198 BRYOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
I have it from two or three stations in the sage ie but it would 
seem . be rare. It is found also in Australia and Tas 
I strongly Ae Say that O. sulcatum will have a8 es reduced to 
0. ousteaie H.f. & W. (Lond. Journ. Bot., iti, 545 [1844]), from the Falkland 
Islands, Hermite Island, and Tasmania. The authors of the two species did 
not think it engares be compare them with one another, no doubt since 
in their view O. su m differs from all the other species in the furrowed 
capsule, while O. pea is figured (and described by implication) as with 
smooth capsule. I have examined the types of both species, and if the 
matter could rest on these alone the two might well stand; but the matter 
is quite altered when other specimens are ex amined. In the original 
specimens of O. australe from the Falkland Islands the young capsules are 
quite smooth, while the old ones are irregularly plicate, but do not show 
any trace of the regular ribbing that is characteristic of O. sulcatum. 
There are, however, few or no capsules in good mature condition. 
Tasmanian specimens in Hooker's collection are very puzzling, and perhaps 
the best comment on the distinctness of the two plants is to be found in 
the fact that in herb. Hooker there are certain specimens labelled 
“QO. suleatum”’ which certainly belong to O. australe, and others labelled 
“0. australe” which if the two are to be kept separate must as certainly 
be referred to O. sulcatum. The capsules in fact seem to show all gradations 
om a smooth surface to a very regularly ribbed and sulcate one. The 
bulk of the specimens, however, lack capsules in good mature condition, 
and I do not think the problem can be solved satisfactorily except by study 
of oes material in the field. 
catum is described and figured as with short, only slightly tapering 
Sea tat this is no constant character. Tasmanian specimens of Archer’s 
collecting with highly tibbed capsules have te leaves very narrowly and 
longly tapering, which is the case also with New Zealand specimens in 
herb. Kew, coll. Beckett. 
Rodway (Tasmanian sai Se agheads Mosses) describes both O. australe 
and O. sulcatum as wit cate capsules, separating them by the form of 
the fruit, taloog in the feces. fusiform in the latter ; bes there is no 
difference in the form of the capsule, hee as figured by H f. & W. or as 
exhibited by the — specimens, except inasmuch as is s produced by 
different stages of maturity. 
Brotherus also places both species under the section “ Kapsel gerippt, 
trocken gefurcht,” without suggesting any differences 
Leprosryum Wils., Bryol. Brit., p. 219 (1855). 
Leptobryum pyriforme (Linn.) Wils., op. et loc. cit 
Syn. Bryum i! dee auctt. plur. ; Handb, N.Z. Fi., p. 438. 
) R. Br. ter. in Trans. N.Z . Inst., vol. 31, 
p- rig ret Bryum Coc kaynet R. Br. ter., op. cit., p. 456. 
An almost cosmopolitan species, known at once by its silky setaceous 
leaves, and its small, highly glossy, turgidly piriform capsule of thin papery 
texture. sveral forms have been separated off as species, of which 
L. Harriottti is one, but the specimens in Brown’s herbarium do not 
specific, or even, I think, a varietal name Bryum Cockayne, 
in Brown’s h se a starved form of this species. . 
occurs commonly; a very frequent denizen of pots in arene 
es to which probably it owes some at least of its wide distribut: 
