44 2 hypnace^. 



Heterocladium heteropterum especially in its var. fallax ; this however is at once 

 known by its dark green colour and non -acuminate branch-leaves. A. serpens differs 

 in the constant presence of a nerve, however faint, and the autoicous inflorescence ; 

 A. confervoides in the inflorescence, the curved, sub-horizontal capsule, and deeper 

 green colour. An allied species, frequent on the continent, A. subtile, is slightly 

 more robust, with rather larger less distant leaves, showing a faint trace of a nerve, 

 and autoicous. 



2. Amblystegium confervoid.es B. & S. (Hypnum confer- 



voides Brid.) (Tab. LV. N.). 



Minute, resembling the last species ; of a rather deeper 

 green, the leaves slightly less distant, more appressed both when 

 moist and especially when dry, about the same size but variable, 

 usually a little more gradually tapering, less narrowly acuminate ; 

 cells similar, somewhat more chlorophyllose. Perichastial bracts 

 plicate. Capsule cernuous and sub-horizontal, curved, oblong, 

 very small ; cilia of inner peristome present, 1-3. Autoicous. 



Hab. In similar situations, principally on calcareous rocks, very rare. Fr. 

 summer. 



The fruiting characters are the most important and the most constant, but barren 

 plants may probably be separated from A. Sprucei by the characters italicised. 



3. Amblystegium serpens B. & S. (Hypnum serpens L.) 



(Tab. LVI. A.). 



Stems prostrate, rooting, slender, with numerous erect or 

 spreading, slender, often filiform branches, forming very low soft 

 tufts of a dull or yellowish not shining green. Leaves crowded, 

 variously spreading when moist, when dry usually appressed and 

 imbricated so as to give the branches a somewhat catenulate 

 appearance, frequently however remaining more or less erecto- 

 patent but rarely widely spreading and never squarrose, very 

 rarely slightly secund ; ovate-lanceolate or ovate-acuminate (those 

 on the branches narrower, lanceolate-acuminate), small, usually 

 about % line in length, rarely £ line, tapering to a fine acumen of 

 very varying length, narrowed and slightly decurrent at base, 

 entire or faintly denticulate , nerve usually rather faint and 

 indistinct , reaching half-way or rather more, sometimes to the 

 base of the acumen; cells hexagonal-rhomboid, irregular, rather 

 variable in size and in relative length, 3-6 times as long as broad, 

 chlorophyllose or pellucid, at basal angles becoming shorter, sub- 

 quadrate, but not distinct. Seta slender, red, \ to nearly 1 inch 

 long ; capsule cylindric, strongly curved, constricted below the 

 wide mouth when empty ; lid conical, somewhat obtusely 



