FOSSOMBRONIA. 428 



d. Lamellae prominent at the margin, 



4. Fossombronia Dumortieri [J [lib. ct Ge?)th.), Lindh. 



Codonia Dumortieri, Hiib. et Genth. Deutschl. Ijeberm. n. 80 (1837). 

 Fossombronia foveolata, Lindb. Not. pro F. et Fl. Fenn. p. 382(1874). 

 Fossombronia Dumortieri (Hiib. et G.), Lindb., Not. pro F. et Fl. Fenn. 

 13, p. 380 (1874). 



Heteroicous, very fetid, ciespitose, small, green in colour. Stems 

 procumbent, simple or sub-ramose, thick, on a cross-section sub- 

 carinate, purple-violet below ; radiculose, rootlets purple-violet. 

 Leaves small, slightly imbricate, obliquely obcuneate or sub- 

 quadrate, entire or irregularly (once or several times) lobate or 

 dentate, lobes acute or obtuse ; texture delicate, unistratose, cells 

 medium size, sub-quadrate, walls thin, no thickened angles. 

 Perianth shortly obpyramidal, mouth wide, shortly and irregu- 

 larly dentate or incised. Capsule spherical, composed of 

 two layers of cells, inner layer with numerous yellowish- 

 brown, firm, but generally imperfect semi-annular spiral 

 threads. Spores pale brown, tetrahedral-globose, regularly 

 foveolate, pits 12-18, large, pale yellow, 4-6-angled, ridges 

 slightly raised, sub-membranaceous, regularly anastomosing, 

 20-30 acute teeth projecting beyond the margin. Elaters short 

 and moderately thick, pale brown, bi-rarely tri- or quadri-spiral. 

 Perigonial bracts either below the perianth or on separate plants, 

 4 to 5 pairs closely imbricate, somewhat roundish, smaller, saccate, 

 margin sub-entire ; antheridia roundish-oval. 



Dimensions. — Stems about \ inch long; leaves "8 mm. x '8 mm., 

 '8 mm. X I'l mm., '6 mm. x 1* mm., 1* x '8 mm. ; spores "04 mm., 

 '045 mm.; elaters '12 mm. to 'lob mm. long; perigonial bract 

 '7 mm. X 1* mm. ; antheridia '2 mm. x -15 mm. 



Hab. — On damp moorlands, or by the margin of ditches. Rare. 



10. Barmby Moor, Dr. Sjjnice ; Pocklington, Dr. Spruce; 

 AUerthorpe Common, East Yorkshire, /. /. Marshall ; Skipworth 

 Common, near Selby, William lufjham. 



Found on the Continent and in North America. 



