368 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



Schiffn., which I gathered when botanizing with Mr. H. H. Knight 

 in July last on Ben Muich Dhui, where it was growing near 

 patches of melting snow at an altitude of about 3700 ft., in 

 company with M. condensata, M. Stableri, Gymnomitrium varians, 

 and other constituents of the alpine Marsiqjella-fovmdjtion. No 

 doubt this small plant is frequently overlooked and the following 

 description drawn largely, that of the sexual plants wholly, from 

 the diagnosis in Die Moose des Sarekgebietes by Arnell and Jensen 

 (Stockholm, 1907) may be of assistance in distinguishing it. 



Marsupella apiculata Schiffn. in CEsterr. bot. Zeitschr. 1903. 

 249 — Dioicous. In dense brownish-green cushions, often with 

 a reddish tinge, from -5 to 2 cm. high, resembling a small form of 

 Gymnomitrium concinnatum in general appearance. Stem erect, 

 but little branched, with stolons, basal part with a few rhizoids. 

 Leaves so densely imbricated as to be scarcely distinguishable 

 individually, cordate to quadrate, broadest towards the base, very 

 concave, divided above to one-fifth by a broad, but acute, sinus 

 into two sharply-pointed apiculate lobes ; apiculus of one or two 

 hyaline cells, margin of leaves with a band of 1-2 small, thin- 

 walled, quadrate, hyaline cells. Other leaf-cells roundish-quadrate 

 or hexagonal with small but well-marked trigones 12-16 /x in the 

 leaf-apex and 16-20 // in the middle of the leaf. Cuticle smooth. 

 Male plants slightly stouter, somewhat clavate ; bracts larger 

 than the leaves, bearing 2-3 antheridia in their axils. Female 

 plants much stouter at the apex ; bracts much larger than the 

 leaves, imbricate, margin in 2-5 cells broadly hyaline and irregu- 

 larly crenulate. Perianth adnate below to the bracts to one-third 

 and reaching to two-thirds of the height of the bracts, free portion 

 conical, slightly plicate, mouth contracted, dentate. Spores smooth, 

 reddish brown, about 10 /x. Elaters slightly narrower than the 

 spores, of two reddish brown spirals. 



The plant was gathered as probably a starved form of Gymno- 

 mitrium concinnatum, from which, however, it is usually distin- 

 guishable by its much smaller size and darker colour, generally 

 with some tinge of red. The resemblance still further disappears 

 under the microscope, and the smaller cells, less thickened at the 

 angles, the smooth cuticle, the hyaline margin and generally 

 apiculate lobes of the leaves will seldom admit of any difficulty in 

 separating it from this species. For a long time M. apiculata 

 was confused with M. condensata (Angstr.) Kaal., but it may 

 readily be distinguished from this species, with which it frequently 

 grows, by the more densely imbricate leaves with a sharper sinus, 

 as well as by their hyaline border and apiculus. M. apiculata is 

 widely distributed in the mountains of Scandinavia, and it is found 

 more sparingly in the Alps of Central Europe. No doubt it will 

 be found to occur on several of the higher Scotch mountains. 



The identification of the plant from Ben Muich Dhui has been 

 confirmed by Mr. Macvicar. 



