The Extinguisher Mosses. 209 



itself. This fringe is inflexed when moist, and is sometimes 

 deciduous. 



The capsule of E. ciliata is of a bright chestnut colour, sub- 

 cylindrical, veiy smooth, slightly constricted below the mouth, 

 but "without an annulus, and having thicker walls than those of 

 E. vulgaris. The teeth of the peristome, lanceolate in form, 

 and sixteen in number, are marked with transverse bars, some- 

 what prominent externally, and inserted below the orifice of the 

 capsule ; they are of a reddish hue, converge when moist, but 

 remain erect in a dry state. The spores are granular, and the 

 fruit-stalk, instead of being reddish as in E. vulgaris, is yellow. 

 The stems are loosely tufted, about half an inch long or more, 

 branched and bearing oblong-ovate leaves of a brighter green 

 than those of_E7. vulgaris, broader and less crisped when dry, 

 the margin plane in the upper part, distinctly recurved below, 

 somewhat crenulate at the apex, and with an excurrent nerve 

 forming a slight macro. 



The fruiting season of E. ciliata is two months later than 

 that of E. vulgaris, viz., June and July. It is found on rocks in 

 the mountainous parts of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ire- 

 land. In both the inflorescence is monoicous, as is the case 

 with Encalyjpta commutata, and Encalypta rhabdocarpa. 



E. commutata, or the sharp-leaved extinguisher moss, has also 

 branched and radiculose stems, which are slender and about an 

 inch long, with ovate-lanceolate leaves, concave, acuminate, 

 slightly undulated, more or less spreading and squarrose from an 

 erect sheathing base, and having an excurrent nerve. 



The capsule is smooth, sub -cylindrical, of thinnish texture, 

 and seated on a reddish fruit-stalk. It has a simple annulus, 

 but no peristome ; and the calyptra is smooth all over, jagged 

 and uneven at the base, but not fringed. The vaginula, as in 

 E. vulgaris, is crowned by a conical cap of spongy tissue, whose 

 base is bordered by a circlet torn from the base of the 

 calyptra. 



The barren flowers of E. ciliata are found near the peri- 

 chetium, they are gemmiform, but only three leaved ; those of 

 E. commutata are six-leaved, and are either axillary, or terminal 

 on a branch, accompanied by numerous antheridia and para- 

 physes ; but E. commutata is sufficiently distinguished by its 

 taper-pointed squarrose leaves, which are its unfailing charac- 

 teristics. It appears to be limited in distribution, but grows 

 near the summits of the Scottish mountains, and fruits in July 

 and August. 



Encalypta rhabdocewpa or the rib-fruited extinguisher moss, 

 like the rest of the genus, has branched and radiculose stems, 

 about half an inch long or rather more. " Its leaves are mode- 

 rately spreading, lanceolate or ovate-oblong, acuminate and 



