166 TORTULACE/E. 



2. Phascum Floerkeanum W. & M. (Tab. XXV. E.). 



Very minute, gregarious, reddish brown. Leaves erecto- 

 patent, the upper larger, but not markedly so as in Acaulon, 

 slightly twisted when dry, concave, ovate-acuminate, stoutly 

 cuspidate with the strong reddish nerve ; margin slightly revolute 

 above, entire, or faintly irregular with the transverse cell-walls 

 slightly projecting, cells lax at base and pellucid, hexagonal- 

 rectangular, the upper small, irregularly quadrate, rhomboid or 

 hexagonal, minutely papillose at back. Seta very short, erect. 

 Capsule immersed, small, rounded with an obtuse apiculus, 

 reddish ; calyptra conical, sub-cucullate ; spores pale, very 

 minutely granulated. 



Var. /3. badium Brid. (P. badium Voit). Leaves longer, 

 narrower ; capsule smaller, ovate, dull brown. 



Hab. Clay and chalk fields, rather uncommon. The var. rarer. Fr. winter. 



One of the smallest of our mosses. It is known from small forms of the last by 

 the reddish colour, and shorter, more acuminate leaves, which are more spreading 

 above, whereas in that species they are more or less erect. From the next it differs 

 obviously in the straight, short seta and immersed capsules. The latter are occasionally 

 aggregate. 



3. Phascum curvicolle Ehrh. (Tab. XXV. F.). 



Very minute, gregarious, brownish. Leaves crowded, the 

 lower small, oblong-lanceolate, the upper larger, narrowly lanceo- 

 late, acuminate, nerve reddish, stout, excurrent into a long point ; 

 margin recurved for the greater part of the length of the leaf, 

 entire or minutely crenulate-papillose at apex ; cells rectangular 

 at base, above small, rounded-hexagonal or sub-quadrate, very 

 papillose, obscure, incrassate ; capsule laterally emergent on a 

 curved seta, solitary or aggregate, horizontal or pendulous, oval 

 with an obtuse point ; calyptra rather large, cucullate. Spores 

 pale, very faintly granulated. Paroicous or synoicous. 



Hab. Bare places and fallow fields, usually on chalky ground. Rare. Fr. 

 early spring. 



Readily known by its oval almost pendulous capsule hanging out from the side of 

 the stem, and often more conspicuous than the rest of the plant ; the areolation too is 

 denser and more obscure than in P. cuspidatum, the var. curvisetum of which is the 

 only plant that, when in fruit, might be mistaken for it, and the spores are different. 

 The leaves are smaller and narrower than in the last. 



