THE GENERA OF MOSSES. 
75 
DiFF. Char. Peristome simple, formed of a conical, 
truncate plicate membrane. Calyptra mitrifbrm, 
Veg. This plant grows in thick and often widely ex- 
tended patches ; including the leaves, it is not more than 
two or three Hnes in height. The stems are extremely 
short. The root is small, and, like a little mass of ferru- 
ginous down, similar to (what is usually called) Conferva 
castanea*. The cauline leaves are few in number, and 
crowded, small in comparison with those of the perichse- 
tium, and various in their direction : they are crisped when 
dry, of a thick opake substance, and of a lurid green co- 
lour ; they are also undulate, and slightly carinate, with a 
very entire margin and strong nerve. The lower leaves are 
lingulate and obtuse, with the nerve for the most part 
reaching to the apex ; while the upper ones, or those im- 
mediately beneath the perichsetium, are linear, subulate, 
'Manceolato-subulate " (Web. and Mohk), " laoceoiato- 
oblonga obtusa (Hook.), and the nerve somewhat excur- 
rent ; " folia infima nervo subexcurrente, folia media nervo 
subexcedente " (Web. and Moim) ; " folia utraque nervo 
sub apicem evanescente instructa'^ (Hook.) The perichse- 
tial leaves are remarkably large for the size of the plant, 
" numerous, erect, exceeding the length of the theca, and 
almost covering it, oblongo-lanceolate, acuminate, a little 
convex towards the apex, having the margin remarkably 
laciniate, or rather lacerate ; it has a strong, rigid, brown 
nerve, much exceeding the length of the leaf, and is there 
serrulate. The substance of these leaves is rigid, yet mem- 
branaceous ; the colour yellow-brown.*" 
* This Conferva we suspect may be nothing else than radicular fila. 
ments. Some other Confervas, such as C. velntina (as Mr Drummond has 
ascertained), and C. Pteridis (according to the observations of Captain Cak- 
MICHAEL), are in the same predicament. 
