254 BRYOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
As to the branching; stems of the same gathering, and probably 
from the same primary stem, show both forms together, and it is in 
faet a quite ineconstant character. 
e striation of the leaves rarely occurs, and when it does is not 
correlated with the other characters attributed to N. Trachyloma. 
The seta varies from lem. to 2em., but all intermediate forms 
occur, and there is no relation between ‘this character and the others 
suggested. 
The lid appears to be constantly conico-rostrate. I have seen no 
lids that we should term conical, though i in just mature capsules they 
are gradually narrowed from base to tip, not suddenly contracted to 
a rostrate beak. It is to be noted that Hedwig does not figure the lid; 
but as the lids of Neckera viticulosa figured on the same plate of the 
Sp. M., which are described by Hedwig as conical, are precisely of 
the usual form in the New ee species under discussion, i.e. as 
we should term it, conico-rostrate, it is fair ae suppose that Hedwig’s 
plant of V. plan ifo lia possessed a + sila lid; and the chief difference 
proposed by C. Mueller disappe 
There is therefore no reason ie wonder that there are two N.Z. 
species. 7. Helmsi C.M. from the description differs from 7. plani- 
folium in no respect, an Brotherus’ suggestion that it is not specific- 
ally distinet is no doubt correct. 
Trachyloma planifolium is a plant more easily recognized than 
described. The long, rather rigid, very complanate, somewhat glossy 
fronds with scariose, flat Fenadl ovate leaves, serrulate and faintly 
nerved, Ga smooth ‘eylindrie subereet capsule, pale peristome, the 
teeth long, the processes filiform, nodose, white, are the main charac- 
ters. In Climacium dendroides aha Sciadocladus Kerrui, with some- 
thing the same habit, neither branches nor leaves are complanate, and 
their structure is very di prior 
The leaves in this plant, and in other species of the same genus, 
have a marked ie Hed i old to turn whitish or silvery 
I have received from two or three localities a marked form Cf. 
propagulifera) in which the upper part of many of the branches is. 
entirely defoliate, but densely clothed with brown, septate gemmae,— 
the whole having ‘the appearance, in miniature, of a bottle-brush. This 
form oceurs in both Islan 
The species is frequent, and extends to Tasmania and Australia. 
Weyrwovutuia Broth. in Engl. & Prantl, Pflanzenfam., Musci., ii, 811 
(1906). 
2 The species of this genus have usually been sat in Meteorium 
or Pilotrichella. The genus is based to a considerable extent on micro- 
scopic peristome characters, as well as the naked, not ees ealyptra ; 
plants, especially the pendulous a be Fosiees dare! by the highly 
coneave, cochleariform eee! obtuse arly so. Any difficulty 
likely to arise, in fact, rather paribaly per with allied ‘plat but 
wi tain e 
considering that they belong to two distinct Families, rather strik- 
ingly close. I refer to these similarities under the separate species.. 
