97 



NEW EXOTIC MOSSES. 



By Henry Bos well, M.A. 



(Plate 320.) 



The following few mosses from various countries seem irre- 

 concilable with any that I can find described and to be worth 

 publishing. Unfortunately, having been mostly collected by some- 

 what inexperienced hands, and forwarded by means of letters, 

 they are in nowise so plentiful in quantity or so perfect in 

 condition as might be desired. But they are interesting forms, 

 and will serve to show that the mosses of the tropics yet require a 

 great deal of looking after, and have many yet unknown species 

 amongst them awaiting collectors. 



Orthotrichum hortense, n. sp. — Habitus 0. affinis sed 

 laxior, irregulariter csespitosum ; caulis dichotome innovans ra- 

 mosus. Folia erecto-patentia et recurvata, in statu sicco erecta 

 laxe contorta, e basi dilatata anguste lanceolata, marginibus ad 

 medium reflexis, ad basin et apicem planis, breviter papillosa ; 

 cellulis superioribus densis, rotundatis, inferioribus elongatis, 

 pellucidis, ad margines dilatatis quadratis. Calyptra mitrata, 

 acuminata, straminea, nitida, hirsuta, apice purpurea. Capsula 

 exserta in pedicello brevi, cylindraceo-oblonga, anguste striata, 

 sicca plicata, sub ore lato coarctata. Peristomii dentes bigeminati, 



rufo-aurantii, sicci reflexi. 



On trees in a garden, Hamner Plains, New Zealand, Mr. Roper ; 



sent me by the Rev. C. H. Binstead. 



#' 



an 



when dry somewhat twisted ; the seta is rather longer, and capsule 

 more exserted ; the calyptra more hairy, paler, glossier, yellower, 

 with a purplish apex, like that of 0. stramineiim. The exserted 

 capsules give some resemblance to O. speciosum, while the red 

 peristome is suggestive of O. pnlchellnm. 



As in the Macromitrium, the fruits are either too old or too 

 immature to show the operculum and inner peristome. 



Macromitrium prolixum, n. sp. — Caulis repens, valde 

 elongatus, ramis erectis fasciculatis ; folia erecto-patentia, sicca 

 crispata, lineari-lanceolata, acuta, nervo sub apice evanido carinata, 

 cellulis superioribus minutis, rotundatis, distinetis, inferioribus 

 elongatis, angustis, strictis, omnibus laevibus. Theca in pedunculo 

 modice elongato, ovalis, ore eontracto, plicato, intensius colorato, 

 rubro ; operculum rostratum. 



Wooded glen, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Mr. Roper. 

 Sent me by the Rev. C. H. Binstead. 



Near to M. Didy motion Schwaegr., the primary stems more 

 elongate, far creeping, with branches a little taller and more 

 robust ; leaves acute ; seta longer. The calyptra is wanting, while 

 the old capsules are without any intelligible remains of a peristome, 



Journal of Botany.— Vol. 30. [April, 1892.] h 



