ENCALYPTA. 231 



excurrent in a mucro or short hair point; areolation as in E. 

 vulgaris. Seta red. Calyptra rather short, very little torn at 

 the base, scabrous above. Capsule small, oblong-cylindric, when 

 mature brown, with 8-/6 reddish straight ribs; when dry and 

 empty narrowly cylindric, narrowest in the middle, very closely 

 and deeply sulcate ; apophysis distinct, wide when dry ; peristome 

 single, teeth short, pale, entire or bifid. Autoicous. 



Hab. High mountain rocks, rare. Fr. late summer. 



The small, strongly ribbed capsule is quite distinct, and cannot be mistaken for 

 that of any other species. The leaf differs widely from E. com?nutata in outline and 

 areolation ; from E. ciliata in the plane margins and less distinct areolation ; from E. 

 strsptocarpa in the more slender habit, smaller leaves, and smooth nerve. There 

 appears to be no distinctive character by which the leaf can be recognised from E. 

 ■vulgaris, but the habitat alone would almost always be a sufficient guide ; E. vulgaris 

 is however occasionally found in alpine situations. 



5. Encalypta streptocarpa Hedw. (Leersia contorta Lindb., 

 Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XXXIII. D.). 



Robust, i-2£ inches high, densely tufted, dull or yellowish 

 green ; stems straight, rigid. Leaves spreading, when dry 

 crisped, incurved and slightly twisted, long, (2-3 lines), elongate- 

 lingulate, often a little narrower in the middle than above and 

 below, obtuse or obtusely pointed, undulate, margin plane, some- 

 times incurved and sub-cucullate at point ; nerve thick, vanishing 

 below the apex, scabrous at back. Areolation as in E. vulgaris. 

 Perichaetial bracts acuminate, from an oblong base. Seta long, 

 red ; capsule long, cylindrical, with 8 reddish spiral ribs ; when 

 dry spirally sulcate ; calyptra very long, scabrous at tip, laciniate 

 at mouth. Peristome double; outer teeth very long, red, filiform, 

 papillose ; inner half the length of the outer, 32, pale, slender, 

 filiform, adherent to the outer by their thin basal membrane. 

 Dioicous. 



Hab. Banks and walls, chiefly on limestone. Not uncommon but exceedingly 

 rare in fruit, which ripens in late summer. 



This fine species is often abundant in the crevices of stone walls and bridges in 

 our mountain districts, but almost always barren. It is much more robust and rigid 

 than our other species, with longer leaves, which are more constantly obtuse, without 

 any apiculus or excurrence of the nerve ; and the sharp papillae at the back of the 

 nerve, which towards the apex usually point forward, and render it almost hispid, are 

 found in no other of our species. 



E. procera B. & S. , a continental and American species somewhat resembling 

 this but much rarer, is autoicous, with straight stria;, and with the leaves more 

 apiculate and with recurved margins. 



