EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



93 



SUB-ORDER VIII. 



TRICHOSTOMEiE. 



Characteristics of Order. 



Stems generally forked, plants tufted, capsule oval or cylindrical, at the 

 summit of the plant (acrocarpous) . Peristome of sixteen teeth, usually barred 

 transversely, very slender, and in Tortula twisted round. 



Plate XI. 



TRICHOSTOMEiE. Part 1. 



DESMATODON. 



Fig. 1. Generic Character. 



Leaves in eight rows, areolae (a) large at the base. Capsule erect or drooping, 

 teeth awl-shaped (subulate), united by a membrane at the base; forked {bifid), 

 slightly twisting. 



Fig. 2. Desmatodon nervosus. 

 Ribbed-leaf Moss (a) . 



Colour. Yellow green. 



Stems. Branched, in thick tufts. 



Leaves (b) . Oblong-oval, larger and spreading into a bunch at the summit, when 

 dry twisted round the stem ; their texture thick, the nerve remarkably 

 strong, and thicker in the upper part. 



Floivers and Fruit. Monoicous. Capsule oval, seta rather curved. Spring. 



Locality. Banks and walls near the sea. 



DISTICHIUM. 



(Fig. 3 a, b.) Generic Character. 



Teeth (Fig. 3 a, 4 a) at equal distances, inserted below the mouth of the 

 capsule ; lanceolate, much jointed (articulate) . Leaves (Fig. 3 b.) inserted on 

 opposite sides of the stem (distichous) . 



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