216 HEPATIC^. 



finely dentate, but the most important distinctions of Scapania 

 aspera are the closer texture of the leaves and the epidermis being 

 verruculose ; this latter character separates it from all the other 

 British Scapania, with the exception of Scajjania csquiloba 

 (Schwaeg,). 



Sccqjania aqiiiloba (Schwaeg.), of which it was considered a 

 variety by such good authorities as Gottsche and Lindberg, is 

 undoubtedly its nearest ally, although strikingly different in habit 

 and smaller in size, and generally of a darker olive-green colour ; 

 the leaves are regularly inserted and almost equal in size the whole 

 length of the stem, and although the lobes are by no means equal, 

 as the name would imply, they are more so than in Scajjaiiia ai<2jera, 

 are more quadrate, with the apex more acute. This character is 

 also observable in the bracts ; in Scapania aspera the perianth is 

 usually wider at the mouth, but the margin is exactly the same. 



The male plant of Scapania aspera approaches nearer to 



5. (squiloba than the barren or fertile one. 



The founders of the species say, "It has nothing in common 

 with Scapania ceqmloha except in the tuberculose cuticle." This 

 statement will probably be questioned by students who have the 

 opportunity of examining a large series of specimens. 



Scapania crassiretis, Bryhn (found in Norway), is another allied 

 species, which has not yet been met with in our country. 



I find the species with which it is most generally mistaken 

 for, even by some expert students, is Scapania resnpiinafa (L.), 

 with which it agrees somewhat in the shape and margin of leaves, 

 but the latter species is usually of a pale olive -brown colour, 

 narrower and more equal leaves, the antical lobe is also more or 

 less reflexed on some portion of the stem, the epidermis is also 

 quite smooth. 



Description of Plate LXXXIV. — Fig. 1. Plants natural 

 size. 2. Portion of young branch x IG (Yewbarrow, Gr. Stabler). 

 3. Leaf x 11 (Gf. & E. n. 602). 4. Ditto, explanate (ditto). 5, 



6. Leaves x 1 1 (Sweden, Kindberg). 7. Leaf x 11 (G. & K 

 n. 602). 8. Margin of leaf, postical lobe x 85 (ditto). 9. Por- 

 tion of leaf X 290 (ditto). 10. Bract x 11 (Yewbarrow, Gf. 



