406 HYPNACEyE. 



closely set, when dry somewhat spreading and divergent or closely 

 imbricated so as to render the branches filiform and somewhat 

 julaceous ; all strongly decurrent, denticulate nearly all round, 

 smooth or faintly plicate, margin plane or very narrowly 

 recurved ; nerve distinct, reaching nearly to apex or at least high 

 up in the acumen ; areolation short, with the walls firm and 

 rather incrassate, narrowly rhomboid, slightly obtuse, j-c? times 

 as long as broad ; gradually becoming shorter and wider towards 

 base — except near the nerve, —at angles large, quadrate-rounded 

 or slightly elongated, pellucid, forming large, but not clearly 

 defined auricles. Seta slender, short, about £ inch in length, 

 rough ; capsule very small, oval-oblong, curved ; lid small, 

 apiculate. Autoicous. 



Hab. Trunks of trees and rocks on mountains ; very rare ; on one or two of 

 the higher mountains of Scotland. Fr. winter. 



This is one of the most delicate species of the genus, and not to he confounded 

 with any of the preceding ones except, possibly, slender forms of the last two, from 

 which, however the long nerve and the firmer, neat areolation will at once distinguish 

 it. It is more like B. populeum and B. velutinum, the latter differing in the shorter 

 nerve, the former in the narrower, more gradually tapering leaves. 



It also has some resemblance, both in habit and areolation, to Amblystegium 

 serpens and A. varium ; the former differs in the short faint nerve, the latter in the 

 almost entire leaves, and both in the shorter, laxer, very obtuse areolation, and the 

 habitat is usually very different. 



B. refiexum is extremely variable in size, and in the direction of its leaves. 



1 1 . Brachythecium velutinum B. & S. (Hypnum velutinum 

 L.) (Tab. LIII. C). 



Slender, in usually dense, low, silky tufts, bright or yellowish 

 green. Stems prostrate, branches numerous, short, close, straight 

 or curved, irregular or sub-pinnate. Leaves erecto-patent or sub- 

 secund, when dry usually widely spreading and distant, sometimes 

 more erect and closely imbricated ; small, narrow, ovate- 

 lanceolate or lanceolate , tapering to a narrow point, finely or 

 strongly denticulate all round, very faintly plicate at base, very 

 shortly decurrent, glossy when dry; margin often recurved at 

 base ; nerve slender, not reaching much above half-way up the 

 leaf ; cells narrow-linear, rather obtuse, 8-12 times as long as 

 broad, somewhat opaque, slightly shorter and wider at base, not 

 pellucid ; angular few, irregularly quadrate, opaque. Pericha^tial 

 bracts suberect, very finely acuminate . Seta strongly papillose, 

 variable in length, usually rather short, \— § inch ; capsule small, 

 turgidly oblong, gibbous at back, or longer, narrowly oblong and 

 arcuate ; lid acute or acuminate ; peristome large. Autoicous. 



Hab. Roots of trees, rocks, etc. Very common. 



