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BRACHYTHECIUM NELSOM n. sp. 



By a. J. Grout. 



Plants with the fades of undersized B r achy the ciuin rivu/are, but not 

 dendroid. Stems 5-8 cm. long, irregularly to subpinnately branching. 

 Stem leaves erect-spreading, triangular-ovate, long and slenderly acuminate, 

 1.5-2 X about 0.6 mm., slightly concave with margins turned inwards towards 

 the apex, slightly serrulate at extreme apex. Branch leaves similar to the 

 stem leaves but smaller and usually proportionately narrower, the upper 

 often serrate above, decurrent, with a large area of abruptly enlarged and 

 inflated alar cells which are separated from the ordinary cells by a narrow 

 band of much smaller oblong cells. These alar cells are much like those of 

 B. rivulare. except that they occupy a larger area; median and apical cells 

 much as in B. rivulare, costa stout at base, rapidly narrowing in the lower 

 portion, extending about two-thirds the length of the leaf. Perichaetial 

 leaves slightly costate. 



Apparently dioicous. Sporophyte not differing essentially from that of 

 B. rivulare. 



La Plata Mines, Wyoming. Aug. 25,1898. Coll Elias Nelson, no. 5172. Com. 

 J. M. Holzinger. Apparently growing on humus. Type in herb. A. J. G. 



This plant is very close to B. rivulare but differs distinctly in its tri- 

 angular long acuminate leaves, which are different from any 1 have ever 

 seen on any of the hundreds of specimens of B rivulare which I have ex- 

 amined. The inflated alar cells are also much more numerous, extending 

 well toward the costa. 



Description of Plate VII. 

 a. Plant of B. N^lsoniy^ b & c, Capsules x 8. d & e. Stern leaves of 



B. Nelsoni: d^ & e^, of B. rivulare. f, g, & h. Branch leaves from upper 

 middle, lower middle, and base respectively of branch of B. Nelsoni: i\ g^, 

 & h^, same of B. rivulare. k. Large branch leaf of B. Nelsoni. 1, Alar 

 cells of B. Nelsoni: V , of B. rivulare. m. Median cells of B. Nelsoni: m^, 

 of B. rivulare. 



LUNULARIA CRUCIATA IN FRUIT. 



By Julia T Shinn. 

 Although described as always sterile in America, Lunularia cruciata 

 has 3'-ielded to the ''glorious climate of California " and quantities of the tiny 

 white tafts that conceal the young archegonia were to be seen during this 

 last April and May in the great lath-house of the California Nursery Com- 

 pany at Niles. There, as in many large American greenhouses, the Lunu- 

 laria is a . great nuisance, rapidly covering the surface of the half-buried pots 

 and of the earth between them. The air of the lath-house is of course fresher 

 than in a glass house, the ground is kept damp and it is rather darker than 

 under glass. This house is used principally as a shelter for camellias, 

 azaleas and the more tender conifers such as araucarias. Possibly the con- 

 ditions suitable to these plants approach those of the European habitats of 

 the Litnularia. 



