WEISIA. 205 



1. Weisia crispa Mitt. (Phascum crispum Hedw. ; Systegium 

 crispumSchp., Syn.; Mollia crispa Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. Fl.). 



(Tab. XXX. G.). 



Densely gregarious or sub-caespitose, pale or yellowish green, 

 2-5 lines high., branched at the top. Leaves erecto-patent, when 

 dry strongly curled, at least at their tips, the lower small, gradually 

 increasing in size upwards, linear-lanceolate, the comal, or 

 perichaetial bracts much larger, elongate-linear from a long 

 concave whitish base, all rather concave, acute or slightly obtuse, 

 the margins very narrowly involute in the upper part, nerve 

 strong, excurrent in a short acute mucro, which is sometimes 

 turned upwards so as to make the leaf apex somewhat cucullate. 

 Cells at base lax, hyaline, rectangular ; upper small, sub-quadrate, 

 opaque with chlorophyll and papillae. Capsule immersed in the 

 perichaetial bracts, on a very short seta, small, brown, sub-globose, 

 with a distinct, minute, conical apiculate lid, which, though not 

 separating of itself is easily removed. Calyptra cucullate. 

 Autoicous. 



Var. /3. aciculata (Weisia aciculata Mitt.). More slender; 

 perichaetial bracts tapering to a longer, more acute point, the 

 margins erect, not incurved. Capsule almost sessile, concealed 

 among the bracts ; lid shorter. 



Hab. On the ground, chiefly in calcareous districts ; frequent. The var. $ 

 rare. Fr. spring. 



Easily distinguished from all the Phascoid mosses with immersed capsules (except 

 the next two species) by the long perichaetial bracts, cirrate when dry, and forming 

 the most conspicuous portion of the plant. From the next species it differs in the 

 narrower leaves with smaller more opaque areolation, and involute margins. The 

 narrowly incurved margin in this plant has somewhat the appearance of a thickened 

 border ; but it is frequently very indistinct, or the margin may be plane or erect in a 

 few of the leaves, especially the lower, shorter ones ; but some leaves will always be 

 found showing the characteristically incurved margin. 



2. Weisia multicapsularis Mitt. {Phascum multicapsulare 

 Sm. ; Systegium multicapsulare Schp., Syn. ; Mollia multicap- 

 sularis Braithw., Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XXX. H.). 



Taller and more slender than W. crispa, 5-8 lines high, with 

 longer, slender, flexuose, small-leaved branches ; of a dingy green ; 

 leaves wider, broadly lanceolate, acute or obtuse, apiculate, spread- 

 ing, flexuose and recurved, margin plane; upper leaves and 

 bracts very long, erect, less crisped when dry, sub-tubular above, 

 but with the margins but little involute, tapering and acute, nerve 

 rather narrower and less denned ; areolation slightly larger, 



