266 funariace.«. 



Hab. Bogs on high mountains in Scotland, rare. Fr. late summer. 



A very fine and distinct species, as well in the capsule as in the leaves. Like 

 most species of this Order it varies much in the size of its parts. 



Order XIV. FUNARIACEjE. 



Plants usually with wide soft leaves, and lax areolation 

 resembling that of Splachnaceae. Capsule globose, oval or pyri- 

 form, erect and symmetrical or cemuous and unequal, usually with 

 a distinct neck narrower than the capsule ; cleistocarpous, gym- 

 nostomous, or peristomate. Inner peristome when present of 16 

 separate processes, entirely without a basal membrane, and 

 opposite to, not alternating with the teeth. Calyptra usually 

 inflated, smooth, with a long beak, lobed or cucullate. 



Mosses resembling Splachnaceas in leaf structure, but differ- 

 ing in the often cernuous fruit, which, while frequently long- 

 necked, does not possess an actual apophysis, in the calyptra, and 

 in the peristome, which when fully present is double and highly 

 developed. 



56. DISOELIUM Brid. 



Plants almost without stems, resembling minute buds on the 

 persistent protonema. Leaves almost nerveless, sheathing, with- 

 out chlorophyll. Capsule small, inclined, subglobose ; peristome 

 single. Calyptra narrow, split on one side, very narrow at base. 



A genus consisting only of the following remarkable plant, 

 which in fruit resembles Catoscopium, but in areolation the 

 present Order. The peristome also is somewhat anomalous, with 

 a superficial resemblance to that of Trematodon ; but it is in 

 structure Funarioid. 



1. Discelium nudum Brid. (Bryum nudum Dicks.) 

 (Tab. XXXVII. E.). 



Stem minute, bud-like, annually formed on a perennial 

 protonema. Leaves few, small, ovate-lanceolate, entire or faintly 

 and obtusely toothed, nerveless or with a faint trace of a thin 

 nerve in the upper part ; cells lax, hexagonal-oblong, pellucid. 

 Seta about an inch long, slender, reddish ; capsule minute, sub- 

 globose, suddenly bent at the short neck, and horizontal ; lid 

 convex ; annulus broad. Peristome teeth 16, cleft half way from 

 the base upwards, undivided above. Dioicous. 



Hab. Clay banks, rare. Fr. early spring. 



