WEISIA. 209 



The apex of the leaf is rather obtuse, but the margins are so much incurved that 

 it frequently appears acute in outline until flattened out. Owing to their solidity the 

 leaves are less strongly curled when dry, indeed the lower are only incurved, and it is 

 the younger, uppermost leaves alone that are at all twisted. 



8. Weisia viridula Hedw. {Bryum viridulum L. ; Mollia 



viridula Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. Fl. ; W. controversa Hedw., 



mult, auct.) (Tab. XXXI. A.). 



Resembling W. microstoma, but usually a rather larger 

 plant, yellowish green. Leaves almost exactly as in that species, 

 the upper elongate-linear, tapering to a rather narrow point, 

 margin strongly in-volute. Capsule on a yellow seta of variable 

 length (2-4 lines), oval or elliptical, narrowed at mouth, but not 

 strongly contracted as in the above species, peristomate ; slightly 

 sulcate when dry and empty ; lid long-beaked. Peristome teeth 

 very variable, often very imperfect and almost wanting, linear, 

 cleft or entire, often truncate. Spores 14-18 /* in diameter. 



Var. p. amblyodon B. & S. {W. amblyodon Brid.). Leaves 

 shorter ; broader; peristome teeth short, truncate ; lid shorter. 



Var. 7. gymnostomoides B. & S. (W. gymnostomoides Brid.). 

 Leaves shorter ; capsule smaller ; teeth of peristome pale, 

 rudimentary . 



Var. S. densifolia B. & S. ( W. densifolia Wils.). Taller, 

 densely tufted, much branched ; leaves narrow, crowded ; seta 

 short. 



Hab. Banks and sandy ground ; common. The var. $ on peaty soil ; the var. 

 •y with the type ; the var. 5 in mountainous districts ; all rarer than the type. Fr. 

 spring. 



A somewhat variable plant, hardly distinguishable in many of its forms from 

 W. microstoma, except by the wider-mouthed, peristomate capsule ; and it is some- 

 times exceedingly difficult to find traces of the peristome even when present, so 

 fragmentary and rudimentary its development occasionally is. As a rule however it 

 is a plant of rather freer growth and larger dimensions. 



9. Weisia mucronata B. & S. Mollia rutilans Lindb., Braithw. 

 Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XXXI. B.). 



Very near W. viridula, but differing in the rather wider 

 leaves, concave but with plane margins, nerve excurrent in a 

 rather long mucro. Capsule narrowly oblong, slightly striate 

 when dry ; peristome teeth broader, irregular, fugacious. 

 Spores much larger, 20-30 fx in diameter. 



Hab. Clay banks in shady places. Rare. Fr. spring. 

 O 4 



