l68 TORTULACEyE. 



1. Pottia recta Mitt. (Phascum rectum With., Schp. Syn.) 



(Tab. XXV. G.). 



Very small, gregarious, dull green or brownish. Leaves 

 erecto-patent, slightly recurved, small, concave, oblong-lanceolate 

 or ovate, shortly acuminate and rather acute, nerve strong, 

 reddish, excurrent in a short mucro, margin recurved, entire, 

 cells rectangular and hyaline at base, above small, rhomboid or 

 hexagonal, papillose, chlorophyllose. Capsule on a very short 

 seta, not much elevated above the leaves, cleistocarpous, small, 

 sub-spherical with a very small obtuse apiculus formed by the lid, 

 which does not however separate, orange-brown ; capsules occa- 

 sionally aggregate ; calyptra scabrous at apex, and indeed nearly 

 to base ; spores minutely and densely granulated. Paroicous. 



Hab. Bare places and fallow fields, usually on calcareous soil, sometimes on 

 clay ; not common. Fr. winter. 



This species is nearly allied to Phascum curvicolle, but the erect seta and distinct 

 though not deciduous lid make it easily recognised, and the upper leaves are shorter 

 and broader, the calyptra also is more scabrous. In habit it is more like P. 

 Starkeana, or P. minutula, but the deciduous lid and especially the wide-mouthed 

 capsules in those species readily distinguish them ; in the present plant the lid and the 

 line marking the orifice are very small and narrow. The next species is known by 

 the smooth calyptra and more elongate capsule. 



2. Pottia bryoides Mitt. (Phascum bryoides Dicks., Schp. Syn.) 



(Tab. XXV H.). 



Taller than the last, sometimes nearly half an inch in length, 

 dull green, densely gregarious. Lower leaves small, lanceolate, 

 upper much larger, broadly oblong-lanceolate, concave, acumi- 

 nate, margin revolute to near apex, nerve excurrent in a short 

 arista; upper cells larger than in the last, hexagonal-rhomboid, 

 incrassate, slightly papillose at back. Capsule cleistocarpous, 

 exserted on a short seta, about one line high, or less, oval or oval- 

 elliptic, abruptly or gradually narrowed into an obtuse persistent 

 rostellate beak ; calyptra smooth ; spores as in the last. 



Var. /3. Thornhillii Braithw. (Phascum bryoides var. Thorn- 

 hillii Wils.). Leaves much longer, subspathulate, spreading and 

 slightly recurved, margin plane, nerve very shortly excurrent. 

 Capsule longer, with a long beak, on a longer seta. Spores 

 smaller, slightly granulated. 



Hab. Fallow fields and bare places, rare. The var. /3 near Newcastle 

 ( Thornhill, 1841). Fr. winter. 



