MUSCI. (MOSSES.) 659 



equarrose, somewhat liguiate-acuminate from a broad suberect amplexicaul base, 

 crenulate on the margins by the large protuberent cellules ; costa indistinct, sel- 

 dom extending half-way. Leskea fragilis, Hook. Sf Wih. in Drum. Mosses, 2d 

 coU. No. 101. Hypnum triste, Mull. Synop. Muse. 2. p. 478.) Very common 

 throughout the United States ; on trees, particularly the Hornbeam. Fruit un- 

 known. (Eu.) 



66. LESKEA, Hedw. ; Bryol. Europ. (Tab. 19.) 



Calyptra cuculliform. Operculum conic, acuminate or rostrate. Capsule 

 oval or cylindrical, pedicellate. Peristome double; the exterior 1C lanceolate- 

 subulate teeth; the interior 16 narrow cilia, as long as the teeth, arising from a 

 carinate membrane. Annulus persistent. Inflorescence monoecious or dioecious. 

 Stems prostrate, irregularly or subpinnately branched ; leaves of the stem and 

 branches uniform, ovate-lanceolate, more or less acuminate, mostly costate, 

 smooth or papillose, with close subrotund or oval areolation. (Named for N. G 

 Leske, an early German botanist.) 



1. Li. polycarpa, Hedw. Monoecious ; stem 2' long or more, irregularly 

 branched ; branches ascending, ' - 1 ' high ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, patent or 

 secund, recurved on the margins below, strongly costate to near the apex ; cap- 

 sule cylindrical, slightly curved; operculum conic, acute; perichaetial leaves 

 striate. Roots of trees, in wet places. (Eu.) 



2 L.. Obscura, Hedw. Monoecious ; smaller than No. 1 ; ramification 

 the same ; leaves ovate or oblong-ovate, rather obtuse, opaque, the^margins be- 

 low recurved ; costa reaching to the apex ; capsule erect, oblong-elliptical ; oper- 

 culum short, conic ; cilia of the inner peristome perforated. On trees, within 

 reach of floods : fruits copiously. (Tab. 19.) 



3. L.. iiiicrocarpa, W. P. Sch. in litt. Monoecious ; stems subpinnate- 

 ly branched ; leaves ovate or oval, concave, long and slenderly acuminate, spread- 

 ing, rather lax ; costa reaching nearly to the point ; capsule oval-oblong. (L. 

 nervosa, Muse. Alleyhan , No. 69.) On roots of trees, in wet woods, near Mont- 

 gomery, Alabama. Very near the European L. nervosa, but a more flaccid 

 plant, its leaves more spreading, not so recurved on the margins, nor so attenu- 

 ated at the point-; the costa extending higher up ; capsule not cylindrical ; peri- 

 stome smaller and lighter-colored, the interior more imperfect ; and mainly 

 the inflorescence different. 



4. L. rostrata, Hedw. Dioecious ; branches erect, crowded, fasciculate, 

 terete ; leaves closely imbricating, ovate-lanceolate, long and slenderly acumi- 

 nate, papillose on both surfaces, the margins broadly recurved below ; costa pel- 

 lucid, vanishing below the apex ; capsule oval-oblong ; operculum rostrate. 

 Woods, in dense and extensive mats, on the base of trees : frequent. (Eu.) 



5. L. 1 clcilticulfita, Sulliv. Dioecious; branches ascending, crowded, 

 somewhat compressed ; leaves closely imbricating, slightly secund, concave, 

 ovate, suddenly and rather long acuminate, denticulate, ecostate ; areolation 

 oval; capsule oblong; operculum obliquely rostrate. (Muse. Alleghan., No 

 62.) Base of trees; not uncommon in the Western States: fruit very rare, 

 found only in Southern Alleghany specimens. A small species. 



