ENCALYPTA. ' 227 



Including, besides Encalypta, the exotic genera Calymperes 

 and Syrrhopodon. 



46. ENCALYPTA Schreb. 



Capsule erect, cylindric, on a long seta. Calyptra campanu- 

 late-cylindric , inflexed at base when young, finally entire or 

 ciliated ; not plicate ; with a long straight beak ; peristome 

 extremely variable. Leaves as described above. 



The plants of this genus are easily recognised not only by the 

 form and areolation of their leaves, but especially by the large 

 glossy extinguisher-like calyptra, which persists until the fruit is 

 quite ripe, and usually only falls with the lid when that separates. 

 The peristome is in many species extremely fragile, in some 

 quite absent ; in those species in which it occurs it presents very 

 diverse and interesting characters ; in some few it is double, the 

 outer teeth showing all the characters of the Diplolepides ; in 

 others, where it is single, the teeth are constituted on the plan of 

 some of the Aplolepidea^ belonging to Dicranacea?; while in 

 others again they bear a nearer resemblance to those of 

 Polytrichum, thus connecting the Order with the Nematodontea;. 

 On the whole their true position appears to be at the meeting 

 point of the Aplolepidea? and the Diplolepides, while at the same 

 time there is a close and indeed remarkable resemblance between 

 them and some of the species of Tortula, especially those of the 

 Section Syntrichia, a resemblance which in the leaves is 

 surprisingly close. 



There is a great uniformity in the areolation of the leaves, and 

 except in the case of E. commutata which has smaller cells than any 

 of the other British species, I do not think any reliance can be 

 placed on the relative size of the cells ; Wilson for instance 

 describes those of E. vulgaris as being larger than in E. ciliata, 

 but some specimens of the latter have them distinctly larger than 

 is the case with E. vulgaris. 



/Ls. recurved, with tapering acumen ; cells about 10 n 1. commutata 



\Ls. with broader points, not tapering ; cells about 15 /* 2 



( Ls. obtuse, rather cucullate ; nerve scabrous at back near apex ; capsule with 



2-j spiral striae .J. streptocarpa 



\ Nerve scarcely rough at back, usually excurrent 3 



/Calyptra fringed at base ; capsule smooth ; peristome present 3. ciliata 



3\Calyptra not regularly fringed at base 4 



{Capsule with vertical striae ; peristome present 4. rhabdocarpa 

 Capsule smooth ; peristome rarely present 2. vulgaris 



