37 2 LESKEACE^. 



ORDER XXIV. LESKEACE.E. 



Mosses of varying habit, differing from Leucodontacese in the 

 cells papillose, from Hypnaceae in the short, rhomboid or sub- 

 rounded cells. Capsule usually erect, but frequently curved. 

 Peristome variously developed ; calyptra cucullate. 



©3. MYURELLA B. & S. 



Plants small, slender, irregularly branched, glaucous green; 

 branches julaceous from the regularly imbricated, roundish, 

 concave leaves ; nerve double, very faint ; cells lax, hexagonal- 

 rhomboid, lightly or strongly papillose. Dioicous. Calyptra 

 minute. Capsule small, erect or sub-inclined ; annulus present. 

 Peristome perfect, inner with cilia. Dioicous. 



A genus of very pretty plants of most distinct habit, the 

 stems and branches extremely slender, fragile, and regularly 

 julaceous, of a pale glaucous green, inhabiting mountain rocks. 



A third, North American species is found, but very rarely, on 

 the continent, viz., M . careyana Sull. ; it has spreading leaves, 

 strongly erose-denticulate at margin, and more papillose at back. 



/Ls. closely imbricate, obtuse or very shortly apiculate /. julacea 



\Ls. spreading, more distant, usually with longish apiculus 2. apiculata 



1. Myurella julacea B. & S. (Hypnum julaceum Vill.) 



(Tab. L. D.). 



Very slender ; stems slightly branched ; pale whitish green, 

 reddish below ; branches filiform, rather obtuse, fragile ; leaves 

 very densely imbricated , concave, rounded, obtuse or minutely 

 apiculate, faintly denticulate at margin, nerve double or forked, 

 short, indistinct ; cells irregularly oval-rhomboid, pellucid ; at 

 base laxer, sub-rectangular. Seta slender, capsule erect or 

 inclined, elliptic-oblong ; lid conical ; peristome yellowish. 



Hab. Mountain rocks, not common. Fr. very rare, summer. 



Differs from the next species in the more closely imbricated, not spreading 

 leaves, with a less distinct apiculus or obtuse. 



The papillae are usually very indistinct in this species, and are most conspicuous 

 at the back of the upper leaves. 



2. Myurella apiculata B. & S. (Isothecium apiculatum 



Hiibn. ; Myurella tenerrima Lindb.) (Tab. L. E.). 



Resembles the last species. Leaves more distant, spreading 

 ■when moist and less appressed when dry, ending in an abrupt 



