BRACHYTHECIACEAE, gat 
pricht rather yellowish-green. It is a rather rare fruiter, even in 
the northern hemisphere, where the plant is common. 
RHYNCHOSTEGIUM Bry. eur. v, fase. 49-51 (1852). 
Searcely distinguishable from Eurhynchium except by the con- 
stantly smooth seta, to which may be added a certain laxity of 
i f 
constant. It is probably unsafe to ae to determine some of 
the species on vegetative B poresiest alone 
Key. 
ovate base to a rather wide and _ short 
acumen; point often broken off; leaves 
oe narrow, gradually tapering from an 
! 
strict, scarcely altered when dry .... __..... 4. fragilicuspis 
gah wider, or if narrower erabeeed acuminate: 
BOL brapiie,, CONLISOCIEG. WHOM ATV 6 ee 2° 
Cells peers primordial utricle usually distinct, 
| re yeti ptly et ae iferous; seta usually 
2 4 
| cans longer, —— any leaves more gradu- 
nate. Geta usually above 4: €m.— 452.225 3 
Peroni in spreading, capsule idk 
( POP aie Sees 2. tenuifolium 
| Penhaetial leaves erect, capsule poeacuad 
8 
3. cylindritheca 
1. Rhynchostegium laxatum (Mitt.) Par. Ind., p. 1131 (1897). 
Syn. Hypnum laxatum Mitt. in Kew Journ. Bot., viii, 264 
(1856). H. aristatum H. f. & W., FI. Tasm. ii, 210 
(1860); Handb. N.Z. HAL, p. 478. Rhynchostegium 
aristatum Jaeg. Adumbr. ii, 436. 
Jsually a rather pale green plant, resembling Eurh. muricu- 
latum, with which it is frequently mixed, causin g much confusion 
generally i In more compact, less stragg ling tufts than R. Semel clits. 
and with smaller leaves, usually but not quite always with more 
of Eurh. austrinum does from E. muriculatum and E. asperipes, in 
ssl ig the cells ceeds shorter, and less tapering at the ends 
so to be linear-rhomboid rather than linear- fusiform, we 
pe ondiat she is sane a4 yery distinct ; the cells of R. tenuifotium 
being empty and more pellucid. The seta is usually shorter, an 
the Soneia tad leaves ent and less spreading at the ee often 
almost erect, but not always so. 
ter examination of Mitten’s type specimens of Hypnum 
lizatum at Kew (Gippsland, Dr. Mueller, 115 and 120a), I am 
