WEISIA. 207 



excurrent in a short point ; cells larger than in W. crispa, 

 quadrate-hexagonal, incrassate, distinct, minutely papillose ; at 

 base rectangular, hyaline or pellucid, the marginal narrower and 

 more hyaline. Perichaetial bracts hardly distinct. Capsule on a 

 very short seta, hardly raised above the bracts; oval-elliptic; 

 lid persistent, obliquely rostellate. 



Hab. Muddy sides of pools, etc. Rare. Fr. winter. 



This little moss fruits abundantly, and is therefore easily recognised, differing as 

 it does from all our other species of the kind in the very shortly exserted capsules, 

 which yet have the facies of the more highly developed rather than of the phascoid 

 species ; from the preceding ones it differs also in the absence of distinct perichaetial 

 bracts. W. squarrosa is hardly to be distinguished except by the more elongated 

 seta and the deciduous lid. 



The basal cells are sometimes hyaline, but at others coloured. The margins of 

 the leaves are occasionally a little incurved, especially towards the point, so that the 

 apex is slightly cucullate. 



5. Weisia squarrosa CM. (Hymenostomum squarrosum 

 Nees & Hornsch., Schp. Syn. ; Mollia squarrosa Lindb., 



Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XXX. K.). 



Taller, \- J inch in height, branched above, finally decumbent. 

 Leaves distant, short, squarrose, upper longer, margin plane or 

 erect; basal cells shorter. Seta longer, yellowish; capsule 

 much resembling the last, but with a longer, deciduous lid. 



Hab. Fallow fields and banks. Not common. Fr. winter. 



The longer seta, elevating the capsule considerably above the upper leaves, renders 

 this plant easily distinguishable from W. rostellata, although it is closely allied, and 

 indeed in other respects hardly distinguishable from that species. It is also much 

 like W. microstoma, but that species differs in the incurved margin of the leaves, 

 which are less squarrose, and the time of fruiting is rather different. 



The first year's stem is very short, when the resemblance to the last species is 

 accentuated ; later on it developes innovations below the inflorescence, and the stem 

 becomes decumbent. 



6. Weisia microstoma CM. (Gymnostomum microstomum 

 Hedw. ; Hymenostomum microstomum R. Br., Schp. Syn. ; 



Mollia microstoma Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) 

 (Tab. XXX. L.). 



Densely tufted, £-§ inch high, rarely more ; deep green ; 

 stems erect, branched. Leaves spreading from a more erect 

 whitish base, much crisped when dry and glossy at the back, 

 lanceolate, the upper longly linear-lanceolate, shortly pointed, 

 mucronate with the excurrent nerve, concave, the margin narrowly 

 involute ; areolation minutely quadrate, opaque, papillose, at base 



