270 FUNARIACE^E. 



Hab. Open places, rare. Sussex ; Cheshire. The var. (8, Mere, Cheshire. 

 Fr. late autumn and winter. 



There has been much confusion between this and the next species ; but the linear, 

 not tapering leaves of that plant, its still smaller cells, and calyptra cleft along one 

 side, easily distinguish it. The present species is more easily, perhaps, confused 

 with the last, but has more gradually tapering, narrower leaves, smaller cells and 

 more excurrent nerve. 



4. Ephemerum recurvifolium Lindb. (Phascum recurvi- 



folium Dicks. ; Ephemerella recurvifolia Schp., Syn.) 



(Tab. XXXVII. K.). 



Protonema dull green, disappearing when the capsules are 

 about matured. Leaves erecto-patent, straight or recurved 

 towards apex } ligulate or linear, often wider in the upper half 

 than in the lower, shortly pointed ; margin slightly denticulate 

 above, sometimes more strongly at apex; nerve narrower (about 

 J- width of leaf at base) than in the last, but more clearly defined 

 and stronger, reaching to apex and usually slightly excurrent. 

 Cells at base thin, hyaline, rectangular, above smaller, irregularly 

 rhomboid, not so large as in the previous species. Seta short; 

 capsule globose-oval, with a short oblique apiculus, thick-walled. 

 Calyptra larger than in the previous plants, split on one side only. 

 Dioicous. 



Hab. Fallow fields, etc. , rare. Fr. late autumn. 



If attention be paid to the form of the leaf, E. recurvifolium need not be con- 

 fused with the other nerved species ; the nerve in this being stronger, and though 

 narrower than in the last, more clearly defined ; and the outline of the leaf being 

 almost exactly ligulate. The leaves are generally more or less spreading and recurved, 

 so that the capsule is rendered quite conspicuous, though the seta is very short. 



59. PHYSOOMITRELLA B. & S. 



Minute plants, without persistent protonema. Leaves nerved, 

 the upper forming a terminal rosette, laxly areolated. Capsule 

 on a short seta, usually splitting horizontally by a circular fissure 

 about midway between top and bottom, sub-globose, apiculate. 

 Calyptra narrowly campanulate. 



Intermediate between Ephemerum and Physcomitrium. The 

 stem though short is well developed, the seta is frequently some- 

 what elongated, the columella is more highly differentiated than 

 in Ephemerum, and the ripe capsule shows a distinct tendency to 

 split .regularly round, at or near the middle ; a certain differentia- 

 tion in the cells of its membrane may be seen at this line, com- 

 pared with those above and below, though I have not been able to 



