EURHYNCHIUM. 427 



apex ; at extreme base large, wide, elliptical, the walls strongly 

 incrassate and porose, occupying all base of leaf, but reaching 

 higher at margin than at middle, usually chlorophyllose and 

 opaque. Seta rather short, about f-inch in length, flexuose ; 

 capsule horizontal, oval-oblong, rather large, lid with a long 

 curved beak. Autoicous. 



Var. /3. prolixum Brid. Aquatic ; stems floating, with 

 simple or only slightly branched, long, often attenuated divisions, 

 soft ; leaves concave, imbricated and erect. 



Var. y. atlanticum Brid. Stems denuded at base, divisions 

 and branches curved, rigid ; leaves secund. 



Hab. Rocks and stones in and near streams ; often submerged. Common. 

 The vars. ft 7, submerged, usually in mountainous streams, and mostly sterile. Fr. 

 autumn. 



A very distinct species, though more easily recognised from its general habit and 

 appearance than from easily defined structural characters. The leaves, although often 

 slightly twisted when dry are of firm texture, and vary little in general outline, nerve, 

 and areolation, though very variable in size, direction, and degree of acuteness ; it is 

 a more robust plant than any of its allies, and its habit is constantly more or less 

 aquatic. Many varieties, besides those mentioned above, are described, but these 

 appear to be the best marked ; the leaves vary much in direction, being sometimes 

 spreading and squarrose, even when dry, sometimes closely imbricated, often very 

 concave. A form occurs in mountain streams with the leaves small, rounded-ovate, 

 often obtuse, concave, closely imbricated, so that the branches are almost julaceous, 

 soft and slender ; it is probably Che same form which Wilson describes in the Bry. 

 Brit, from Laxlip, Ireland, and which he refers with some doubt to var. prolixum 

 (Turn.), this variety being distinct, apparently, from Bridel's variety of the same 

 name. 



17. Eurhynchium murale Milde (Hypnum murale Hedw. ; 

 Rhynchostegium murale B. & S., Schp. Syn.) (Tab. LIV. N.). 



Short, in low dense patches ; stems divided, 1-2 inches long, 

 prostrate ; divisions irregularly pinnate, with short, suberect 

 straight or slightly curved, obtuse or sub-acute but not attenuated 

 branches, somewhat turgid, often sub-julaceous ; glossy green, 

 often becoming reddish. Leaves more or less crowded, erecto- 

 patent, when dry somewhat divergent or closely imbricated 

 sometimes sub-secund, very concave, sometimes slightly plicate 

 when dry, f-f line long, rarely longer, widely ovate-oblong, 

 rounded at apex and obtuse, apiculate or very shortly and widely 

 pointed, not finely acuminate, narrowed at base; margin entire 

 or slightly sinuose below, faintly, rarely more strongly, denticulate 

 at apex ; nerve wide at base, then becoming slender, reaching 

 half-way or more. Cells linear-rhomboid, tapering but not acute 

 8-15 times as long as wide, chlorophyllose, the walls firm ; above 



