264 SPLACHNACE/E. 



A small genus, chiefly separated from Splachnum by the 

 narrower apophysis, more tapering and not inflated, of the same 

 colour and texture as the capsule. 



/Ls. toothed above ; seta scarcely longer than leaves, pale 2. angustatus 



\Ls. entire; seta longish, red j- mnioides 



1. Tetraplodon mnioides B. & S. (Splachnum mnioides Sw. ; 



Tetraplodon bryoides Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) 

 (Tab. XXXVII. A.). 

 Densely tufted, stems 1-3 inches high. Leaves crowded, 

 ovate-lanceolate or narrowly obovate-lanceolate, gradually or 

 suddenly acuminate and tapering to a long flexuose subula, 

 appressed and twisted when dry ; concave, entire ; nerve 

 yellowish, forming the greater part of the subula ; cells 

 rhomboid-hexagonal or sub-rectangular, the marginal often, but 

 not constantly, narrower and yellowish. Seta stout, red, variable 

 in length, y z -2 inches; capsule shortly cylindrical, when dry 

 contracted below the mouth, at first brown, with a greenish 

 apophysis, both finally becoming dark purplish black ; apophysis 

 pyriform, slightly narrower above than the capsule, tapering at 

 base, thick-walled ; peristome teeth reflexed when dry, orange 

 red. Autoicous. Male flower terminal, soon becoming lateral by 

 innovation. 



Hab. Decaying animal matter on mountains ; not common. Fr. summer. 



The seta exhibits considerable variation in length in this species, sometimes 

 hardly elevating the capsule above the leaves, at others being two inches in height. 

 In the latter case it is a very conspicuous moss, especially as the fruit is usually 

 produced in great profusion. It varies much, too, in form of leaf and length of 

 capsule, arid the var. Brewerianus (Splach. Brevoerianum Hedw.) appears to be only 

 an unimportant form of this kind. A more marked variety, var. cavifolius B. & S. 

 has the leave* very concave and obovate, almost cochleariform, thus linking our plant 

 very closely with a third species, T. urceolatus B. & S. 



T. angustatus differs markedly in the hardly exserted capsule and serrate leaf. 



2. Tetraplodon angustatus B. & S. (Splachnum angustatum 



Sw.) (Tab. XXXVII. B.). 

 Small, densely tufted, ^-2 inches high, pale green. Leaves 

 narrowly ovate-lanceolate, with a tapering flexuose subula as in 

 the last ; margin sharply spinulose-serrate. Seta pale, very short, 

 capsule hardly raised above the leaves, pale reddish brown, 

 smaller than in the last; apophysis pale. Autoicous. 



Hab. In similar situations to the last, very rare. Fr. summer and autumn. 



Very different from the last in the narrower, serrate leaves, the smaller, less 

 exserted capsule of a different colour. As in that species, the apophysis when the 

 capsule is just mature is no wider than the capsule, indeed at times narrower ; its 

 subsequent relative widening is due to the contraction of the capsule. 



