leaf X 290 (ditto). G, 7. Perigonial bracts x 24 (ditto).
8. Antheridium x 85 (ditto).
7. Plagiochila exigua, Tayl.
Junga-mmiia exigua, Tayl. in Trans. Bot. Soc. Ed. 1, p. 179 (1843).
Plagiochila exigua, Tayl. in Lond. Jo u rn . Bot. v. p. 264, n. 14 (1846).
Cæspitose or creeping upon other larger species, very small, of
a light green to olive-brown colour. Stems ascending or procumbent,
slightly radiculose up to the apex, rootlets dull white, proceeding
from the postical side of the stem below the stipules, in
small fascicules ; filiform, cortical cells oblong-quadrate, about 10.
Leaves obliquely inserted, slightly decurrent antically, patent to
patent-divergent, 55°, alternate, remote, but forming small capitula
at the apex of the stem, caducous, roundish obovate, obovate, or
cuneate, from a narrow base, margin quite entire, bifid from about
to sinus rounded, segments acute or obtusate ; texture delicate,
cells very small to small, subquadrate, lumen clear, walls thick, K
angles thickened, no trigones. Stipules evident, persistent, subulate,
entire, 5-7 single cells long. Neither male nor female yet
seen.
D imensions.—Stems to J inch long, diam. T mm., with
leaves '75 mm. wide ; leaves '5 mm. x -3 mra., segments T75 mm.,
•4 mm. X '3 mm., seg. T5 mm., '35 mm. x -25 mm,, seg. T mm.,
'275 mm. x T75 mm,, seg. T mm., '5 mm. x ’45 mm., seg.
T75 mm., '4 mm. x '3 mm., seg. T5 mm., '35 mm. x '25 mm.,
seg. T mm. ; cells '025 mm. x '0175 mm., '02 mm. x '0175 mm.,
•0175 mm. x '015 mm. ; stipules '175 mm. x '03 mm. wide at the
base.
H a b .— Epiphytic on tufts of Frullania, Badula, &o. ; about the
bases of moss-covered trees at Cromaglown and Killarney, Br.
Taylor. On wet rocks, Knockavoila and Dunkerron, Br. Taylor.
Toro Mountain, on Frullania Tamarisci, Br. Taylor. Killarney,
Br. Carrington. Glengariffe, Br. Carrington. O’Sullivan’s Cascade
and Glena, Br. Moore. Adrigole, near Glengariffe, Bev. C.
FL. Binstead.
Extremely rare, no other stations known.
Obs.—This very rare and minute species, about which many
botanists have had their doubts, has generally been referred to
the genus Plagioohila; the constant presence of stipules along the
length of the whole stem, which remain, whilst the leaves fall off,
and its peculiar habit, lead me to conjecture that it may belong
to some other genus, but until more perfect plants are found I
place it with the Plagiochila.
Shortly before the lamented death of Dr. Sprnoe, I had some
correspondence with him about this plant. He had specimens of
what I considered small flagelliferous forms ni Plagiochila punctata
under this name, and his opinion was, that ray plant (which
is an original specimen from Taylor) and the one collected by
Dr. Carrington was a new species. As the specimen I have fairly
agrees with Taylor’s description, I have no desire to further
complicate this subject, and I name it P. exigua, Tayl., and
refer other small forms which do not agree with Taylor s specimen
to either P. punctata or P. spinulosa. Amongst these are to be
placed specimens published in C. & P. Hep. Brit. Ex. n. 15,
which were doubtfully referred to P. exigua.
Dr. Carrington described and figured P. exigua with stipules
sometimes acutely bidentate; in the fine specimens from Di.
Taylor I have only been able to observe long, entire subulate
ones. Small, flagelliferous forms of Plag. punctata or Plag.
spinulosa are likely to be mistaken for it, but they are at once
distinguished by the absence of the long, subulate stipules.
The leaves having a very narrow base become easily detached
from the stem. A similar feature also has Plag. tridenticulata,
Tayl., which is a more robust species, of a darker colour, with
longer, sometimes trifid leaves, cells larger, and in this also the
numerous long stipules are absent.
D esciuption of P l .ate CXIX.-
2. Stem, antioal view x 24. 3-9
of leaf X 290. 11-13. Stipules x
Dr. Taylor, Cromaglown, Ireland.)
-F ig . 1. Plants natural size.
Leaves x 85. 10. Portion
85. (Original specimens Irom