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126 FLORA ANTARCTICA. [Auckland and
In an early state the difference between the calyptra of this genus and of Orthoinchxim is very considerable,
being, iu the present case, linear aud subulate ; but in the latter genus carapanulate. We consider Bridel’s definition
of tliis as ch-awn from more natural characters than that of Schivaegiichen.
1 . M acromitritjm longlrostre, Schwaegr, ; caule repente, ramis erectis, foliis confertis erecto-patentibus
lineari-lanceolatis lineis duabus notatis solidinerviis siccitate tortilibus, theca ovaR sulcata, caljq)tra glabra.
M. longirostre, Schicaeg. Suppl. vol. ii. pt. 2. p. 1 3 1 .1 .112. B r id . Bryol. Univ. vol. i. p. 310. Orthotri-
chum. Hook. Muse. Exot. t. 25.
H a b . Lord Auckland’s group and Campbell’s Is lan d ; abundant on the trmiks of trees near the sea.
Tliis species varies considerably in colour and in habit ; the leaves are, sometimes, nan’oivcr aud more spreading
than in these specimens ; when dry they ai*e ahvays twisted round the stem.
2. J I acbomitril'M acutifoUuni, B rid .; caule repente ramosissimo, foliis lanceolatis valde acuminatis
tortis nervo subexcurrentc, theca ovata striata, opercuH rostro aciculari, calj^ptra glabra. M. acuti-
fohum, B iid . Bryol. Univ. vol. i. p. 736. Orthotriclium, Hook, and Grev. in Edinb. Journ. o f Science, vol. i.
p. 118. t .5 .
FIab. Lord Auckland’s gi'oup ; on rocks at th e top of the hill above Rendezvoi^ Harbour, barren and
very scarce.
9. SCHLOTHEIMIA, Brid .
Peristomium duplex ; exterius dentes sedecim, per paria approximati, siccitate spiraliter revoliiti ; inierius membrana
conica, in lacinias sedecim pluresve dentiformes inæqualiter fissa. Calyptra conico-mitræfoimis, glabra, basi
appendiculata, demum lacera. Theca æquaUs, exannulata.
Some species of Macromitrium, possessing a double peristome, have heen confoimded with this genus : from
our own experience we are inclined to consider the appendiculate cylindidcal calyptra as the most decisive character
QÎ Schlotheimia ; the structure of the peristome apparently affording marks of minor importance oidy. In an early
stage, a fold of the caljqitra is produced downwards below the point of insertion of that organ into the vaginula, as
iu some Splachna, Encalypta, and possibly in other genera of Mosses. This inverted portion, after the lengthening
of the seta has detached the calyptra, splits into four or more segments; vid. Plate LVIII. Fiy. I.—11 and 12.
1. ScHLOTHEiMiA cpiadrifda, Brid. ; folhs oblongo-lanceolatis cuspidatis tortis, tlieca oblongo-pyriformi
læri, calyptra glabra. S. quadiificla, Brid . Suppl. Muse. vol. h. p. 18. Schwaeg. Suppl. vol. i. p t. 2. p. 4-1.
and vol. ii. pt, 2. p. 147. t. 57. Brid . Bryol. Univ. vol. i. p. 321. (Tab. L V I I I . Fig. I.)
Yar. caule robusto, fohis magis confertis inferioribus nigricantibus brevius cuspidatis.
H a b . Campbell’s Is lan d ; on rocks and dead bushes, frequent. Var. |3, on rocks at an elevation of
1 2 0 0 -1 4 0 0 feet.
This species approaches the S. Brownii, Schwaeg. (Suppl. vol. ii. pt. 2. p. 52. 1 .167), from ivliich it differs in
the shorter and less excurrent neiwe, and from S. nitida in the leaves being straight and not recurved. The leaves
of var. ^ are of a darker colour, more closely and regularly tiristed round the stem, and do not readily recover
in water.
It is singular to remark how far these tropical forms extend into the southern regions, Avliencc we infer that' an
equable climate is the chief condition they require. In Tasmania, ivherc the climate is more excessive than in New
Zealand under the same parallel, the Schlotheimioe and Macrornilria are almost unknoAvn, though in the latter loca-
CamphelVs Islands?) FLO RA ANTARCT ICA. 1 2 /
lity, and indeed tliroughout the three islands of New Zealand, they abound. Wherever they grow they invariably
affect shade and shelter, The European genus Orthotrichum, on the other hand, of which there are several Tasmanian
examples, is very rare in Neiv Zealand ; and in Lord Auckland’s group and CampbeU’s Island, as in the Falkland
and other Antarctic Islands, the species coiut exposm-e, gi-owing on black and exposed rocks, enduring the fidl
power of such solar heat as those regions afford during the day, and of the frost, wind, and noctm*nal radiation at
other times. Under these cii-cumstances, theii- foliage is of a peculiarly hard and almost horny consistence, especiaUy
when dry.
P l a t e LATII. Fig. I.— 1 and 2, tufts of the natiual size ; 3, cauline leaf; 4, upper leaf from near the peri-
choetium; 5, tlieca; 6. pci-istome; 7, a tooth; 8, calyiitra; 9, calj-ptra, in a very young state, adherent with the
vagiinda, split open, exposing the enclosed seta, which is en-oneously represented as bulbous; 10, the same, entire,
siuTOimded by pistüla ; 11 and 12,c.alyptra, showing the base inflcxed and attached to the snnunit of the vaginida ;—
magnified.
1 0 . AVEISSIA, Hedw.
Peristomium simplex, dentibus sedecira, suberectis, angustis, imperforatis.
æqualis, exapophysata, annidata v. exannulata.
Calyptra cucuUiformis. Tlieca
1. W e is s ia crispida, Liidw.; caule erecto diriso, foliis imbricatis secundis lanceolatis acnminatis ca-
nalicnlatis siccitate crispiilis, tlieca erecta oblonga, operculo obhque rostrato. AV. crispula, Hedw. Sp. Muse.
p. 68. 1 .12. B rid . Bryol. Univ. vol. i. p. 346.
Var. 13, ambìgua ; fohis breidoribus snbsecimdis siccitate lix crispatis, perichætiahbns acnminatis nervo
excuiTente, seta breviore, dentibus interdum per paria approximatis. (Tab . LA’I I I . Fig. II.)
H a b . Campbeh’s Is lan d ; on exposed rocks from 6 0 0 -1 2 0 0 feet above th e level of th e sea, abundant.
After a xevy careful comparison of the CampbeU’s Island plant with specimens of TV. crispula from Snowdon,
w'e are at length satisfied of the specific identity of the two. It is stiU uuceriain whether the TV. crispida of Hooker
and Taylor he the same as that of Hedwig. The characters of the latter aud of TV. cirrata, as given by Schwaegrichen
(Siipp.vol.i. pt. 1. p.75.), differ very sUghtly. Of TV. cirrata both Hedwig aud Bridel remark, “ foUa raai-giuibus reflexis
aut infiexis,” the former wæ find constantly to be the case, in wdiicli respect the plant differs essentiaUy from crispula.
It is more than probable tbat the Moss from Snowdon, figured by DiUenius (ITist. Muse. t. 47. f. 38.), and quoted
liy Bridel as a sjmonyra of his Bicranuni interruptim, is the TV. crispula of Hooker and Taylor, which may well be
considered by Bridel, a Bici’anum, having the habit of that genus, and the peristome being unknown to 1dm.
P late LA^III. Fig. II.—1, tuft of the natural size ; 2, a branch and theca ; 3. a leaf ; 4, a theca ; 5, teeth ;
6, calyptra :—magnified.
2. AA'eis s ia contecta, Hook. fil. et AA’ils. ; canle fastigiatim ramoso, fohis erectis strictis lanceolatis
superne setaceis integerrimis solidincrriis, seta perbrevi, theca ovata, operculo rostrato. (Tab . LA 'III. Fig. I I I .)
H ab. CampbeU’s Islan d ; on alpine rocks.
Caules scsquiimciaies, dense cæspitosi, siibrigidi, fragiles. Folia conferta, erecta, vix seciiiida, 3 hn. longa, in
apicem rigidiim lincarem e nervo crasso excurrente formatiim producta, iutegerrima, canaliculata, marginibus basi
inilexis, inferiora fiisco-atra, superiora flavo-vii-idia ; perichoetialia-ûiiilorà, conformia. Infiorescentia monoica. Fl. masc.
ad basin Iceminci, gemmiformes; antheridia paraphysibus pliu-imis immixta. Seta vix hneam longa, crassiuscula,
iimovationibus mox lalerahs. Theca badia, ore patente. Annnlus o. Denies pjTamidati, iuciirri, transverse sulcati,
fon-uginco-lutci, integri v. apice fissi, siccitate reflexi, Sporæ miiiiitæ. Operculum basi hemisphericum, rostro obliquo,
capsula parum bveviovc. Calyptra coriacea, subulata, parva, fusca.