156 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



The other supposed British species, A. Horns chuchianum, 

 said to be found by Dr. Taylor at Killarney, is very doubtful, 

 and therefore omitted. 



B. Cladocabfi. Sporangium borne on short lateral tranches ; 

 vaqinula perfect. 



Order VIII. DBJEPANOPHYLLm, Mont. 



Stems flat; leaves distichous, equitant; sporangium sym- 

 metrical, stalked, either lateral or terminal ; vaginula per- 

 fect ; peristome single, of sixteen bifid teeth ; veil mostly cu- 

 culliform. 



The sporangium in this Order is not truly pleurocarpous, 

 but rather seated at the tip of a very short lateral branch, ex- 

 cept in the cases where it is terminal. It forms an exact 

 transition from the Pleurocarpous to the Acrocarpous Mosses. 

 Some of the exotic species of this group are amongst the most 

 beautiful of the class. 



32. FISSIDENS, Hedw. 



Sporangium terminal or cladocarpous, on a long stalk, erect 

 or cernuous, symmetrical; veil cuculliform or more rarely 

 mitriform; peristome single, of sixteen equidistant teeth, 

 cloven halfway down ; stems frond-like, compressed ; leaf- 

 cells roundish, subhexagonal. 



1. Sporangium lateral. 

 1 . P. adiantoides, Hedw. ; monoicous ; stem elongated, 

 branched ; leaves crowded, oblong, suddenly acuminate, 

 toothed above, slightly toothed below; nerve reaching to the 

 tip; fruitstalk rather long, lateral; sporangium cernuous; 

 lid rostrate. — Hook, ty Wils. t. xvi. ; Eng. Bot. t. 264. ; (Plate 

 14, fig. 2) ; Moug. $ Nest. n. 25. 



