172 TORTULACE^. 



mouth, slightly plicate when dry ; a rudimentary peristome is 

 usually to be observed after the fall of the lid. 



Hab. Sandy ground, most frequently near the sea. Not common. Fr. winter. 



The narrow elongate capsule is the best feature by which this species can be 

 recognised in the field, with the octofarious, short-pointed leaves ; a form however is 

 found, according to Braithwaite, with longer-pointed, somewhat acuminate leaves. 

 The rough calyptra and the very opaque upper areolation will, under the microscope, 

 readily separate it from all the allied species except P. asperula, which is indeed 

 hardly to be recognised except by the quinquefarious leaves, and the rather smaller 

 and shorter capsule. 



7. Pottia asperula Mitt. (Tab. XXVI. E.). 



Very close to P. Wilsoni ; rather shorter, with the' leaves 

 obtuse or slightly acuminate, quinquefarious, the upper cells 

 larger, the capsule rather smaller, shorter, elliptical rather than 

 oblong, sometimes wide-mouthed and slightly turbinate when 

 empty. 



Hab. Cliffs, etc. , near the sea. Rare. Fr. winter. 



In specimens gathered near Penzance by Curnow I find the capsule exceedingly 

 variable in size and form, sometimes being elliptical and narrow-mouthed, at others 

 truncate, wide-mouthed, and exactly resembling that of P. truncatula, with which 

 indeed the plants are associated, and from which they are quite inseparable as far as 

 the capsules go, though very different in the leaves and calyptra. The lid too in the 

 above specimens is frequently straight and subulate, not obliquely rostellate and acute 

 as is usually the case with this species, according to Braithwaite's description. 



8. Pottia minutula Fiirnr. (Gymnostomum minutulum 

 Schleich. ; P Starkei var. Davallii Lindb., Braithw. 



Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XXVI. F.). 



Very small, gregarious, reddish, resembling small forms of 

 the following species. Leaves spreading, short and broad, ovate, 

 acute, cuspidate with the shortly excurrent reddish nerve ; margin 

 recurved ; upper cells rather small, incrassate, densely and 

 minutely papillose. Seta very short; capsule minute, shortly 

 oval, rather wide-mouthed when empty, dark brown, shining ; lid 

 short, obtuse, conical, or mamillate ; calyptra rough ; spores 

 finely papillose. Peristome none. 



Hab. Fallow fields, etc. Frequent. Fr. winter. 



United by Braithwaite, following Lindberg, with P. Starkeana, but sufficiently 

 distinct, I think, as Yenturi has pointed out (Rev. Bry., 1885, p. 51), in the spores, 

 which in the present plant are minutely punctate with acute papillae, as is usual in 

 this genus, but in that are coarsely tuberculate, and smaller. The capsule also, here, 

 is usually shorter and more urceolate, being sometimes slightly contracted below the 



