GYMNOSTOMUM. 9 



of it which has been called by Mr, Turner G. intermedium, 

 before the falling of the lid ; but its capsule will be found 

 to have no line of separation for the lid, and the whole 

 assumes very nearly an elliptical figure, 



10. P. rectum; leaves ovate with a short point; capsule glo- 

 bose ; fruitstalk nearly erect. (TAB. V.) 



P. rectum. With. Bot. Arr. v. 4. p. 771. t. 18./. 1. Turn. Mmc. 

 Bib. p. 4. Etigl. Bot. t. 330. Schwaegr. Suppl, p. 1. t. 1. 

 HAB. Moist banks. 



When this plant grows, as is frequently the case, in com- 

 pany with JYeissia Starkeana, they may easily be confounded 

 with each other. The present is then best known by its nearly 

 spherical fruit. The leaves too are much less recurved at 

 their margins. 



VI . P. curvicollum ; leaves narrow-ovate, acuminated ; capsule 

 globose; fruitstalk curved. (TAB. V.) 



P. curvicollum. Hedw. St. Cr.v. \.t.\\. EngLBot. t. 905. 



HAB. Moist banks. 



P. curvicollum may readily be distinguished from the 

 preceding species by its more flexible, much longer, and 

 more acuminated leaves. In both there is a decided colu- 

 mella. 



4. GYMNOSTOMUM. 



GEN. CHAR. Fruitstalks terminal ; mouth of the 

 Capsule naked ; Calyptra dimidiate. (TAB. I.) 



A delicate, horizontal, annular membrane maybe seen to arise 

 within the mouth of the capsule of some species, when examined 

 in a fresh state, as in G. rnicrostomum, G.fasciculare, G. trun- 

 catulym, and above all in G. Griffithianum, in which not un- 

 frequently this membrane is entire. This circumstance allies 

 the genus to Leptostomum of Brown, in which the annular 

 membrane is of a firmer texture and erect ; and this again ex- 

 cept in being shorter comes very near the peristome of Diphys- 

 cium, whose capsules are in other respects not dissimilar. There 

 is nothing in the habit of the species of this genus to distinguish 

 them from the Weissice ; and indeed in the species G. micro- 

 stomum and G. Heimii there are so many points in common with 

 IVeissia conlroversa and W. lanceolata, that they can only be 

 discriminated by"an examination of the mouth of the capsule. 



