WEBERA. 305 



3. Webera cruda Schwgr. (Mnium crudum L. ; Pohlia 



cruda Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XLI. L.). 



Robust, 1-3 inches high, reddish brown below, glaucous 

 green and glossy above, stems red, simple, densely tufted. 

 Lower leaves broadly ovate, gradually becoming narrower and 

 more elongate upwards, the comal long, lanceolate, not very acute, 

 of rigid texture, hardly altered in drying, often deep red at the 

 base, pellucid ; margin plane, faintly denticulate at apex or entire 

 in the lower leaves, more distinctly toothed in the upper ; nerve 

 ceasing below apex ; cells linear, sub-vermicular, pointed and 

 prosenchymatous at the ends, rather larger and rectangular at 

 base. Seta long, flexuose ; capsule rather large, variable in 

 form, clavate-oblong or cylindrical , frequently curved upwards or 

 downwards, reddish brown, horizontal or slightly drooping, when 

 dry often contracted at and for some distance below the mouth ; 

 neck rather short, thick, indistinct ; lid conical, apiculate ; 

 peristome pale yellow ; basal membrane of inner peristome 

 hardly \ the height of the teeth ; cilia 2 or 3, well developed ; 

 processes not widely gaping along the median slit. Autoicous, 

 more rarely synoicous or dioicous. 



Hab. Clefts of rocks on mountains ; not uncommon. Fr. late summer. 



A very hne and beautiful species, known at once by the metallic, almost 

 opalescent sheen on the leaves, which are larger and wider than in the allied species, 

 and but little altered in drying. The red stems too are conspicuous, and the capsule 

 of a distinct form, though subject to variation. It is perhaps most like W. albicans, 

 but the texture of that plant is softer and quite different, the areolation much wider, 

 and the capsule much shorter and broader. 



4. Webera nutans Hedw. (Bryum nutans Schreb. ; Pohlia 



nutans Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XL1I. A.). 



Variable in size and habit ; loosely or densely tufted, 

 usually deep green, pale brown below, shining, £-2 inches high. 

 Lower leaves small, ovate and ovate-lanceolate, upper gradually 

 much longer, the comal narrowly lanceolate with a long tapering 

 acumen, not decurrent, when dry erect, somewhat shrinking and 

 flexuose; margin somewhat recurved below, denticulate above; 

 nerve strong, vanishing in or below apex ; areolation resembling 

 that of the last but rather shorter and wider. Seta pale reddish, 

 very variable in length (£-3 inches), capsule horizontal or sub- 

 pendulous, variable in form and size, but always wider and less 

 tapering than in the foregoing species, with a distinct but very 

 short neck, dull brown, oblong or obovate, often more or less 



