Muscr Exorict.—Gardneriani. 
GYMNOSTOMUM XANTHOCARPUM. 
Gymnostomum caule densissime czspitoso fastigiatim 
ramoso, foliis patentibus lineari-lanceolatis, seta lon- 
giuscula, capsula ovato-sphzerica, operculo longirostro 
curvato. (Tas. CLIITI.) 
Has. In Nepal. Hon, D. Gardner. 
Caules cespites densos efformantes, sesquiunciales, erecti, ramosi, 
ramis fastigiatis. Folia lurido-viridia, patentia, lineari-lanceo- 
lata, planiuscula, mollia, integerrima, nervo ad apicem attin- 
gente percursa. Perich@tialia subulato-lanceolata. Seta se- 
miunciam longa, erecta, flava. Capsula pulcherrime flava, 
levis, ovato-spherica, ore truncato, membrana horizontali co- 
lumelle affixa, clausa. Calyptra subulata, dimidiata. Oper- 
_culum e basi plano-convexa, subulatum, eapsula subeque lon- 
gum, rostro curvato. Semina minutissima, hyalina, 
It -has been already remarked in the Muse, Brit. (p. 9.) that 
some species of Gymnostomum are furnished with a horizontal 
membrane, and that in one species, G. Griffithianum, it is not 
unfrequently entire. Such too is remarkably the case in the pre- 
sent plant, where it is most clearly the flattened and dilated sum- 
mit of the columella, (Vid. f. 10.) Another peculiarity in this 
moss is the smallness of the seminal bag, which does not occupy 
one half of the cavity of the capsule. It is united above to the 
lower edge of the horizontal or dilated summit of the columella, 
and there bursts, when the seeds are discharged. So delicate is the 
structure of the capsule, that the seminal bag may be clearly seen 
through it when held between the eye andthe light. 
As a species, the G. xanthocarpum will rank near to G. curvi- 
rostrum, differing, besides the circumstances above noticed, in 
the form of the leaves. 
Fig. 1, tuft of plants; and Fig. 2, single plant, nat. size. 
Fig. 3,3, leaves. Fig. 4, perichetialleaf. Fig.5, capsule with 
its operculum and calyptra. Fig. 6, capsule. Fig. 7, operculum. 
Fig. 8, calyptra. Fig. 9, capsule cut open to show the seminal 
bag and the columella terminating in a horizontal membrane, 
se 10, columella, Fig. 11, seeds.—magn. 
OL 
