266 BRYOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
3. Neckera Brownii Dixon sp. nov. (Plate X, fig. 10.) 
A N. laevigata differt theca omnino fere immersa, fol. perichae- 
tialibus internis vix attenuatis, apicibus divergentibus; foliis apice 
plus minusve truneatis, apiculo perbrevi lato nune obtuso nune bene 
evoluto, acuto. 
Hab.: South of Kennedy’s Bush on bark of trees, Christchurch, 
eet Sipe coll. R. Brown ter. Port Cooper, Canterbury ; eo: TYG. 
Wright ( 2), chi 1., without further locality, unnamed in R. 
Brow n’s herbariun 
have for some tithe supposed this to be a form merely of N. laevi- 
gata, of which it has the general habit and appearance, as well as the 
leaf structure. Closer examination, however, shows it to be clearly 
distinct. In N. laevigata the inner perichaetial leaves are gradually 
attenuated, quite erect, so that the perichaetium is tapering and nar- 
rowed above; and the capsule is quite exserted on a seta about equal 
to its own length. In the present species the perichactial leaves are 
much more shortly and broadly pointed, and are divergent at apex, 
so that the perichaetium, when the fruit is sega, is in no way har- 
rowed above, and ihe capsule is immersed—at any rate as far as the 
orifice,—the rostrate lid, or when deoperculate the peristome only, 
ae exserted. The structure of the capsule and peristome appears 
o be identical with N. laevigata. 
The Aa ae N. wcvigata are often faleate, i ena on each 
side of the ; they are very concave, an ely oval, above 
gradually a a slightly narrowed t unde A: very obtuse apex 
which is entire or faintly and inregulaly en seaine. In N. Browniti 
the general leaf character ula truecture is very much the same; but 
the summit is pretty constantly different, anes omewhat truncate 
: : die 
(ef. Plate X, fig. 10.). The upper part of the leaf is either entire 
or finely and fairly regularly erenulate-denticulate. This form of 
apex is ‘quite a ue one in Neckera, though it does not obtain in 
the other N.Z. spec 
The plant one e have made the type of the species is one col- 
lected by Brown and labelled by him ‘‘Neckera new species; nerve- 
less, and the e apex more rounded; eapsule immersed” accompanied by 
a neat little sketch ‘‘drawn by W. Halliburton.’? Brown had seized 
at least the most salient characters. I have not found any difference 
in the nerve from N. laevigata. Of two further specimens in Brown’s 
herbarium, one was unnamed, the other labelled ‘*Neckera ab esdaymaga 
but there is nothing to indicate whether this was intended to be 
new MS. name. 
The specimen from Port Cooper was sent to me some tim 
with a number of other New Zealand mosses, collected I belies ce 
T. .G, Wri ght; under the name of ‘‘ Neckera ‘laevigata.’ 
h stribution would seem at — to be limited to a com- 
paratively small area in the South I 
