34^ BRYACE^. 



Husnot (Muscol. Gall.) unites this with M. serratum as a variety, and it is 

 indeed very near that species ; as, however, it differs in habit and leaf-form as well as 

 in the inflorescence, I have retained it as a species, but with some expectation that it 

 will ultimately have to be united with the above. Although usually a much more 

 slender plant, smaller in all its parts, it is not always so ; the specimens distributed in 

 the Musci Gallije (No. 724) by Geheeb are by no means markedly so, and I have 

 gathered a plant on Ben Lawers that must, if M. riparium be retained as a species, 

 be referred to it, but hardly more slender or smaller than ordinary M. serratum. 

 The Musci Gallise plant too has the leaves tapering to the base almost as in the latter 

 species. 



M. orthorrhynchum differs in the denser, narrower leaves with smaller, angular 

 areolation. The serration in this as in the allied species varies considerably in 

 acuteness and other points. 



The Ben Lawers plant above referred to is the female plant, the first, so far as I 

 am aware, that has been found in this country, those from the other localities being 

 according to Braithwaite either male or sterile. 



9. Milium, spinosum Schwgr. (Bryum spinosum Voit) 

 (Tab. XLVII. F.). 



Tall, robust, loosely and irregularly tufted, 2-3 inches high, 

 dark dull green. Sterile shoots erect or curved, resembling the 

 fertile ones. Stems stout, rigid, almost naked at base, the lower 

 leaves very small, scale-like, upper crowded, very large, 3-4 

 lines long, 1% lines broad, widely elliptic-oblong, obtuse and 

 apiculate or widely acute and shortly acuminate, narrowed at 

 base and longly decurrent ; spreading when moist, when dry 

 erect, imbricated, twisted and undulate, but not strongly crisped ; 

 solid in texture, highly chlorophyllose ; border strong, narrow, 

 cartilaginous, often purple, of 2-4 rows of very narrow cells, 

 sharply spinose from below the middle with a double series of 

 strong acute teeth. Nerve shortly excurrent in a cuspidate acute 

 point, reddish, spinose at back above. Cells chlorophyllose and 

 opaque, the basal very narrow, rectangular ; the upper angular, 

 irregularly hexagonal-rectangular , usually elongate, about 20 /* 

 in width, mostly arranged in curved lines radiating from the 

 nerve, strongly incrassate ; often a little larger towards apex. 

 Capsules often aggregate ; seta rather short, under an inch in 

 height, capsule sub-pendulous, elliptical ; lid shortly and stoutly 

 rostrate; peristome reddish brown. Dioicous ; male flowers 

 large, discoid. 



Hab. Shady rocks on mountains, very rare. Ben Lawers ; Clova. Fr. late 

 summer. 



A fine species, but of a dingy colour, and not easy to gather in good condition ; 

 it has only been very sparingly found in fruit in this country. Its large, wide leaves, 

 very strongly decurrent, readily distinguish it from M. hornum and all the other 

 allied species. 



M. spinulosum B. & S. , a closely allied species, smaller, of a brighter colour, 

 and synoicous, is found on the continent in similar localities, but more rarely. 



