318 bryacejE. 



* Bryum concinnatum Spruce (Tab. XLII. M.). 



Differs from the above in the stems more slender, softer and 

 more flexuose, the leaves less closely imbricated, less concave, 

 narrower, with more acute, slightly acuminate points ; nerve 

 usually reaching to apex; cells wider, narrowly rhomboid- 

 hexagonal, with thinner walls. Fruit unknown. 



Hab. In similar situations ; rare. 



The soft texture, acute leaves, and laxer areolation are the main features of this 

 plant, and the nerve is rather longer. None of these points are however of great 

 importance, since they are those in which B. Jlliforme is most variable ; and forms 

 may frequently be found of an intermediate character. 



B. PTYCHOSTOMUM. 



/Leaves bordered with narrow cells ; capsule oblong-pyriform 2. pendulum 



\ Leaves not bordered ; capsule widely ovate-pyriform .3. Wameum 



2. Bryum pendulum Schp. (B. cernuum B. & S., non Lindb., 

 nonnull. auct.) (Tab. XLIII. A.). 



This species resembles B. inclinatum closely in everything 

 but the peristome. Certain differences have been alleged to 

 exist, as that the leaves are broader in the present species, the 

 arista longer, the capsule wider, the spores smoother ; but 

 except that the capsule is perhaps on the whole usually (but not 

 constantly) a little wider and more inflated in appearance than in 

 B. inclinatum, I do not think there is the slightest reliability to 

 be placed on any of these characters. In B. pendulum the teeth 

 of the outer peristome have the transverse bars connected 

 together by more or less numerous oblique (rarely almost vertical) 

 lines on the inner face of the teeth. These lines are visible 

 through the teeth when viewed from the outside, and they give an 

 appearance of an irregular net-work to the face. Inner peristome 

 adherent to the outer for the greater part of its length, cilia 

 absent or very rudimentary. Synoicous, sometimes sub-autoicous. 



Hab. Walls, dry heaths, etc. Probably rare. Fr. spring and early summer. 



Philibert first pointed out the peculiarity of the structure of the peristome teeth in 

 B. pendulum, affording a ready method of separating it from B. inclinatum, which 

 has them simply articulate with transverse bars, without oblique connecting lines, and 

 it is quite clear chat until this was recognised the species was very imperfectly under- 

 stood. Examined under this light, two out of every three herbarium specimens 

 labelled B. pendulum usually turn out to be B. inclinatum, and it would appear that 

 the present species is really a very rare one. At any rate it would be quite unsafe to 

 refer to it barren plants, which may usually, though, of course, without certainty, be 

 assumed to be B. inclinatum. 



