362 MUSCI. Pottia. 



P. lU'BioivtisA [B irhnli rabiginosa, Mitten, Journ. Linn. Soc. viii. 27), collected by Douyhts, 

 may be found in Morthern California. It is a dicecious species, with spreading leaves, curved and 

 apjiressed when dry, the lower ovate, the upper subulate-lanceolate from an ovate decnrrent liase, 

 acute with the costa reaching the thickish apex, margin recurved, areolation minute, rounded, 

 minutely papillose ; perichsetial leaves larger, erect, convolute, subulate-apiculate with excurrent 

 costa : capsule oval-cylindric, upon a red pedicel ; operculum conic, half as long as the capsule ; 

 annulus of a triple row of cells. 



* * Peristome distinct. — Anacaltpta. 



6. P. Starkeana, Muell. Closely resembling P. minutida, from which it is 

 distinguished by broader and comparatively shorter leaves, more shortly cuspidate 

 and with narrower and less distinct areolation, the oval capsule with a narrow per- 

 sistent annulus, and the pale or yellowish peristome of 1 6 obtuse or truncate 3-4- 

 jointed entire or cribrose teeth. — Syn. i. 547. Weissia Starkeana, Hedw. 1. c. 

 iii. 83, t. 34, Anacabjpta Starkeana, ]Nees & Hornsch. ; Bruch *k Schimp. Bryol. 

 Eur. t. 12.5 ; Wilson, 1. c, t. 14; Sulliv. & Lesq. 1. c, n. 119. 

 ilissiou Dolores, on clayey ground (Bolandcr); also European. 



8. WEISSIA, Hedw. 

 Low cespitose perennials, dichotomously or fastigiately branched, on the ground 

 or on rocks. Leaves in 8 ranks, linear-lanceolate to oblong-subulate, costate ; areo- 

 lation minute, quadrate, at base rectangular and hyaline. Inflorescence monoecious, 

 terminal, bud-like, Calyptra cucullate, long-beaked. Capsule erect upon a rather 

 long pedicel, oval or oblong, with rostrate operculum, and peristome of 16 flat 

 lanceolate or truncate teeth, entire or bifid at the apex, transversely jointed and often 

 perforated. 



A genus variously limited, represented by a single species in the Atlantic States, by 8 or 9 in 

 Europe, and most abundantly in South America. 



* Perichcetial leaves not sheathing : teeth of peristome somewhat irregular. 



1. W. viridula, Bridel. Stems about half an inch high, nearly simple or 

 fastigiately branched, in bright green more or less crowded tufts : leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, flexuous-spreading, with very involute margins, crisped when dry, the 

 costa sliglitly excurrent : capsule ovate to oblong, brown or reddish ; teeth very 

 variable, often rudimentary, reddish, 2-5-jointed. — Bruch & Schimp. Bryol. Eur. 

 t. 21 ; Sulliv. in Gray's Man. 2 ed. 618, t. 1. W. controversa, Hedw.; Wilson, 

 Bryol, Brit. t. 15. 



Var. Capsule longer, ovate-cylindrical, regularly striate or plicate, green. — Lesq. 

 in Mem. Calif. Acad, i, 6. 



On the ground at and around San Francisco, both forms, Bolander. A common and very 

 variable species, in the Atlantic States and thioughout Europe, on roadsides and in iields and 

 meadows. 



% * Periduetium distinct, sheathing : teeth more perfect, lanceolate. — {Dicrano- 

 weissia, Lindb.) 



2. W. cirrhata, Hedw. Tufted, soft, the taller stems much branched, bright 

 green above, pale ferruginous below : leaves spreading, linear-lanceolate from an 

 oblong-ovate base, crisped when dry, the margins reflexed and costa rarely slightly 

 excurrent ; perichsetial leaves broader and shorter, somewhat sheathing nearly to 

 the apex : capsule long-oblong, subcylindrical, pale brown with a small reddish 

 orifice, and a persistent annulus of 3 rows of cells : teeth narrf)wly linear-lanceolate, 

 entire, erect when dry, reddish purple, paler above. — Spec. 09, t. 12; Bruch & 

 Schimp. 1. c, t. 25 ; Wilson, 1. c, t. 15. Dicranoweissia cirrhata, Schimp. 



Common in the redwoods and at the Big Tree groves, especially on burnt and decayed wood 

 (Biqelow, Bolander) ; Washington Territory and Oregon, Doi/gJas, LyalJ. Also European. 



