DICRANELLA. . 85 



Hab. Sides of ditches, etc., on clay soil. Not common. The var. /3 in 

 similar or somewhat damper situations. Fr. autumn and spring. 



D. Schreberiva its more luxurious forms resembles the next species in miniature, 

 but with much narrower leaves ; their squarrose direction from the broad, 

 amplexicaul, erect base gives the stem a curious and characteristic appearance. The 

 var. elata in its extreme forms differs greatly in appearance and leaf structure from the 

 type, the cells especially being much larger, but intermediate links are often found, 

 and it is frequently difficult to say to which of the two forms such specimens should 

 be referred. The fruit, in the variety, is of rare occurrence. 



D. Schreberi differs from Ditrichum tenuifolium, when barren, as remarked under 

 that plant, in the larger less obscure cells and smoother leaf point. 



10- Dicranella squarrosa Schp. (Dicranum squarrosum 

 Schrad. ; Anisothecium squarrosum Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. FI.) 



(Tab. XV. J.). 



Very robust and tall, 1-4 inches, densely tufted, bright pale 

 green ; stem slightly branched, stout. Leaves large, distant, 

 flaccid, flexuose when dry, squarrose from a broad, oblong, 

 erect, sheathing base, gradually narrowed to the broadly oblong- 

 lanceolate channelled limb, which is rounded and obtuse at apex, 

 or obtusely pointed ; margin faintly sinuose, crenulate at apex ; 

 nerve very narrow, distinct, ceasing below the apex ; cells larger 

 than in the other species, very similar to those of the last, but 

 larger, with thicker walls, more irregularly rectangular above, 

 sometimes slightly elliptical or rhomboid, elongated at base, with 

 a distinct, sinuose " primordial utricle." Capsule on a long stout 

 seta, inclined, ovate, solid, smooth ; lid conical, obtusely pointed. 



Hab. By streams and in moorland bogs in subalpine regions ; frequent, but rare 

 in fruit. Fr. autumn. 



A very beautiful and conspicuous plant when growing, usually contrasting 

 strikingly with the surrounding vegetation by its bright, yellow-green colour ; and 

 quite distinct from any other species of this genus ; perhaps the plant most resembling 

 it is Dichod. pcllucidum, which is, however, of a duller green, with highly papillose 

 cells and denticulate leaves. The fruiting plant is smaller, and much more rare. 



Tribe 6. Dicranese. 



22. BLINDIA B. & S. 



Plants growing on mountain rocks, csespitose ; leaves rigid, 

 lanceolate-subulate, smooth, with distinct, coloured, angular cells. 

 Capsule oval or subspherical , symmetrical, thick-walled. 

 Peristome wanting or of 16 slender, smooth teeth, not or very 

 slightly cleft, sometimes perforated. 



/Plant minute ; capsule immersed, gymnostomous /. caspitiaa. 



\ Plant J-4 inches ; capsule exserted, peristomate a. acuta 



