SCHISTOSTEGEI. 161 



basal membrane ; fruitstalk lateral (cladocarpous) ; vaginula 

 perfect. 



33. MIELICHOFERIA, Nees fy Hornsch. 



Cladocarpous. Sporangium pyriform or clavate ; peristome 

 simple, of sixteen teeth, confluent at their dilated base, narrow 

 above, occasionally perforated below ; veil cuculliform. 



1. M. nitida, Hornsch. ; leaves erecto-patent, larger and 

 more crowded above, ovato-lanceolate, serrated above ; sporan- 

 gium suberect, pyriform; lid conical, very short. — Hook, fy 

 Wils. t. lxi.; Hook. Muse. Ex. t. 101. 



On moist rocks. Found in a barren state only by Dr. 

 Greville, at the head of Glen Callater. Bearing fruit in August 

 and September. 



The British specimens belong to the var. /?. gracilis, which 

 has densely tufted stems, shorter and more crowded imbricated 

 leaves, and an erect sporangium. 



Family II.— ACROCARPI. 

 Fruit terminal. 



Obdeb X. SCKISTOSTEGEI, Br. & Schimp. 



Sporangium subglobose; peristome wanting; veil hood- 

 shaped or mitriform ; spore-sac adnate with the walls of the 

 sporangium ; lid convex ; spores radiating ; leaves distichous, 

 free at the base or confluent ; leaf-cells large ; rhizoma peren- 

 nial. 



34. SCHISTOSTEGA, Mohr. 



Characters those of the Order. 



1. S. osmundacea, Web. 8f Mohr. — Hook, fy Wils. t. viii. ; 

 Eng. Bot. t. 2213. ; (Plate 14, fig. 4) ; Moug. £ Nest. n. 1013. 



M 



