72 DICRANACE/E. 



to an acute point, carinate-concave, spreading and somewhat re- 

 curved at summit when moist, strongly curled when dry ; margin 

 recurved, remotely denticulate in the upper half ; nerve strong, 

 continued to apex, roughish at back above ; cells at base pellucid, 

 rectangular, shorter at margin, above becoming elliptical and in- 

 crassate, in the limb very small, rounded or irregularly quadrate, 

 obscure, minutely papillose. Perichsetial bracts half-sheathing, 

 shortly acuminate. Capsule on a yellowish seta (2-4 lines), oval or 

 oval-oblong, slightly contracted at the mouth, erect, equal or very 

 slightly one-sided, short-necked, smooth, when dry faintly plicate, 

 pale brown ; annulus narrow, lid shorter than the capsule. Peris- 

 tome teeth small, irregular, unequally cleft, the divisions free or 

 cohering, smooth. 



Hab. Clefts of rocks in sub-alpine districts. Not common. Fr. summer. 



This species is not likely to be mistaken when fruiting for any of the species in- 

 cluded under the present genus, all of which have the capsule either strumose or dis- 

 tinctly striated ; it is more likely to be confused with Dicranoweisia. crispula and D. 

 cirrata ; the former, however, is readily known by the plane margins of its leaves, and 

 the latter by the elongated capsules and entire leaves. It should be also borne in 

 mind that the two plants of that genus when growing on rocks are usually found on 

 their surface, while the present plant is mostly confined to clefts of rocks. When 

 barren it is very difficult to separate from the next species, though the leaves are 

 somewhat shorter and less finely pointed, and the cells a little smaller. 



2. Oynodontium polycarpum Schp. (Dicranum polycarpum 



Ehrh. ; Oncophorus polycarpus Brid., Braith. Br. M. Fl.) 



(Tab. XIV. E.). 



Usually taller and more robust than the last species, 1-2 

 inches high, of a paler green. Leaves longer and gradually larger 

 upward, when dry flexuose but not much curled or circinate, 

 longer than in the last species, narrowly linear-lanceolate, very 

 narrow at the point, margin recurved, usually with a single or 

 double row of denticulate crenulations, serrulate towards point ; 

 cells at base elongate-rectangular, above small, rounded-quadrate 

 or irregular, smooth or finely papillose at back above. 



Perichffitial bracts sheathing, longly acuminate-subulate; 

 seta straight, about five lines long, capsule erect or unequal and 

 slightly inclined, oblong-cylindrical, with a short symmetrical 

 neck, pale, distinctly and regularly sulcate when dry ; annulus 

 distinct, lid conical-rostrate, shorter than the capsule, crenulate- 

 sinuose at margin. Peristome teeth perfect, cleft half-way into 

 two unequal divisions. 



