330 ox MxiuM ORTHORHTXCHUM. [February, 



]Mr. Wilson thus descriDes M. orthorhynchum in Bryolog. Brit, 

 p. 255 : — 



"Dioicous; fertile stem simple; lower leaves distant, ovate- 

 acuminate, decurrentj upper leaves ovate-lanceolate or subspa- 

 tliulate, with a cartilaginous border, doubly spinuloso-serrate. 

 Capsule boiizontal, oval ; Ud conico-rostellate." 



This agrees well with the fertile plants before me, but in the 

 male plant the upper leaves differ in form. The following de- 

 scription may probably be found more accurate. 



Stems from one to two inches high, growing in broad, rather 

 dense tufts, often bent to one side. Fertile stem simple ; leaves 

 spreading, of a light green colour, rigid, crisped when dry, lower 

 ones ovate-acuminate ; perichaetial leaves lanceolate or linear-lan- 

 ceolate, acuminate, decurrent, margins with double serratures. 



Male stem simple in the Yorkshire specimens (Mr. Wilson's 

 figure has it branched near the apex, but that appeal's to be an 

 abnormal state) ; lower leaves distant, ovate-acuminate ; perigo- 

 nial leaves forming a rosulate tuft, broadly ovate, very convex, 

 tapering to a short point ; nerves reaching to the summit, green 

 except in the old leaves. 



Areolae rather opaque, not half as large as in M. serratum, 

 round or variously compressed, elongated at the base of the leaf. 

 Margins cartilaginous, of three rows of elongated narrow cellules. 

 The inner perigonial leaves, containing the antheridia, are ob- 

 cordate, suddenly acuminate, convex, of thin texture, almost des- 

 titute of teeth, and with much larger reticulation. 



M. orthorhynchum differs as follows from M. serratum; the 

 inflorescence is dioicous, whereas in M. serratum it is synoicous. 

 Stems more densely tufted, often leaning to one side, stouter, 

 and of a Hghter green colour. Leaves more spreading, those of 

 the fertile plant narrower ; upper leaves of the male plant broader 

 and more convex, rigid, and much more twisted when dry, Nerve 

 green, not red, as in M. serratum, except in the old leaves. Re- 

 ticulation minute, not half so large as in the latter Moss. See 

 figures of areolse, magnified 250 diameters. 



M. riparmm, Mitt., agrees with M. serratum in many respects, 

 the areolse being hexagonal, and as large as in that Moss. The 

 leaves are broader, more suddenly acuminated, of laxer, softer 

 texture, less crisped when dry, of a more vivid green colour, 

 often tinged with purple below. My specimens have neither 



