to be represented in a young state in EngL Bot. Sometimes 

 two or more capsules are seen in the same perichaetium. 



3. P. crispum; leaves lanceolate-subulate, flexuose, crisped when 



dry. (TAB. V.) 



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

 Bot. t. 1680. P. multicapsulare. Engl. Bot. t. 618. 



HAB. Banks and fields. 



P. multicapsulare is by no means, as we think, to be 

 distinguished from P. crispum. 



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



disappearing below the point. (TAB. V.) 



P. subulatum. Linn. Sp. PI. p. 1570. Hedw. St. Cr. v. I. t. 35. 

 Turn. Muse. Hib.p. 1. Engl. Bot. t. 2177- Moug. et Nwtl n. 112. 

 Ditt. Muse. t. 32. f. 10. 



HAB. Dry banks. 



