39 



tlio particular generic points may bo presented to the 

 eye ; so as to make the meaning of the botanical terms 

 more clear, a very simple sketch very often succeeding in 

 conveying an idea better than much verbiage. The drawings 

 on the lower half of the sheet are illustrations of distinct 

 species in the genera immediately under whose names they 

 stand ; the key is thus made to impart some idea of at 

 least one species of each genus, and these amount to over 

 a fourth part of all the species of mosses in Tasmania. 

 It may also be observed that such species, as are represented, 

 are drawn first to their natural size, and, immediately below, 

 as they appear under an If " Objective " — the small space 

 between the natural-sized drawing and the magnification 

 being filled in with such details as tips of leaves, forms of 

 teeth, &c, peculiar to the species, the name of which is 

 printed immediately underneath. 



Having before us a very small moss plant, perhaps, if we 

 essay to identify this, we shall obtain a more certain idea of 

 the manner of using the key. The plant was collected by Mr. 

 R. Q. M'Leod, near to Bvandale. It is indeed a gem, although 

 altogether only about three-eighths of an inch in length. The 

 leaves appear rather larger than is usual in such plants, the 

 fruitstalk is most gracefully curved and is apparently a pro- 

 longation of the stem. Let us endeavour to find out to 

 which of the numerous genera in the key this plant is to be 

 assigned : — 



1st. We find at the top of the key all the mosses of Tas- 

 mania are divided into two sections — these are, terminal 

 fruiting or acrocarpous mosses, and side-fruiting or pleuro- 

 carpous mosses. As we observe the plant before us we cannot 

 have the least doubt as to which of these sections it does 

 belong to : it is certainly terminal-fruiting, and consequently 

 it must be assigned to some genus included in the long 

 bracket containing Nos. 1 to 56 inclusive. Nos. 57 to 82 may 

 therefore be lost sight of as far as regards the plant under 

 consideration. 



2nd. It will be observed that the long bracket which must 

 include the genus we are seeking contains : — a. Mosses whose 

 capsules are without lids. b. Mosses whose capsules are with- 

 out peristome or teeth, c. Mosses with a peristome of one 

 row of teeth only. d. Mosses with double rows of teeth. 

 e. Mosses whose leaves are distichous, i.e., inserted in two 

 opposite rows, something after the manner of fern-fronds — ■ 

 To find out to which sub-section under the long bracket the 

 little plant belongs is our next care. Its parts are too small for 

 observation, with unaided vision ; we therefore place it under 

 the microscope, and with the aid of a pair of fine tweezers 

 the calyptra or veil, which covers the capsule as with a helmet, 



