The Scottish Naturalist. 



219 



areolation. The peculiar reddish-brown colour at the base is, 

 however, common to both forms ; but the external characteristics 

 differ very materially. At first sight the Glen Callater specimens 

 could scarcely be identified with genuine specimens of Gr. 

 elongata. 



I have lately received specimens of Gr. retracta from various 

 parts of Scotland, all of which have a strong resemblance to one 

 another. Apart from the colour, which is scarcely ever yellowish, 

 as in Gr. Hartmanii, but dark or dark greenish, the most striking 

 character is the beautifully recurved condition of the leaves when 

 moistened, giving quite a squarrose appearance to tufts of the 

 moss in wet weather. Gr. Hartmanii has, on the contrary, a very 

 flaccid appearance under similar conditions. As described in a 

 previous number of this Journal, the areolation of Gr. retracta 

 differs materially from that of Gr. Hartmanii. 



There is another moss belonging to the puzzling group of which 

 Gr. apocarpa is the centre, which has exercised me lately. It was 

 picked up more than twenty years ago near Callander ; and, al- 

 though I sent specimens at the time to Mr. Wilson, I am tempted 

 to give a slight description of it now. Renewed attention has 

 recently been directed to this group ; and the extreme differences 

 presented by the so-called varieties are so manifest that the specific 

 distinction of several of these varieties is regarded as necessary — 

 such as Gr. alpicola, to mention a single example. 



The moss now to be mentioned differs from any I have seen 

 described; and I therefore regard it as new. 



Grimmia platyphylla, laxly tufted, dark green or brownish, 

 robust ; leaves broadly ovate, or shortly ovate-lanceolate, obtuse ; 

 at the broadest part rather more than half as broad as long, on an 

 average, i*6 by 'g mm. These dimensions do not include the 

 hair at the point, which is as long as, and often longer than, the 

 leaf proper, is broad at its insertion into the blunt apex, and is 

 only slightly spinulose. This hair apparently falls off during the 

 second year. Areolation dense, nearly as in apocarpa. Margin 

 recurved in lower half, &c. ; nerve prominent on back. Capsule 

 sessile amongst the pericheetial leaves, which overtop it, pale and 

 wide-mouthed ; teeth red, and occasionally cribrose. 



In the specimen under inspection the teeth were not perfect, 

 and the lid and calyptra were absent. 



