Fam. 15. BRYACE^. 



Plants innovating below the inflorescence or from the base. Stem 

 erect simple or with binate innovations below the apex, repeatedly 

 dichotomous and fastigiate, with copious'radicles. Leaves plurifarious, 

 ovate, lanceolate or subulate,, nerved and often dentate and limbate at 

 margin ; cells parenchymatous, subequal, or prosenchymatous and 

 rhomboid towards apex, all smooth. Calyptra cucullate, smooth, narrow, 

 fugacious. Caps, on an elongate seta, globose, ovate, or with the neck 

 pyriform, usually cernuous or pendulous ; lid mamillar, rarely rostrate ; 

 peristome double, very rarely none, rarely simple. Male infl. gemmi- 

 form or discoid. Inhabiting the ground, rocks and walls. 



This large family including some 500 species, is readily recognizable so 

 far as the great genus Bryum is concerned, but the species present much 

 nniformity among themselves, and are thus difHcult of determination, 

 especially in the sterile condition. The position of the male inflorescence 

 should be carefully looked for, as it affords much assistance in the discrimi- 

 nation of closely allied species. 



Suhf. I. Oreadeee. Infl. on short lateral brancheis near the base of the 

 stem. Leaves small, pellucid. Caps, gibbous or symmetric ; peristome 

 simple, teeth confluent at base, becoming narrow and linear. 



1. ORE AS Brid. 



Bry. univ. i, 380 {1826), 



Calyptra narrow, cucullate. Caps, clavate-oval or pyriform, smooth, 

 pendulous on a short arcuate seta, or taller and erect ; teeth of peris- 

 tome 16, narrow, remotely trabeculate, entire or foraminate. Plants 

 densely compacted, fastigiate, with slender innovations arising below 

 the infl. ; growing on alpine rocks. Der. opos a mountain. 



The genus Oreas was founded by Bridel on three species — 0. Mielich- 

 hoferi, elongata and Martii, — of these the last is a species of Oncophorus of the 

 section Rhabdoweissia, the other two only constitute a single species and must 

 of course retain the original generic name. Mr. Mitten unites with 

 Mielichhoferia, Leptochlana Mont, and Haplomitnum Hampe, numbering 

 together some 34 species, with a double or single peristome or none. 



OREAS MIELICHHOFERI (Fmch) Brid. 



Dioicous; in compact glossy deep green tufts. Leaves small 

 imbricated, lanceolate, serrate at apex, nerve vanishing. Caps, pyriform 

 smooth, teeth broad at base. (T. LXVI, A.) 



