416 HVPNACE^E. 



length of the leaf or •mare., frequently reaching to within a short 

 distance of the apex; areolation linear-rhomboid, moderately 

 wide, and thin-walled, but opaque, so that the leaves are not 

 pellucid, 6-12 times as long as wide; at base laxer and sub- 

 rectangular, but not or hardly distinct at angles. Seta about I 

 inch long; capsule large, short, turgidly oval, dark brown; lid 

 longly rostrate. Synoicous, or partly autoicous. 



Hab. Stones and tree roots near water, rare. Fr. winter. 



A fine species, with large, rather distant leaves of a peculiarly bright shining 

 green ; known also by the opaque tissue and long nerve, as well as by the habit, the 

 rough seta and the synoicous inflorescence. It is somewhat like a large form of E. 

 Swartzii, but very different in colour and areolation. The stems are usually more or 

 less stoloniform in the intervals between the groups of branches. 



5. Eurhynchium prselongum B. &S. (Hypnum praelongum L.) 



(Tab. LIV. A.). 



Stems (in the type) slender, prostrate, elongated (2-5 inches), 

 divided ; at intervals rather regularly pinnate, with slender, 

 somewhat attenuated, often curved, not very crowded, sub- 

 complanate branches ; forming low, somewhat straggling masses 

 of a bright or dull green, less commonly yellowish. Stem-leaves 

 distant or more rarely crowded, widely cordate-triangular or 

 widely ovate-cordate, rapidly or even abruptly and longly 

 acuminate in a long, often almost filiform, squarrose acumen ; 

 at base wide, excavate, strongly decurrent ; margin plane, 

 regularly and distinctly denticulate, nerve slender, reaching above 

 half-way and usually into the acumen ; cells linear, slightly 

 vermicular, tapering but obtuse, 10-18 times as long as wide, 

 pellucid; towards base wider and shorter, lax, at angles large, 

 sub- rectangular, but not forming clearly defined auricles. Para- 

 phyllia occasionally but not always present. Branch-leaves much 

 narrower, widely or even narrowly lanceolate , gradually acumi- 

 nate, very acute, somewhat erect when dry, more spreading when 

 moist, not complanate, moderately soft in texture and often 

 twisted when dry, not plicate, hardly glossy. Perichaetial bracts 

 squarrose, very longly acuminate. Seta rather long, often one 

 inch. Capsule turgidly ovate, narrower when ripe and empty, 

 horizontal, abruptly passing into the seta at base, rather large ; 

 lid subulate-rostrate, usually decurved, almost as long as the 

 capsule. Dioicous. 



Var. /J. Stokesii (Hypnum Stokesii Turn. ; Eurh. Stokesii 

 Schp., Syn. ; H. pr&longum var. Stokesii Brid., Wils. Bry. Brit.). 



