86 DICRANACE/E. 



1. Blindia caespiticia Lindb. (Ancectangium csespiticium 

 Schwgr. ; Stylostegium csespiticium B. & S., Schp. Syn.) 



(Tab. XV. K.). 



Dwarf, rigid, tufted, ]i-]i inch high, yellowish. Leaves 

 small, crowded, erect, the apical slightly secund ; scarcely altered 

 when dry ; from an oblong base about half the length of the leaf 

 contracted to a narrow, subulate, almost terete point, composed 

 entirely for the greater part of its length of the nerve, which is 

 very narrow at base, but widens considerably upwards and 

 becomes obscure; margin plane, quite entire ; cells of leaf-base 

 linear-oblong with rounded ends, incrassate, narrowest below and 

 at the margins, gradually shorter upwards, so as to be elliptical or 

 oblong-elliptical at the shoulder and in the narrow margin of the 

 lower part of the subula ; at the angles large, quadrate, inflated', 

 hyaline in the younger leaves, rich orange brown in the older ; 

 one or two cells at the acute apex of the leaf occasionally some- 

 what hyaline. Perichsetial leaves longer, sheathing. Capsule 

 immersed, subspherical, finally wide-mouthed, gymnostomous ; 

 calyptra short, hardly reaching below the lid, which is obliquely 

 rostellate, and united with the columella. Autoicous. 



Hab. Crevices of mountain rocks ; very rare. Ben Lawers. Fr. late summer. 



A miniature of the next species as regards habit and leaf-structure, and not easy, 

 in the barren state, to separate from starved alpine specimens of that plant ; such 

 specimens are, however, rare, and there is generally a slight denticulation of the point 

 in Blindia acuta, which is almost always absent in the smaller species ; the areolation 

 also is shorter, and as B. caspiticia is an autoicous species, the fruit is usually to be 

 found. In some respects it resembles Zygodon lapponicus, which, however, is easily 

 recognisable by its striated capsule, and the leaves crisped when dry. Grimmia 

 conferta, too, and the var. pumila of G. apocarpa, which inhabit the same localities, 

 have a certain resemblance ; but they will generally show some leaves or perichaetial 

 bracts with distinct hyaline points, and the peristome, if the fruit is ripe, is con- 

 spicuous ; under the microscope, of course, the resemblance vanishes. 



2. Blindia acuta B. & S. (Bryum acutum Huds.) 



(Tab. XV. L.). 



In compact yellowish or olive green tufts varying greatly in 

 length, from }i an inch to 4 inches high ; stems fragile, red. 

 Leaves crowded, erecto-patent or slightly secund, convolute- 

 concave, usually from an oblong-lanceolate base about § the 

 length of the leaf gradually narrowed upwards to a subulate point, 

 composed in the upper third of the excurrent nerve, which is 

 generally rather rounded-obtuse at apex with a few obscure 

 denticulations and short, irregular cells. Margin plane, slightly 

 denticulate with the projecting apices of the outer cells or entire ; 



