(Original Jlrtklcs. 



A NEW BRTUM {B. ORIGANUM). 

 By H. Boswell. 



Amongst a few critical mosses gathered by Mr. Wesley in Teesdale 

 last June, and sent me for examination, is one which has proved very 

 interesting and difficult to determine. At first sight the reddish tint 

 of the upper leaves suggested B. pallens or turbinatum, but the habit 

 and foliage were very unlike those mosses, and resembled B. barbatum^ 

 Wils., under which name I was disposed after some further inspection 

 to let it remain, but there are certain points of difference which it 

 seems impossible to ignore, and as at the same time the present plant 

 seems to disagree with all previously known species, there seems to 

 remain no other course but to give it a new name, however undesirable 

 it may be to increase our list with another imperfect species, for it 

 was unfortunately gathered in small quantity only, and is without 

 flowers or fruit ; but the form and texture of the leaves appear 

 distinct and sufficient to render it well marked. The name 

 proposed was suggested by the peculiar colours, and it may be thus 

 described : — 



" Bryum Origanum, nov. sp. 



" Stems elongated about an inch or more, copiously radiculose and 

 forming dense soft tufts. Leaves ovate and ovate-lanceolate shortly 

 pointed, scarcely acuminate, concave, nerved almost to the apex, cells 

 leptodermous oblong and nearly rectangular, margins plane, slightly 

 recurved when dry, formed of a single row of narrower cells." — Shady 

 Old Wall, Teesdale, June 1879, J. S. Wesley. 



In soft dense tufts, foliage full green, the young leaves at the 

 summit rosy -pink, the old foliage of former years and lower part deep 

 brown, stems and leaves matted with numerous radicles. Habit and 

 general aspect much as in B. barbatum, Wils., or some forms of B. 

 ceneum from Norway ; from the former it differs in the form of the 

 leaves which are not piliferous -acuminate, in the nerve ceasing below 

 the apex, in the form of the cells and their very thin walls. The 

 name of B. barbatum has been changed in the second and recent 

 edition of Schimper's excellent Synopsis, but for what reason does 

 not appear, any more than in the analogous case of Zygodon 

 gracilis. 



Oxford, August, 1879. 

 N. S,, Vol. v., Oct., 1879. 



