94 BRYOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
two or three upper bracts of the remarkable perichaetium taper gradually 
or laterally, so as to show the distinct struma at the base, and is slightly 
curved and distinctly asymmetrical. In D. semicrypium the upper bracts 
end abruptly in very short obtuse slightly divaricate subequal cusps, 80 
that the perichaetium has the form of a vase with everted rim e 
capsule is very nearly enclosed (apart from the lid)—whence the specific 
name—in the perichaetium ; the base scarcely strumose, and the curvature 
slight (C. M. describes it as ‘‘recte cylindrica,’ but I find it slightly 
curve 
These characters are usually well marked and definite, and I have found 
it easy to pick out D. semieryptum—which in herbaria (e.g., at Kew) is 
frequently mixed with D. calycinum—by this character, in ce 
with the usually smaller size of the former. But there is at Kew a ver 
remarkable and perplexing plant issued by T. W. N. Beckett, “ Otira 
ve Westland, No. 997.” This is a very robust plant, much more 
showing above the vase-like rim of the siporaigat ; and in its form and 
total absence of oe agreeing quite well with D. semicryptum 
Moreover, Wilson, among his specimens of D. cal cinum, has one 
“N. Zeald., 1848” ae locality or collector), of which he has given several 
drawings, showing in conjunction with the nerved leaves of D. calycinum 
the perichaetium and fruit precisely as in Beckett 
explanation of the problem is that the archegonia of the D. calycinum may 
have been fertilized, in these two plants, by antherozoids of D. semt- 
eryptum. If, however, as is stated to be the case, D. calycinum is autoicous 
{according to the “ Flora of New Zealand ”’ the male an bel are nidulant 
amongst the leaves of the fertile stem, their organic origin being uncertain, 
and their occurence quite irregular) this Sehidesiion seems unlikely to 
have taken place so regularly, while in addition one would have expected 
to find, as usual in such cases, some trace of the female parent in the 
sporophyte. The whole problem would be an interesting one to study 
in the field. 
Although, as I have said, the perichaetium in D. calycinum docs not 
appear to show any marked variation so as to intergrade with D. semi- 
cryptum, there is a great deal of variability in the fruit itself, especially 
as regards its degree of exsertion; it may be strumose or not, t, and it may 
apart from the lid, or it may be so far exserted as to show the struma, and 
even a —— part of the seta 
origina al locality of D. semicryptum was “ prope Greymouth, leg. 
R. Helms.” Mr. James Murray collected it in the Waitakarei Hills, near 
Auckland, with D. calycinum. In R. Brown’s herbarium it occurs in 
large robust tufts ex herb. T. W. N. Beckett under the name of “ Dienemon 
calycinum, on trees, Arthur's Pass, N. reer i ” Other specimens 
us in the herbaria at Kew and the British Museum 
