HYPNUM. 453 



•described genera to which it may bear any resemblance. It is sometimes much more 

 like H. aduncum var. Kneifjii, but only in a few very extreme forms ; it is then best 

 identified by its quite entire leaves with the areolation gradually becoming laxer at the 

 base of the leaves, not suddenly enlarged at the angles. The larger, wider, chloro- 

 phyllose leaves, often complanate, and though widely spreading, hardly squarrose will 

 separate it from the other species of this Section except H. polygamum, the basal 

 areolation of which is quite different. 



The var. splendens is a very handsome plant, with wide flat branches having the 

 large leaves very regularly arranged and of a deep green. This variety and the var. 

 longifolium are often very much elongated, 6 or 8 inches long, and almost with the 

 habit of Fontinalis.- 



The union of this species with those of the Section Campylium may without 

 doubt give rise to some questioning. On the one hand the areolation is frequently 

 ■shorter than in the type, approaching that of Amblystegium Kochii ; but this is 

 exceptional, and is never the case in the more ordinary and by far the greatest number 

 •of forms, nor, as far as I am aware, in fruiting plants, and can, of itself, be held no 

 more a ground for uniting the species with Amblystegium than can the fact that in 

 ■other forms it nearly approaches H. aduncum be held a reason for placing it in 

 Harpidium. In all the more ordinary forms the outline and the direction of the 

 leaves give it full as much a title to a place here as H. polygamum, and although the 

 areolation is very different in character from that of this and the allied species, it is 

 by no means unlike that of H. elodes. On the whole I think it must be conceded 

 that its affinities with the plants of this Section are at least as close as with Ambly- 

 ■stegium, in which genus it is in its typical form decidedly anomalous. 



2. Hypnum elodes Spr. (Amblystegium elodes Lindb.) 



(Tab. LVI. 1.). 



Very slender ; stems 2-4 inches long, procumbent, irregularly- 

 pinnate, branches slender, ascending ; in rather large low tufts, 

 olive green or yellowish. Stem-leaves distant, widely spreading ; 

 branch-leaves somewhat closer, but not densely placed, slightly 

 secund at the tips of the branches ; all very small, %-% line long, 

 narrowly ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, widest just above the 

 base, gradually tapering to a long fine acumen, hardly decurrent, 

 narrowed at base ; margin plane, obsoletely-denticulate ; nerve 

 yellowish, strong, vanishing in the acumen. Cells widely linear, 

 thin-walled, 8-12 times as long as broad, at base larger, shorter, 

 sub-rectangular, more incrassate, covering a large space at the 

 base of the leaf, but not forming well-defined auricles. Seta 

 long, 1-2 inches ; capsule sub-cylindric, curved. Dioicous. 



Hab. Marshy meadows, on earth by water, etc., rare. Fr. spring, very rare. 



A delicate plant, resembling H. chrysophyllum, but quite different in the long, 

 strong nerve, and by that and the divaricate, almost squarrose, distant leaves readily 

 identified. H. polygamum is a larger plant with fainter, shorter nerve, quite entire 

 margin, and more distinct angular cells, and the inflorescence autoicous. 



3 Hypnum polygamum Schp. (Amblystegium polygamum 

 B. & S.) (Tab. LVI. M.). 



Resembling H. stellatum ; moderately robust, less erect; 

 yellowish green or golden. Leaves not very densely crowded, 



