472 Muscologia Itineris Assamici. 



to one section, although three out of the four species in 

 which they occur agree tolerably well in habit, and all 

 are characterised by a great tendency to elongation in their 

 branches, to the lower part of which elongation the appendi- 

 culae are usually confined. Their structure is that of Para- 

 physes; their contents similar apparently to the contents of the 

 ordinary form of anthers. As Paraphyses are perhaps, in all 

 cases, abortive anthers, these appendages may be considered 

 as anthers at the maximum of development. The objections 

 to this exist in their having no especial protecting organs, 

 and in their never appearing to dehisce. The question will 

 be best set at rest, by examining whether they ever co-exist 

 with male flowers of the ordinary form. If such is not the 

 case, such species cannot remain grouped with those which 

 have male flowers of the ordinary form. Neckera Hoo- 

 keriana and Adiantum have leaves of two distinct forms, the 

 lateral and distichous ones being alone oblique. This 

 they possess, in common with some Hookeriae, Leskiae and 

 Hypna. In all, this is only an instance of excess, as it were, 

 of the difference perceptible in the obliquity of the lateral 

 leaves, and the equilaterality of the anticous and posticous 

 ones of many other mosses, and especially of the falcate sec- 

 tion of Hypnum. With Stipulae they have nothing in com- 

 mon, for independently of their being single organs, — even 

 when they may be considered referable to, or as belonging 

 to the lateral leaves, it is only to one series of these, and 

 only to one point of these (the lower point of insertion), that 

 they correspond. 



I do not know whether the nature of the compound 

 hairs existing on the vaginula or calyptras of many mosses 

 has been hinted at. In Neckera crinita they are obviously 

 reduced perichaetial leaves. Such is probably their nature 

 in all cases. They are not to be confounded with the sim- 

 ple hairs existing in similar situations, such being referrible 

 to Paraphyses. 



