376 LESKEACE/E. 



Leaves spreading and secund, crisped when dry and incurved, 

 undulated at margin, ligulate-lanceolate from a -widely ovate base, 

 large, above 1 line in length, excavate at base, obtuse or apiculate 

 at summit, margin very slightly recurved at base, often on one 

 side only, crenulate-denticulate above ; nerve strong, pellucid, 

 whitish at back when dry, reaching nearly to apex ; cells 

 hexagonal, thin-walled, opaque, highly papillose; the basal 

 median ones pellucid, rectangular. Seta straw-coloured, about 

 f-inch long ; capsule erect, sometimes slightly curved, cylindric, 

 1-1% lines long, slightly contracted at the mouth ; lid conical- 

 rostellate ; annulus distinct ; peristome yellowish ; inner with a 

 very short basal membrane and short irregular processes. 



Hab. Roots of trees and old walls, common. Fruit rather rare, spring. 



The commonest species of the genus, and the most robust ; the leaves of a very 

 marked form, and, a very uncommon feature among pleurocarpous mosses, distinctly 

 crisped when dry. It is indeed a striking moss, and one not likely to be mistaken for 

 any other. When dry it is not at all glossy, and of a very dull green, but upon 

 moistening the leaves at once regain their spreading direction and become of a brighter 

 colour. 



96. LEPTODON Mohr. 



Stems from a creeping rhizome, pinnately branched ; stems 

 and branches strongly enrolled when dry. Leaves single-nerved, 

 obtuse ; cells short, oval, slightly papillose. Capsule exserted on 

 a short seta, erect, symmetrical. Calyptra hairy, cucullate. 

 Peristome single, of 16 pale teeth. 



1. Leptodon Smithii Mohr (Hypnum Smithii Dicks.) 



(Tab. L. L.). 



Bright green, in rather large flat patches. Stems prostrate, 

 1-2 inches long, rigid, pinnately branched ; branches very short, 

 rather obtuse, equal. When dry the stem and branches roll 

 together in the form of a crosier, the apical branches especially 

 rolling up almost into a ball. Leaves spreading, when dry erect 

 and somewhat homomallous, small, £ a line in length, cordate- 

 ovate, rounded and obtuse, entire, concave, margin recurved on 

 one side near the base, otherwise plane ; nerve wide at base, thin 

 and indistinct, reaching beyond the middle ; cells round or very 

 shortly oval, distinct, the median basal somewhat narrow and 

 elongate-elliptical, 3-5 times as long as broad; all rather 

 incrassate, very slightly papillose. Pericha^tial bracts oblong- 

 lanceolate, narrowly acuminate, thin. Seta very short. Capsule 



