SjELANIA. 67 



intermediate position between Tortulacese and Dicranaceae. Its 

 affinity with Ceratodonjs however so obvious (while at the same 

 time it shows distinguishing characters of some importance), that 

 its consignment to a separate genus near that one appears the 

 most satisfactory arrangement. 



1. Saelania csesia Lindb. {Bryum czesium Villars ; Lepto- 

 trichum glaucescens Hpe., Schp. Syn.) (Tab. XIII. L.). 



In dense glaucous green tufts, brown below, half to nearly one 

 inch high. Stems erect, slender, much branched. Leaves small, 

 broadly lanceolate below, larger and longer at the summit of the 

 branches, forming a coma ; erecto-patent, slightly twisting at the 

 point, somewhat flexuose when dry ; acutely linear or linear- 

 subulate from a lanceolate or oblong base, margin plane, bluntly 

 serrate above ; nerve distinct, slightly excurrent in the longer 

 leaves ; cells all rectangular, at base empty, 4-6 times as long as 

 broad, above about twice as long as broad, or sometimes quadrate, 

 chlorophyllose ; in the lower leaves more uniform. Capsule erect 

 on a short seta, oval-oblong, thin-walled, brown, irregularly 

 plicate when dry and empty ; annulus yellow, of two rows of 

 cells ; lid acutely conical ; peristome conical, the teeth purple, 

 the divisions much united above. Autoicous ; male flower 

 gemmiform, on short branches below the perichaetia. 



Hab. On earth in clefts of rocks in alpine districts ; very rare. Glen Phee, 

 Clova. Fr. late summer. 



This rare species will be recognised at once by the bluish green colour, a 

 feature hardly shared by any other British moss, though in a small degree by Weisia 

 verticillata, which differs markedly in the leaves, denticulate towards base, but 

 entire above, and is of quite a different habit of growth. The leaf-cells are longer 

 and narrower than in Ceratodon. 



16. CERATODON Brid. 



Plants terrestrial, tufted; leaves small, lanceolate, smooth or 

 slightly papillose. Capsule oval or oblong-cylindrical, striate, 

 when dry sulcate, often inclined, with a distinct neck, thick- 

 walled. Lid conical. Peristome teeth 16, cleft regularly nearly 

 to base into two filiform divisions, closely articulate below, 

 remotely above, papillose. 



/Nerve not or scarcely excurrent ; capsule strumose at neck 7. purpureus 



\ Nerve' longly excurrent; capsule not strumose 1*. conicus 



