436 HYPNACEjE. 



not clearly defined from the rest of the basal cells. Seta long, 

 i-i^ inches ; capsule rather large, about I line long, suberect, 

 cylindrical with a distinct neck, dull brown, slightly curved or 

 nearly straight, distinctly striate when dry and empty. Lid 

 conical, obtusely or acutely acuminate, or rostellate. Autoicous, 

 male flowers near the perichaetium. 



Var. /8. aptychus Lees in Lond. Cat. of Br. Mosses (PL 

 aptychus Spr. as sub-spec). Smaller; leaves narrower, more 

 narrowly acute or shortly acuminate, the points often hooked and 

 decurved, cells narrower, 6-10 fi wide. Seta shorter, capsule 

 small, (| line) horizontal, oblong, neck indistinct or none ; when 

 dry and empty wide-mouthed, oblong-cylindrical, strongly curved, 

 not striate, brown at back, usually paler below; lid conical, 

 hardly acuminate , short. 



Var. y. majus Boul. Tall, luxuriant , 2-3 inches long. Leaves 

 large, somewhat tapering and acute, usually shrinking consider- 

 ably when dry, the nerve usually long and distinct, cells large, 

 wide, capsule large, long, narrowly cylindrical, arcuate, striate ; 

 lid rostellate, the beak often long. 



Var. 8. obtusifolium Hook. & Tayl. Leaves concave, shortly 

 and widely ovate, rounded at apex and minutely apiculate, or 

 rarely obtuse, not tapering nor acuminate, soft ; cells lax. 



Hab. On the ground, roots of trees, rocks, etc. , chiefly in woods. Common. 

 The var. aptychus much less common. The var. majus in damp mountainous woods, 

 frequent. The var. obtusifolium on mountains, not common. Fr. summer. 



In addition to the above-mentioned varieties there are numerous other forms 

 which have been named and described of more or less importance ; the var. densum 

 Schp. , a short, closely tufted form with short branches and crowded leaves, is one of 

 the most marked ; I have gathered this with very small, smooth, almost symmetrical 

 capsules as described by Schimper, etc. , and if this is a constant accompaniment the 

 plant would be well deserving rank as a variety ; Spruce, however, mentions it as 

 possibly belonging to his sub-species sulcatum (the type as described in this work), 

 and should forms occur with the capsule striated, the plant would have to be looked upon 

 as only a dwarf form. ' 



I have always found the typical form and the var. aptychus very distinct, but Mr. 

 Bagnall tells me that he finds both smooth and striate capsules in the same tuft, and 

 in a specimen sent me by him of the var. aptychus I find a single capsule lightly 

 striate, but not distinctly so nor of the typical shape ; on the whole this variety 

 appears to be a very distinct one. As pointed out by Spruce, hooked leaves are in 

 this species usually correlated with a hooked capsule. 



In reference to the var. obtusifolium Hook. & Tayl., Spruce observes that he has 

 never seen any form with obtuse leaves as described above, and it is certainly true that 

 in the form in question the leaves, while rounded at the summit, are usually apiculate, 

 but I have gathered this variety on Ben Lawers and elsewhere bearing some leaves 

 which are actually obtuse, and, if the name be somewhat ill-chosen, the variety is a 

 fairly well-marked one ; it appears to be usually barren, and is usually of a deep green 

 colour and soft in texture. 



The present species is sometimes so slender as to resemble P. pulchellum, P. 

 Borrerianum, etc., but may always be known by its decurrent leaves with large wide 

 cells and lax basal areolation, except as regards P. sylvaticum. For its relationship to 

 the latter the student is referred below. 



