1953] 



PLANTS COLLECTED IN NYAS ALAND 



193 



These collections show considerable variation in the form of the leaf-apex 

 just as L. sulphureum (C. Mull.) Mitt, does in tropical America. The forms with 

 more slenderly acuminate leaves present no other distinguishing characters that 

 I can detect and I doubt if they are deserving of special recognition. 



Hyophila zeyheri (Hampe) Jaeg. 



Mlanje District: Likubula Gorge, terrestrial in shade of a termite mound, 840 

 m., 16389. 



FUN ARIACE AE 



Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. 



North Nyasa District: Nyika Plateau, disturbed soil on open grasslands, 2400 

 m., V329. 



SPLACHNACEAE 



Tayloria borbonica (Bory) Broth. 



Mlanje District: Mlanje Mountain; Luchenya Plateau, epiphytic in forest, 1820- 

 1890 m., 16450, 16588, 16620, 16689; ibid., terrestrial in semi-shade under Wid- 

 dringtonia trees, 1890 m., 16557. North Nyasa District: Nyika Plateau, moist 

 peaty soil in thickets, 2340 m., 11193. 



To judge from the above collections this species seems to be of frequent oc- 

 currence on the Luchenya Plateau. As far as I know these are the first records for 

 the African mainland. It is known from Madagascar and Reunion. 



BRYACEAE 



Orthodontium lineare Schwaegr. 



Mlanje District: Mlanje Mountain; Luchenya Plateau, small patch on trunk of 

 forest tree in deep shade, 1890 m., 16540; ibid., exposed crown of a tall Wid- 

 dringtonia tree, 1890 m., 16545; ibid., lower trunk of Widdringtonia tree, 2000 m., 

 16629. 



Mielichhoferia eckloni Hornsch. 



North Nyasa District: Nyika Plateau, moist peaty soil in thickets, 2340 m., 

 17191. 



Pohlia elongata Hedw. 



Mlanje District: Mlanje Mountain; Luchenya Plateau, terrestrial in semi-shade, 

 1890 m., 16554; ibid., moist shaded erosion bank in grassland, 2000 m., 16630, 

 16632. 



Recorded from the Kilimanjaro region but otherwise not known from Africa. 

 These collections seem to be typical in all respects. This species has an almost 

 cosmopolitan distribution, being known from Europe, Japan, Yunnan, Himalayas, 

 Philippines, Kerguelen, and North America. 



Brachymenium capitulatum Mitt. 



Mlanje District: Mlanje Mountain; Luchenya Plateau, epiphytic in forests, 

 1820-1860 m., 16448, 16593, 16690. Cholo District: Cholo Mountain, crown of a. 

 rain-forest tree (on dead wood), 1200 m., 17786. 



Anomobryum filiforme (Dicks.) Husn. 



Kota-kota District: Nchisi Mountain, on shaded hard soil in Brachystegia 

 woodland, 1400 m., 17140. 



This species has an extensive north- and- south range on both sides of the At- 

 lantic Ocean. The present collection represents the southern extremity of the 

 range in Africa, while in the Western Hemisphere it extends southward through 

 Mexico and Central America to Ecuador and has been reported from Uruguay by 

 Mitten. 



