DICRANACEAE. 73 
altered, while the upper half is strongly crisped. The capsule varies a good 
deal in outline, from turgidly oval to rather longly elliptical, and is always 
slightly contracted at the mouth. The peristome is fragile and soon pk 
and I have not seen capsules in good condition for examination. The 
are entire or only slightly and irregularly divided or perforated at the pe 
slightly papillose, and sometimes at least showing —? striolae in the 
lower or median part. The spores measure about 20, and are finely 
granulate. I have not been able to detect the presence of stomata on the 
capsule, but they are present in all the soa: species. 
The identity of the New Zealand “ W. crispula” with Dicranum ant- 
arcticum C. M. was recognized by Hooker and Wilson in the Handbook, 
p. 404; but it seems to have been lost sight of since then in New Zealand ; 
this, however was not from any want of knowledge of the plant itself, which 
has been widely collected and known as Blindia chrysea Miller’ 
type specimens of this, as well as numerous others which I he ve examined 
of Beckett's an rown’s, show that it is ary aad identical with the 
original Blindia antarctica C.M. Weissia Webbii in R. Brown’s herbarium 
is also the same thing. In his article (loc. cit.) on Weissia, R. Brown refers 
to Beckett’s publication of Blindia chrysea under that genus as a mistake, 
the capsule in Blindia pre: turbinate or subpyriform ; not recognizing 
that Blindia is used by Miiller in a wider sense, including the species of 
Dicranoweisia. Blindia chrysea should properly be cited as of C & 
Beckett. Brown’s note may here be recalled as to the colour of the present 
species—yellowish green when its habitat is on rocks, where the plants are 
subject to be often dried up; dark green when the habitat is on damp 
« Weissia crispula (2) Ludwig ’’* (R. Brown, loc. cit., p. 440) is not the 
present plant, from the specimens in Brown’s herbarium so named ; it is 
Weisia flavipes H. f. & W. 
D. antarctica has an interesting distribution. It is evidently widely 
spread over the South Island, but I have seen no records from the Northern 
Island, nor from Tasmania. It is known also from Campbell Island, and, 
outside the New Zealand region, from Hermite Island, Fuegia, and from 
the Marion Islands, the latter record being perhaps doubtful. This distribu- 
tion may possibly be held to support the idea of a land connection with the 
antarctic distinct from, and, if so, probably subsequent to, the land connec- 
tion through Tasmania by which probably me 5 sta part of the mosses 
common to the two ee reached New Zeal 
* « Ludwig” is a misprint for “ Hedwig” in the Handbook, copied by R. Brown. 
