308 bryace^:. 



than in W. nutans and W. cucullata. The straight rigid sterile branches, with 

 uniform foliation, are characteristic ; and the dioicous inflorescence, when that 

 character is available, separates it from those and others of the genus ; the former 

 character however is found also in W. gracilis, and the dioicous inflorescence is 

 shared with almost all the species of this Section. 



Mr. Bagnall sends a specimen with the leaves distinctly decurrent. 



6. Webera Ludwigii Schp. (Br yum Ludwigii Spreng. ; 

 Pohlia Ludwigii Lindb., Braithw. Br. M. Fl.) (Tab. XLII. F.). 



Rather robust, loosely or densely tufted, soft, deep or bright 

 green above, with a strong vinous red tinge below, 1-2 inches 

 high, stems red, decumbent or erect. Leaves on the barren 

 shoots sub-equal, widely oval, obtuse or obtusely pointed, when 

 dry somewhat imbricated and not much altered, strongly 

 decurrent, margin narrowly recurved, obtusely denticulate at 

 apex ; nerve red in the older leaves, ceasing below the apex ; 

 areolation narrowly rhomboid-hexagonal, thin-walled, much wider 

 than in any of the preceding species. Comal leaves of the fertile 

 stems larger and more acute. Capsule sub-pendulous, pyriform 

 with a short neck, annulate ; peristome pale yellow, inner with 

 2-3 cilia between the processes. Dioicous. Male flower terminal, 

 gemmiform. 



Var. (3. latifolia Schp. Tall, robust, j-5 inches high, bright 

 green above, bright reddish brown below. Leaves large, widely 

 ovate-cordate, obtuse or pointed, concave ; cells larger. 



Var. y. elata Schp. Taller than the type, 2-3 inches high ; 

 leaves ovate-lanceolate, more acuminate, of soft texture and 

 somewhat shrinking and flexuose when dry, a little more sharply 

 denticulate. 



Hab. Springs and earth among rocks in high alpine localities, rare ; usually 

 sterile. The var. $ in alpine streams and bogs, very rare. The var. 7, Ben Lawers. 

 Fruit very rare, late summer. 



A very distinct species, easily known from nearly all of the genus by the ruddy 

 interior of the tufts, the wide, generally obtuse leaves with lax areolation, and 

 especially by the decurrent base of the leaves, forming wings for some distance down 

 the stems. W. commutata differs in the absence of the vinous red colour, the leaves 

 smaller and hardly decurrent, and the smaller size ; W. albicans in the colour, the 

 less decurrent leaves and exannulate capsule, while all the preceding species differ in 

 the narrower leaves and cells. 



The var. latifolia is a very striking form, the leaves and habit reminding us of 

 Bryum ticrbinatum var. latifolium. I have not seen typical specimens of the var. 

 elata, but Schimper records it from Ben Lawers, and specimens which I gathered 

 there in 1893 agree exactly with his description. It is a taller, softer plant, with the 

 leaves shrinking and flexuose when dry, not regularly imbricated and almost unaltered 

 as in the type. 



