116 BRYOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
Gymnostomum calcareum ne germ. (1823); Handb. N.Z. Fl., p. 403 
(non Seligeria calcarea B. & §.). 
aie heed calcarea C. M., Syn. i, 659. Gymnost. pygmaeum R. Br. 
n Trans. N.Z. Inst., as ae 98. G. Salmonii R. Br. ter., 
- cit. vol. 35, p. 327. G. Parisi R. Br. ter., op. et loc. cit., 
p- 328, Trichostomum linearifolium R. Br. ter., op. cit., vol. 29, 
p- 485. 
Nov. var. longifolium Dixon. Folia praclonga, angustissime ligulata, 
recurva, plerumque acuta. 
Syn. ot gay R. Br. ter., op. cit., p. 327. Weisia feta iad 
R. - op. cit., oy ‘31, p. 439. W. acutifolia R. Br. ter., 
op. ae - ? Eucladium rieritigas Broth. e Rodway, 
raise’ osha, Mosses, p. 20 (1914). 
Hab.—Waikopiro, Hawke’s Bay, a S. Chadwick, comm. G. We vault 
No. 959; io Torlesse, leg. R. Brown; and other localities. Moun 
Wellington, agence leg. Lodden, comm. G. Webster, No. 884. 
is very variable but usually easily recognizable species is always 
found on Seeaieeas rock or soil, which it clothes with a dense 
compact cushion or mat, the lower part of the stems being generally 
encrusted with calcareous accretion. When this is not the case the 
density of the stems, interwoven with radicles, is so great that the 
older part of the plant frequently develops a ser corky consistency. 
e surface is usually (unless desiccated) of a very vivid green. By 
these characters the plant may usually be recognized at sight. There is, 
however, a go eal of variation in some characters, and this no doubt 
has given rise to a number of the species which I have felt obliged to relegate 
to the synonymy of the present plant. The leaves are very minute, narrow, 
ligulate or linear, with a stout nerve ceasing below the apex, and small, 
papillose, often rather Sbaeire upper cells; the apex often obtuse and 
longifolium, where they are very elongate and usually acute; but obtuse 
and acute leaves may be found on the sam ox and intermediate forms 
- connect it with the type. The leaves of G. caleareum are stated by 
Boulay to measure 0-75 mm. in the typical petlieg (i.e., with long, narrow 
leaves—in other forms ee are much shorter); in var. longifolium ney 
frequently reach 1-25 
Although — oe plant is often found fruiting freely, and Om I 
think, may have . Brown to describe as monoecious the four pores 
in his paper “ On the Musci of the Caloanesue Districts of New Zealand ”’ in 
volume 35 of the Transactions which I have referred here reo a this 
character there is nothing in either description or figure: res to suggest any 
distinction either from G. calearewm or from one another, aa I suppose 
that the author did not recognize the great variability of the species. In 
the same way G. pygmaeum is, I have no doubt, simply the acute-leaved 
form of the ordinary plant. 
r was in error, in the Handbook, in stating that G. caleareum 
was identical with Seligeria calcarea B. & S., which is a quite different plant. 
R. Br. ter., from the author’s specimen, is certainly 
this species (this, too, is described by him as monoecious) ; it is referable to 
