102 DICRANACE/E. 



Somewhat resembling Blindia acuta, but with less rigid, secund leaves, and less 

 distinct, not enlarged nor orange auricles. The capsules are usually present in great 

 numbers, and readily distinguish it from others of the genus by their small size, their 

 form, erect and equal, and their striation and wide-spreading peristome. There is 

 some variation in the form of the ripe and empty capsule, which may be found in the 

 same tuft rounded-oval with an abrupt neck and only slightly striate, or narrower, 

 turbinate with >t tapering neck, wide-mouthed, and more deeply sulcate. The latter 

 form approaches D. hyperboreum CM., which appears to be hardly deserving of 

 specific rank. 



This and the two following species are among the smallest of the genus ; the 

 latter differ not only in the fruit, but in having longer, more gradually narrower leaf- 

 bases. The marginal cells of the base in all three above the coloured angular cells are 

 wider than the median. 



2. Dicranum falcatum Hedw. (Tab. XVII. C). 



In wider, looser patches than the last, which it resembles in 

 size and colour. Leaves regularly falcato-secund, especially 

 at the summit of the stem, glossy, hardly altered when dry, from a 

 lanceolate base gradually subulate, concave, margin entire or 

 slightly denticulate at apex ; angular cells few, brownish, not 

 very distinct, the other basal cells linear, the upper shortly 

 rectangular, small. Capsule on a longer seta, small, sub-gibbous, 

 oval, smooth, when dry and empty contracted below the wide 

 mouth, with a more or less evident struma. Peristome bright 

 red. Male flower close below the perichsetium. 



Hab. Rocks and stony ground on the higher mountains ; not common. Fr. 

 summer. 



Readily known by its beautifully and regularly falcate or circinate leaves ; the 

 oblique and unequal, smooth capsule separates it from the last ; the shorter capsule, 

 the closer, firmer falcate leaves, and the indistinct angular cells from the next two 

 species, than which it has a much neater, more compact habit. 



3. Dicranum Starkei W. & M. (Tab. XVII. D.). 



Resembling the last, but taller, 1-3 inches high, with looser 

 stems and more distant less firm and less strongly and regularly 

 falcate leaves, slightly flexuose when dry ; of a brighter, not 

 brownish green. Leaves longer, from a broader lanceolate base ; 

 entire or frequently denticulate for some distance below the 

 apex ; areolation rather wider and larger, angular cells distinct, 

 brown, forming clearly -marked auricles ; nerve very narrow, 

 excurrent. Seta considerably longer ; capsule long, cylindric, 

 inclined, curved, striate when dry, strumose ; lid longly subulate, 

 oblique, peristome paler. Male flower close below the peri- 

 chsetium. 



Hab. On mountains, in similar localities to D. falcatum. Fr. summer. 



