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finely dentate, but the most important distinctions of Scapania
aspera are the closer texture of the leaves and the epidermis being
verruculose ; this latter character separates it from all the other
British Scapanice, with the exception of Scapania oequiloba
(Schwaeg.).
Scapania cequiloha (Schwaeg.), of which it was considered a
variety by such good authorities as Gottsche and Lindberg, is
undoubtedly its nearest ally, although strikingly different in habit
and smaller in size, and generally of a darker olive-green colour ;
the leaves are regularly inserted and almost equal in size the whole
length of the stem, and although the lobes are by no means equal,
as the name would imply, they are more so than in Scapania aspera,
are more quadrate, with the apex more acute. This character is
also observable in the bracts ; in Scapania aspera the perianth is
usually wider at the mouth, but the margin is exactly the same.
The male plant of Scapania aspera approaches nearer to
5. oequiloba than the barren or fertile one.
The founders of the species say, “ I t has nothing in common
with Scapania oequiloba except in the tuberoulose cuticle.” This
statement will probably be questioned by students who have the
opportunity of examining a large series of specimens.
Scapania crassiretis, Bryhn (found in Norway), is another allied
species, which has not yet been met with in our country.
I find the species with which it is most generally mistaken
lor, even by some expert students, is Scapania resupinata (L.),
with which it agrees somewhat in the shape and margin of leaves,
but the latter species is usually of a pale olive-brown colour,
narrower and more equal leaves, the antical lobe is also more or
less reflexed on some portion of the stem, the epidermis is also
quite smooth.
D escription of P late LXXXIV.—Pig. 1. Plants natural
size. 2. Portion of young branch x 16 (Yewbarrow, G. Stabler).
3. Leaf x 11 (G. & E. n. 602). 4. Ditto, explánate (ditto). 5,
6. Leaves x 11 (Sweden, Kindberg). 7. Leaf x 11 (G. & R.
n. 602). 8. Margin of leaf, postical lobe x 85 (ditto). 9. Portion
ol leaf X 290 (ditto). 10. Bract x 11 (Yewbarrow, G.
Stabler). 11. Ditto, explánate (ditto). 12. Perianth x 11
(Sweden, Kindberg). 13. Portion of mouth of perianth x 85
(Yewbarrow, G. Stabler).
6. Scapania resupinata (Z.), Bum.
TAchenmtrvm awrimlatmn. pinrmlis rotundis, arispum, Dill. H ist. Muse. p. 491,
t. 71, f. 19 (1741).
Jungermania resupinata, Linn. Sp. pi. 1599, fide Dillenii (1753); Huds. Fl.
Ang, p. 512 (1798); With. A rr. Br. pi. 3, ed. I l l , p. 875 (1796); Eng.
Bot. t. 2437.
Radula dentata, Dum. Syll. Ju n g . p. 40 (1831).
Scapania dentata, Dnm. Kecueil, p. 14 (1835).
Scapania resupinata, Dum. Recueil, p. 14 (1835).
Martinellia gracilis, Lindb. Manip. Muse. Secund. p. 305 (1874).
Dioicous, growing in dense tu Its of a yellowish-brown or
olive colour, pale below, closely entangled with long hyaline rootlets,
which are produced from the underside of the stem. Stem
ligneous, simple or sparingly branched. Leaves crowded at the
apex, equal in size, from about ^ to the J bifid, closely oondupli-
oate, antical lobe crossing the stem, appressed, somewhat ereoto-
patent, convex, yet upper margin frequently reflexed, obliquely
reniform-rotund, apex rotundate-obtuse, with distant large teeth,
teeth broad at the base, the apical ones generally the largest,
postical lobe about twice as large, very convex, upper margin
remarkably reflexed and decurrent, obliquely oval-obovate,
rotundato-obtuse, dentato-serrate, apical teeth scarcely larger ;
epidermis smooth, cells small, quadrato-rotund or quadrate, angles
thickened, walls firm. Bracts a little larger than the leaves,
antioal lobe proportionately larger. Perianth prominent, oboonical,
piano-compressed, mouth often decurved, truncate, wide, inoiso-
dentate, usually with about 6 segments, finely dentate, capsule
oval, projecting a little. Perigonial spikes usually terminal,
bracts closely imbricate, lobes almost equal, ventricose at the base,
antheridia oval. Upper leaves often gemmiparous, gemmæ oval,
usually biseptate.
Var. minor. Small, rarely more than J in. long, more delicate
than the ordinary form, and although it is very constant in size