262 SPLACHNACE/E. 



In this genus, as with most of the Order, the leaves, owing to 

 the large thin- walled cells, become very soft and flaccid when dry ; 

 the seta, too, is usually of a rather succulent, soft texture, and 

 easily becomes crushed and bent. The wide apophysis, generally 

 of a different colour from the capsule, is the chief characteristic of 

 the genus ; it is indeed so conspicuous that the beginner is apt to 

 take the apophysis for the capsule itself. In some continental 

 species, S. luteum and others, this organ is extraordinarily 

 dilated, being half-an-inch or more across, and brilliantly 

 coloured, the seta being as much as six inches in length. 



/Ls. roundish, entire, obtuse; apophysis globose, very large .3. vasculosum 



\Ls. acute, with longish acumen, often toothed 2 



/Apophysis roundish-ovate, little wider than capsule 2. sphesricum 



\ Apophysis large, pyriform, tapering below 1. ampullaceum 



1. Splachnum ampullaceum L. (Tab. XXXVI. F.). 



Stems slender, \-i inch high, tufted. Leaves distant, erecto- 

 patent, twisted when dry, varying from narrowly lanceolate to 

 obovate-lanceolate , from a narrow base, with a long tapering 

 acumen, coarsely serrate, especially above, the nerve vanishing at 

 or below the point. Cells large, irregularly rhomboid-hexagonal, 

 the marginal row rather narrower and slightly discoloured. Seta 

 red, \\ inches long ; apophysis large, widely pyriform, much 

 broader than the capsule, gradually tapering into the seta, 

 usually purplish above, pale lilac below, rugose when dry ; some- 

 times narrowly pyriform. Capsule shortly cylindrical, when dry 

 narrowed in the middle, yellowish brown ; lid convex, obtusely 

 mamillate ; peristome of 16 teeth in pairs, pale yellow; strongly 

 reflexed against the mouth of the capsule when dry. Usually 

 autoicous ; male flowers terminal, sub-discoid, bracts squarrose. 



Hab. On the excrement of cattle in boggy places in subalpine districts ; not 

 uncommon. Fr. summer. 



The specific name correctly describes the form of the fruit, which has, when fully 

 developed, very much the form of a Roman ampulla, of which the neck is formed by 

 the capsule ; the apophysis, however, is frequently narrow, and the same tuft will 

 exhibit a variety of forms. I have seen specimens with the apophysis as much as half 

 an inch in length. The colouring, too, is highly variegated, and often very pretty. 



5. Turnerianum Dicks, is only a form with narrow apophysis. 



2. Splachnum sphaBricum Linn. fil. (S. pedunculatum and 

 var. sphxricum Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XXXVI. G.). 



Differs from S. ampullaceum in the leaves wider, obovate- 

 spathulate or sub-orbicular, abruptly and very shortly or more 

 longly acuminate, the margin entire or sinuose-dentate, rarely 



