498 INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 



1. Ancectangiei, Br. & Sc, Mont. 



Sporangium ovate or spherical, -with a small persistent 

 annulus, but entirely free from peristome ; vaginula, perfect ; 

 calyptra cuculliform, subulate ; leaves imbricate ; areolas 

 small. 



555. Except in the mode of origination of the sporangia 

 from true perichsetial branches rooting at the base, and ulti- 

 mately deciduous, there is no character to separate this tribe 

 from Gymnostomum. The species differ, however, from most 

 other Pleurocarpous mosses, in the perfect formation of the 

 vagimila. There is but a single genus which consists of a 

 few species only. Such species as A. iviherbe and ciliatum 

 now appear under Hedwigidium and Hedwigia. The species 

 belong to Europe, Mexico, and the upper part of South 

 America. There is no trace of them in the southern hemi- 

 sphere. A. compactum, which is the only certain British 

 species, has somewhat of the habit of Gymnostomum curvi- 

 rostrum. 



2. Drepanophyllei, Mont. 

 FiSSIDENTEiE, Br. & Sc. 



Stems flat ; leaves distichous, equitant ; sporangium pedun- 

 culate ; teeth 16, bifid; calyptra cuculliform, more rarely 

 conical. 



556. This tribe is distinguished from almost all other 

 mosses by the peculiar character of the leaves, which are, in 

 fact, equitant. The two limbs are folded together, and the 

 nerve is expanded into a lamina, which, however, frequently 

 vanishes in the lower leaves. The peristome is that of 

 Dicranum,, from which Drepanoijihyllei are widely separated 

 by habit. The fruit is not always strictly pleurocarpous. As in 

 the last tribe there k a distinct vaginula. Few species are more 

 interesting when closely examined, and the larger forms are 

 very striking objects. Many occur in New Zealand, and 

 they are often the same with European species ; others are 

 scattered about in Java, India, Cayenne, and other localities. 

 The species of Fissidens grow mostly on shady banks, or near 

 watercourses. Conomitrium, which is the same genus with 

 Ododiceras, occurs actually in watercourses, and has a float- 



