A Bevision of the Trichiacew. Bij G. Massee. 349 



known, but judging from what occurs in allied genera, the simple form 

 may be supposed to exist. 



Only one species, from Ceylon. 



Alwisia hombarda, B. and Br., fig. 19. 



Sporangia broadly fusiform or elliptical, several seated on the apex 

 of an elongated stem, smooth, dark brown, sometimes with a purple 

 tinge ; stem same colour, hollow, springing from a well-developed 

 hypothallus ; mass of elaters and spores brown ; elaters cylindrical, 

 6-7 yu. thick, sometimes furnished with one or two swollen portions, 

 walls thin, collapsing when dry, with a few scattered, very rudi- 

 mentary spinules and a very indistinct open spiral, free ends obtuse, 

 rarely attenuated and bifid ; spores globose, smooth, 5-6 /a 

 diameter. 



Jour. Linn. Soc, xiv. p. 87, t. 2, f. 6, and xv. t. 2, f. 1. 



Trichia fragilis, Kost., Mon., p. 246 (in part) ; Cooke, Brit. 

 Myx., p. 63 (in part) ; 8acc., Syll., n. 1494 (in part). 



On decayed wood. Gongolla forest ; Ceylon ! (Type in Herb. 

 Berk., Kew, n. 10,921.) 



Plant 2-3 mm. high, scattered. The fasciculate sporangia are in 

 some specimens connate except at the tips, and then present the 

 appearance of a single sporangium with several subacute apical 

 lobes. 



The stem is somewhat contracted and wrinkled longitudinally 

 when dry. The present plant resembles to a certain extent, when 

 examined with a pocket-lens, fasciculate forms of Trichia fragilis, and 

 from such superficial examination Eostafinski gave it as a synonym of 

 the last-mentioned species. It it had been properly examined this 

 mistake would not have been made. 



Frototrichia, Eost. 



Sporangia stipitate or sessile ; dehiscing irregularly ; wall single ; 

 elaters with one end grown to the lower part of the sporangium, the 

 other end free and terminating in a tuft of thin, smooth threads • 

 spores globose. 



Eost., Mon. Appendix, p. 38 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 65 ; Sacc 

 Syll., vii., pt. i. p. 437. 



Trichia, B. and Br. (in part). 



A well-marked genus, diftering from Trichia in having the elaters 

 grown at one end to the wall of the sporangium near its base. In 

 the last character it agrees with Alwisia. For remarks on this point 

 of agreement, see under last-named genus. 



The species are scattered in habit, sessile, or shortly stipitate, but 

 up to the present no fasciculate forms are known. 



Three species, all occurring in Europe (Britain and Sweden), one 

 extending to Tasmania. 



