SELIGERIA. 63 



One of the most minute of our mosses, and easily overlooked. Hardly dis- 

 tinguishable from S. pusilla except by the absence of peristome and the somewhat 

 more delicate habit ; the denticulate leaf margin will aid in distinguishing it from the 

 other species. ,- 



2. Seligeria pusilla B. & S. (Afzelia pusilla Ehrh.) 

 (Tab. XIII. E.) 



Very short, in loose, dark green tufts. Lower leaves short, 

 lanceolate-subulate, upper longer, subulate from an oval-lanceo- 

 late denticulate base, resembling those of the last species but 

 longer. Areolation as in that species. Capsule oval-pyriform, 

 turbinate after the fall of the lid, brownish green ; lid obliquely 

 rostellate ; peristome teeth broadly lanceolate , entire, flat, 

 distantly articulated, spreading and reflexed when dry, incurved 

 when moist. Male inflorescence below the female or on a separate 

 branch. 



Hab. Damp limestone or sandstone rocks, not common. Fr. summer. 



Somewhat variable in size, and in length of leaves. The turbinate, peristomate 

 capsule elevated far above the leaves on a straight seta, and the minutely denticulate 

 leaf-margin, are the distinguishing marks of this species. 



* Seligeria acutifolia Lindb. (as a species) (S. pusilla var. 

 acutifolia Schp., Syn.) (Tab. XIII. F.) 



Leaves from a narrower base, contracted into a subterete 

 very acute, less denticulate subula, formed almost entirely of the 

 nerve, and very long in the upper leaves ; areolation longer and 

 narrower. Capsule larger, ovate, on a shorter seta, hardly 

 elevated above the perichastial bracts, shortly pyriform after the 

 fall of the lid, wide-mouthed when empty ; lid short, conical, 

 straighter. Peristome teeth shorter, rather obtuse, fragile. 



Var. /3. longiseta Lindb. Plant larger, seta longer, so that 

 the capsule is raised above the perichsetial bracts ; lid with a 

 longer, oblique beak. 



Hab. Calcareous rocks. The var. alone found in Britain; rare. North of 

 England. Fr. summer. 



This plant seems to find its right place as a sub-species of S. pusilla from which 

 it only differs in the characters pointed out above ; and even these are not constant, 

 as indeed the existence of the var. longiseta shows. Among plants of the latter 

 form there are, moreover, to be found specimens with the perichsetial bracts over- 

 topping the capsule, though the oblique, rostellate lid is always present. It seems 

 best therefore to consider S. acutifolia as a sub-spec, of 5. pusilla, with the var. 

 longiseta forming an intermediate link. 



