FONTINALIS. 81 



cated, almost erect, of a delicate nearly membranaceous 

 structure, faintly reticulated, the margins recurved, and 

 somewhat undulate, entire; the nerve reaching almost to the 

 point : those of the perichaetium are few, small, ovate, con- 

 cave, nerveless. Fruitstalk lateral, about as tall as the stems. 

 Capsule turbinate, with a small apophysis, which gives it 

 the appearance of that of a Splachnum y whence the specific 

 name. Calyptra mitriform, with a small cuspidate point; 

 its colour is nearly white ; its texture delicate, faintly reti- 

 culated ; its base cut into a number of fine capillary seg- 

 ments resembling those of Dicranum flexuosum. Lid co- 

 nico-rostrate, about as long as the capsule. Peristome large, 

 the teeth pointing in various directions ; the exterior ones 

 reddish brown, the interior pale yellow. 



The plant, to which of all others this doubtless bears the 

 closest affinity, is the Neckera splachnoides of Schwaeg- 

 richen's SuppL t. 82. (Orthotrichum splachnoides of Bri- 

 del) ; but that has altogether the peristome of an Orihotri- 

 chum, having the exterior teeth double, and a dimidiate ca- 

 lyptra. 



2. D. heteromalla ; leaves broadly ovate, acute; capsule sessile, 

 immersed ; calyptra nearly entire. (TAB. XXII.) 



Neckera heteromalla. Kedw. St. Cr. v. 3. t. 15. Turn. Muse. Hib. 

 p. 102. Engl. Bot. t. 1180. Sphagnum arboreum. Linn. Fontinalis 

 secunda. Dicks. Dill Mmc. t. 32. f. 6. 



HAB. Trunks of trees. 



Stems slightly branched, diffuse. Leaves imbricated on 

 every side, concave, with the nerve disappearing below the 

 point, their margins recurved, quite entire. Perichsetial 

 leaves as long as the capsule, broadly ovate and suddenly 

 acuminated, almost cuspidate, having a nerve reaching to 

 the point. Capsule sessile. Lid conico- acuminate. Ca- 

 lyptra mitriform, brown, somewhat fringed at the margin. 



28. FONTINALIS. 

 GEN. CHAR. Fruitstalks lateral; Peristome double; 

 the exterior consisting of 16 teeth ; the inner of 16 

 cilia, connected by transverse bars, and forming a 

 reticulated cone ; Calyptra mitriform. (TAB. III.) 

 We know of no genus which at all resembles this in the cu- 



G 



