176 BRYOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
7. Orthotrichum Beckettii C. M. in Hedwig., xxxvii, 139 (1898). 
Syn. O. conicorostrum R. Br. ter. in Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 27, p. 425. 
O. obliquum R. Br. ter., op. cit., p. 428. 0. inaequa ale R. Br. 
ter., op. cit., 429. O. parvithecum R. Br. ter., op. cit., p. 440. 
ckett in Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 26, p. 277, refers to this as being 
synonymous with O. laticiliatum Vent. & ‘Broth. ; but this is due to some 
I have part of the original gathering, ex herb. C. Mueller, by the kindness 
of Dr. Brotherus, and I have been able to identify it with numerous other 
of the species. It is a tall plant, reaching 3cm. and more in height, the 
stems only slightly and shortly branched, the capsules persisting for several 
years and therefore appearing lateral on the stems and very meng 
especially as they are produced frequently, perhaps most commonly, tw 
or even more from the same perichaetium. ey are more or less distinctly 
exserted, but not so longly as in O. tasmanicum ; they are smooth or very 
lightly striate only, leptodermous—the exothecium cells having very thin 
ptra naked (rarely acrong: pilose). C. Mueller describes 
evi 
species. C. Mueller compares it with 0. pulchellum, a comparison which 
am unable to follow ; indeed, his description as “ caespites unciales ; 
surculus innovando pluries thec ecigerus ” is entirely at variance with it. 
It is, I should judge, a fairly well distributed species. 
8. Orthotrichum hortense Bosw. in Journ. Bot., 1892, p. 97. 
Syn. O. breve R. Br. ter. in Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 27, p. 
} i 
: i 434. 
p. 435. O. minimifolium R. Br. ter., op. cit., p. 439. 0. longi- 
thecum R. Br. ter., op. cit., p. 433. 
Rev. C. H. Binstead has sent me part of the original gathering of this, 
collected by Mrs. Roper, determined by Boswell. The author compares it 
with O. speciosum, and describes a capsules as exserted ; but this is a loose 
resemblance to O. speciosum is not evident. Boswell, moreover, describes 
the peristome as red. In the original plant there is no trace of red, and the 
capsules are not at all exserted. I make n o doubt that the above 
egies and’ poms toned is due to there habeing been a plant of 
O. lancifolium intermixed with the true O. hortense. Boswell also compares 
it with O. affine, and this is no doubt the true affinity of the species. It 
shows a good deal of Scat but is no doubt a good species, though without 
- any very striking chara 
‘oh be 
half-emergent ote capsule, pale and suburceolate at ripening, 
> _ when empty narrow and brown, is the best guide to its identity. Small 
