82 DICRANACE/E. 



4. Dicranella secunda Lindb. (Dicranum secundum Swartz ; 

 Dicranella subulata Schp., Syn., et plur. auct.) (Tab. XV. D.). 



In small silky tufts, about half-an-inch high. Leaves from 

 an oval or oblong subsheathing base rather quickly narrowed to 

 a long subula which is extremely fine above, entire ; nerve thin, 

 narrow, excurrent ; cells narrowly rectangular at base, 5-8 times 

 as long as broad, narrow-linear above. Perichsetial bracts 

 convolute and longly sheathing at base. Seta about half-an-inch 

 long, red ; capsule red, subcernuous, slightly arcuate and gibbous, 

 with the mouth oblique and incurved, faintly striate, obscurely 

 sulcate when dry. Lid long-beaked. 



Hab. Stony ground on mountain sides. Not common. Fr. late summer. 



Distinguished from D. heteromalla by the red seta, from D. Grevilleana by the 

 longer capsule and differently shaped leaves, from D. varia by the plane margin, from 

 D. rufescens by the entire leaves. From the next species it differs in the sheathing 

 perichsetial bracts, the entire leaves, and the subcernuous, unequal capsule ; forms 

 however may be found with the capsule almost equal and erect, and very nearly 

 identical with that of D. curvata, but they are rare, and the leaf apex and perichartial 

 bracts will then distinguish it. 



5. Dicranella curvata Schp. (Dicranum curvatum Hedw.) 



(Tab. XV. E.). 



Much resembling the last species, and differing chiefly in the 

 characters mentioned above, viz., the leaves with a few minute 

 denticulations at apex, the perichsetial bracts only half embracing 

 the seta, the capsule narrower, erect and symmetrical or nearly 

 so, deep red, narrow-oblong when empty, and distinctly striate, 

 on a rather shorter seta. The stems are also sometimes rather 

 elongate, and occasionally longer than the seta, so that the capsule 

 is hidden in the leaves ; and the leaf base is slightly shorter. 



Had. Wet sandstone rocks and banks. Rare. Fr. autumn to spring. 



Confusion has often arisen between this species and the last, and they are indeed 

 closely allied ; but there is not much difficulty in distinguishing them except in 

 extreme cases. 



6. Dicranella rufescens Schp. (Bryum rufescens Dicks. ; 



Anisothecium rufescens Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) 

 (Tab. XV. F.). 



In small, short, dense tufts, yellowish green or more frequently 

 reddish ; stems slender, simple. Leaves small, pellucid, without 

 a distinct base, gradually narrowed upwards, loosely placed, larger 

 and more crowded above and subsecund, slightly flexuose when 



