360 NECKERACE^. 



1. Neckera pennata Hedw. (Fontinalis pennata L.) 

 (Tab. XLIX. B.). 

 Secondary stems erect, horizontal, or prostrate, 2-4 inches 

 long, irregularly pinnate, bright or yellowish green ; more robust 

 than N. complanata, less so than N. crispa. Leaves complanate 

 (leaves and branches all in one plane), spreading, somewhat 

 recurved-cultriform, asymmetrical, ovate-lanceolate, acute, more 

 or less acuminate, 1-1% lines long, strongly transversely 

 undulate when dry, less so when moist ; margin plane (one 

 margin incurved at base) entire or minutely denticulate above ; 

 nerve extremely faint and short, single or bifid, or wanting ; cells 

 small, linear-vermicular, 6-8 times as long as broad, at apex 

 rather shorter and wider, at basal angles shortly quadrate or 

 sub-rectangular, irregular, all thin, pellucid, smooth. Perichsetial 

 bracts long, sheathing, when young convolute and cuspidate, 

 when old more divergent, longly acuminate ; capsule rather 

 large, widely oval-oblong, bright reddish brown with an orange, 

 not narrowed mouth, immersed ; lid conical, shortly rostellate. 

 Peristome pale, inner imperfect. Autoicous. 



Hab. Trunks of trees ; nr. Forfar, Scotland ; nr. Belfast, Ireland. Fr. spring. 



A very rare species, only found in the two localities mentioned ; but common in 

 N. America. The capsules are generally present, and are conspicuous, so that, apart 

 from its size and other points it is easily recognised, all the other British species 

 having the capsule exserted on a seta. From N. crispa it differs also in the usually 

 smaller leaves, more gradually acuminate, and the narrower cells. 



2. Neckera crispa Hedw. (Hypnum crispum L.) 

 (Tab. XLIX. C). 



Robust, 4-8 inches long, pinnately branched ; branches 

 complanate or depressed and sub-falcate, shining yellowish green, 

 pale brown below. Leaves complanate, strongly and regularly 

 undulate, i l /z-2 lines long, oblong-lingulate, rounded at the apex 

 and shortly apiculate, denticulate at the summit; nerve very 

 faint, as in the last species ; cells as in the last but rather wider, 

 especially towards apex. Perichaetial bracts sheathing, convolute, 

 the inner narrowly tubular, longly acuminate ; seta 3-5 lines long, 

 yellowish, erect or slightly flexuose ; capsule rather small, 

 orange-brown, ovate, narrowed at mouth ; lid shortly and finely 

 rostrate. Peristome pale ; inner membrane very short, processes 

 about half as long as the outer teeth. Dioicous. 



Var. /3. falcata Boul. Branches short, curved, numerous ; 

 leaves falcate-depressed, less undulate, glossy, concave. 



Hab. Calcareous hills, and rocks and tree roots near waterfalls. Not 

 uncommon. The var. P rare. Fr. rather rare, early summer. 



