EURHYNCH1UM. 415 



Leaves sub-equal, the stem-leaves rather wider ; branch-leaves 

 closely set, erecto-patent, when dry more erect and imbricated, 

 widely or narrowly ovate-oblong, rapidly contracted to a short 

 acute acumen, very concave, irregularly plicate when dry, 

 denticulate, especially above ; margin narrowly recurved at base ; 

 nerve very stout, especially in the lower half, reaching about f 

 length of leaf, sometimes projecting from the back of the leaf at 

 its tip in a minute point ; cells rather short and wide, the median 

 narrowly rhomboid, tapering at the ends, 6-10 times as long as 

 broad, the walls firm and somewhat incrassate ; gradually 

 becoming shorter and wider upwards, at apex shortly elliptical- 

 rhomboid ; at base laxer, wide, sub-rectangular, especially at 

 angles, opaque and chlorophyllose. Capsule oval-oblong, gibbous 

 at back, with a distinct neck ; lid subulate-rostrate, as long as 

 capsule. Dioicous. 



Hab. Stony ground in shady places, woods, etc. ; not common. Fruit rare, 

 autumn. 



E. crassinetvium is not a very variable species, but a form sometimes occurs with 

 the branches slender and much attenuated. It has a. somewhat characteristic fades, 

 rather like that of Brachythecium ctzspitosum on a more robust scale, the branches 

 being somewhat tumid and cylindrical with the leaves regularly imbricated, but hardly 

 terete or julaceous, as the leaves are not appressed nor their points incurved. They 

 may be at once recognised by the very stout nerve, which is of almost uniform 

 thickness for about half its length, when it either forks, but rarely, or more frequently 

 takes a slight bend and becomes much thinner, as though it had forked and one 

 branch had been suppressed. The leaves are very concave, with a rather wide, 

 reflexed and flattened edge all round, like the edge of a dish or platter. It appears to 

 fruit less frequently on the continent than in Britain. There are several other species 

 with which this might be confused in the field, but under the microscope the 

 characteristic leaf form and structure, best understood, perhaps, by a reference to the 

 figure, will as a rule at once identify it. 



E. velutinoides B. & S., a continental and N. American species, is somewhat 

 intermediate between this and Brachythecium fopuleum ; it has narrower leaves and 

 much longer nerve than the present species, and is best known from the latter by the 

 rougher seta and rostrate lid. Husnot (Muscat. Gall. ) refers to it as recorded from 

 England, but I have seen no other mention of it. 



4. Eurhynchium speciosum Schp. (Hypnum speciosum 

 Brid.) (Tab. LIII. M.). 



Stems creeping, elongated, irregularly divided, the divisions 

 also prostrate, interruptedly pinnate, with rather short, erect 

 branches ; forming straggling patches of a deep, vivid green. 

 Leaves large, f-i line long, those of the stem distant, widely 

 deltoid-acuminate, somewhat spreading ; of the branches sub- 

 complanate, rather distant, divergent, narrower, ovate, shortly 

 acuminate or acute, strongly denticulate all round, somewhat 

 concave, not plicate, margin almost plane ; nerve strong, f the 



