WEISSIA. 43 



the want of the inner peristome : it may at a future time 

 become the subject of a new genus. The apophysis is very 

 narrow; and the teeth of the peristome lie horizontally over 

 the mouth of the capsule, as do those of Funaria. 



* * Capsule destitute of an apophysis. 



f Leaves nerveless. 



(5. IV.nuda; stems scarcely any; leaves ovato-lanceolate, nerveless; 

 capsule ovate, gibbous on one side, cernuous. (TAB. XIV.) 



Bryum nudum. Dicks. Crypt, fuse. 4. t. 10. f. 15. Grimmia nuda. 

 Turn. Musc.Hib. p. 25. Engl. Bot. t. 1421. Weissia rosea. WahL FL 

 Lapp. t. 19. Weissia incarnata. Sckwaegr. Suppl. t. 18. 



HAB. On a clayey soil in the north of England and 

 Scotland. 



If there were not abundant other marks of discrimination 

 between this and the rest of the British species of Weissia, 

 the greater size of the annulus, and the nature of the teeth 

 which are broad and split from their centre to their base, 

 might be adduced as peculiarities of this singular plant. 

 This too is the only one of our species which has the leaves 

 destitute of a nerve; these as maturity advances become of 

 a reddish colour, whence Wahlenberg's expressive name of 

 rosea, and Schwaegrichen's scarcely less so of incarnata. 

 We have however been obliged to retain the name given to 

 it by its first describer, our countryman and acute crypto- 

 gamist Mr. Dickson. The plant still exists in the spot ori- 

 ginally pointed out by Mr. Caley near Manchester, whence 

 we have received it from Mr. Hobson. The late Mr. Donn 

 found it by the sides of the Tay, near Perth. 



f f Leaves furnished with a nerve. 

 -t~ Leaves ovate or lanceolate. 



4. W.nigrita; stems elongated; leaves lanceolate, acuminated} 

 capsule obovate, cernuous, gibbous, silicate ; lid hemi- 

 spherical, obtusely pointed. (TAB. XIV.) 



W. nigrita. Hedw. St. Cr. v. 3. t. 39. Bryum nigritum. Dicks. 

 Grimmia nigrita. Engl. Bet. t. 1825. 



HAB. Moist banks in mountainous districts. 



This plant has a capsule still more remarkable for its in- 

 clination than the preceding, and is truly arcuato-cernuous, 

 In all the remaining British Weissice the capsule is either 

 erect or very nearly so. 



