4 2 6 HYPNACEiE. 



two inches long. Leaves cordate-triangular or cordate-ovate, 

 %-Vi line long, more narrowly and usually more longly acuminate 

 than in the last, less strongly and distinctly striate, less spreading 

 when dry, often erect and closely imbricated ; nerve, for the size 

 of the leaf, stronger ; cells shorter and, proportionately, wider, 

 6-10 times as long as wide, all basal short, wide, irregularly 

 quadrate-elliptical, small, opaque, forming distinct dark auricles 

 reaching to the nerve. Seta short, \-\ inch, capsule short, oval- 

 oblong ; annulus narrow, of a single row of cells. Dioicous. 



Hab. Shady rocks, etc., rare. Principally in the South of England. Fr. rare, 

 winter. 



Although allied to the last species, and in some respects much resembling it, this 

 moss is not so difficult to separate from it as is, perhaps, usually supposed ; I have 

 indeed seen no specimens which could not be separated with the lens alone, although 

 I have frequently seen small forms of E. striatum labelled E. striatulum, indicating 

 a general supposition that the two are much alike. The present plant is a far more 

 slender moss, and smaller in all its parts, with the branching much like that of E. 

 myosuroides, and indeed with much the habit of that species ; the leaves much smaller 

 than those of the last, more finely acuminate, more appressed when dry, in general ; 

 and frequently of a different form. Those of E. striatum are always markedly 

 triangular, the sides, above the rounded, cordate base being almost straight to apex, 

 while in the present species they are often, though not always, rounded above, so that 

 the leaf then has a decidedly oval outline. The most marked and constant difference, 

 however, is in the areolation, especially that of the base ; E. striatum never showing 

 the band of opaque, dot-like cells filling up the whole base of the leaf to the nerve, 

 which is characteristic of the present plant ; and the^upper cells in that are distinctly 

 longer, and in proportion narrower. The leaves irr'this are also somewhat less glossy. 



E. striatulum is indicated from the Scotch Highlands ; I have, however, seen no 

 Scotch specimens ; it is distinctly a southern species, and its chief distribution is 

 throughout the Mediterranean region of Europe. 



16. Eurhynchium rusciforme Milde (Hypnum rusciforme 



Weis ; Rhynchostegium rusciforme B. & S., Schp. Syn. ; 



H . ruscifolium Neck.) (Tab. LIV. M.). 



In large, robust tufts, bright or deep green, often blackish, 

 especially at base, when dry glossy with a bright metallic sheen. 

 Stems prostrate or pendulous, irregularly divided, often very long, 

 2-6 inches, irregularly branched ; branches few or numerous, erect 

 and arched, or long, straight, and parallel with the stem ; short, 

 robust and obtuse, or longer, more slender and often much 

 attenuated ; rather rigid, or moderately soft. Leaves usually 

 large, %.-i% lines long, more or less concave, very widely ovate, 

 shortly and more or less widely pointed, in some forms obtuse ; 

 margin plane, regularly denticulate all round ; nerve very thick 

 at base, reaching £ the length of the leaf. Cells very long and 

 narrow, linear-vermicular, obtuse, incrassate, 10-20 times as long 

 as wide, chlorophyllose and usually somewhat opaque, shorter at 



