IV. MUSCI. 
437 
34. BRACHYMENIUM, Hook. 
Small slender Bryoid mosses. Leaves closely imbricate ; reticulations lax. 
Capsule suberect, oblong subclavate or pyriform, not furrowed, equal at the 
base ; annulus simple ; peristome double ; outer of 16 linear-lanceolate teeth ; 
inner a membrane irregularly split at the apex into 16 cilia. Operculum 
conical. Calyptra cucullate. 
A small genus of tropical and southern mosses, very closely allied to Bryum. 
1. B. coarctatum, C. Muell. Synops. i. 312 ( Bryum ). Stems short, 
i-4 in. high, tufted. Leaves minute, oblong- or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 
quite entire ; nerve stout, ferruginous, exserted as a hyaline point ; perichse- 
tial larger, longer, narrower. Fruitstalk slender, flexuous, from short basilar 
shoots. Capsule ovoid, erect ; mouth contracted; operculum conic, acute. 
Northern Island : Auckland, Knight ; scraps only, picked out of other mosses by Mr. 
Mitten. (Java, Pacific islands.) 
35. MIELICHOFERIA, Nees and Homscli. 
Characters and habit of Bryum , but the inflorescence is terminal, on short 
axillary branches, and appears lateral. Capsules pyriform or clavate, oblique 
or pendulous, with a tapering apophysis often of equal length ; peristome 
simple, of 16 teeth, connate at the base; annulus large, unrolling spirally. 
Operculum short. Calyptra small, narrow, cucullate. 
A genus of a few species of alpine mosses. 
1. M. longiseta, C. Muell. Synops. i. 236. Stems short, erect, simple. 
Leaves yellowish, lanceolate, acuminate, with a slender excurrent nerve, 
slightly toothed at the apex ; periclnetial broader, nearly entire ; nerve va- 
nishing. Fruitstalk very long, slender, flexuose. Capsule pyriform, erect or 
inclined; apophysis of equal length. 
Northern and Middle Islands; Auckland, Knight ; Alps of Canterbury, Sinclair and 
Haast. (Andes of Columbia.) 
36. BRYUM, Linn. 
Usually erect, densely tufted perennial mosses, rarely creeping, growing in 
all situations, except aquatic. Stems proliferous at the tips. Leaves usually 
membranous ; nerve distinct; cells rhomboidal. Fruitstalk terminal. Capsule 
pyriform or clavate, inclined or pendulous ; neck short or long ; annulus 
usually present ; peristome double ; outer 16 simple equidistant teeth, with 
a dark central line, transversely lamellate on the inner surface, incurved when 
dry ; inner a membrane cleft into 1 6 keeled teeth, with often interposed cilia. 
Operculum short, convex, apiculate. Calyptra small, cucullate, fugacious. 
One of the largest genera of mosses, found in all parts of the world, especially the cold and 
mountaiuous. Many of the New Zealand species are provisional only, and most of them 
require to be re-examined with more and better specimens. Their characters are often very 
obscure. 
A. Plants usually annual. Leptobryum 
1. B. pyriforme. 
