thickened. Perianth campanulate, plicate, mouth wide, irregularly
obtusely lobate, lobes undulate. Calyptra somewhat fleshy.
Capsule globose, brown. Spores dark brown, tetrahedral-globose,
alveolate, with 7-9 very large and deep 5- and 6-angled pits,
regularly anastomosing, ridges membranaceous, sometimes appearing
to surround tbe spore, giving it a membranaoeous border as
described by many authorities and figured by Lindberg and
Corbière ; but as Mrs. Tindall, a most careful observer, remarks,
“ The membranaoeous border surrounding the spore is only the
continuation of the intersecting ridges or lamellæ. There is no real
border.” The projecting ridges around the spore vary from 10 to
12. Elaters abundant, long and narrow, pale brown, 3 to 4 times as
narrow as the diameter of the spore, pale brown, bi-rarely tri-spiral,
loosely twisted with 20-24 turns. I have not seen the male plant.
D im e n s i o n s .—Stems g to inch long x 2 ' to 4 ' mm. broad
with leaves; '3 mra. to '8 mm. broad x '3 mm. thick; leaves
2'5 mm. x 3' mm., 2’mm. x lA mm.; cells ’06 mm. x '05 mm.,
•06 mm. x '04 mm., '045 mm. x '04 mm. ; perianth 2A mm.
X 2A mm. wide at the mouth; spores '03 mm., '04 mm. ; elaters
•225 mm. x ’01 mm.
H ab.—In damp sandy situations on the coast, forming wide
shallow patches. Eare.
1. Kynall Cliff, Penzance, W. Curnoio. 7. ?
I. Dingle Bay, Dr. D. Moore, Prof. Lindberg ; Eoss Bay,
Dr. Carrington.
C. Jersey, J Piquet ; La Hauteur, Mrs. Mackenzie.
Found on the Continent and in North America.
Obs.—This is the largest and most distinct of our British
Fossombronia;, the few deep pits on the spore along with the
membranaceous ridges distinguishing it.
D e sc r ip t io n of P la t e CLXXXV.—Fig. 1. Plants natural
size. 2-4. Leaves x 11 (Jersey, Piquet). 5. Portion of leaf
x 290 ■ (ditto). 6-8. Cross-sections of stems x 24 (ditto).
9. Perianth x 11 (ditto). 10. Ditto, explánate x 11 (ditto).
11. Spore X 400 (Lindberg). 12. Ditto x 290 (Jersey, Piquet).
13. Ditto X ? (ditto).
d. Lamellæ prominent a t th e margin.
4. Fossombronia Dumortieri [Hüb. et Genth.), Lindb.
Codonia Dumortieri, Hub. et Genth. Deutschl. Leberm. n. 80 (1837).
Fossomhronia foveolata, Lindb. Not. pro F. et Fl. Fenn. p. 382 (1874).
Fossomhronia Dumortieri (Hiib. et G.), Lindb., Not. pro F. e t Fl. Fenn
13, p . 380 (1874).
Heteroicous, very fetid, cæspitose, small, green in colour. Stems
procumbent, simple or sub-ramose, thick, on a cross-section sub-
carinate, purple-violet below; radiculose, rootlets purple-violet.
Leaves small, slightly imbricate, obliquely obcuneate or subquadrate,
entire or irregularly (once or several times) lobate or
dentate, lobes acute or obtuse ; texture delicate, unistratose, cells
medium size, sub-quadrate, walls thin, no thickened angles.
Perianth shortly obpyramidal, mouth ivide, shortly and irregularly
dentate or incised. Capsule spherical, composed of
two layers of cells, inner layer with numerous yellowish-
brown, firm, but generally imperfect semi-annular spiral
threads. Spores pale brown, tetrahedral-globose, regularly
foveolate, pits 12-18, large, pale yellow, 4-6-angled, ridges
slightly raised, sub-membranaceous, regularly anastomosing,
20-30 acute teeth projecting beyond the margin. Elaters short
and moderately thick, pale brown, bi-rarely tri- or quadri-spiral.
Perigonial braots either below the perianth or on separate plants,
4 to 5 pairs closely imbrioate, somewhat roundish, smaller, saccate,
margin sub-entire ; antheridia roundish-oval.
D im e n s io n s .— Stems about ¿ inch long; leaves "8 mm. x '8 mm.,
■8 mm. X I 'l mm., '6 mm. x 1- mm., 1‘ x ’8 mm. ; spores '04 mm.,
•045 mm.; elaters -12 mm. to -135 mm. long; perigonial braot
•7 mm. X 1- mm.; antheridia '2 mm. x -15 mm.
H a b .— On damp moorlands, or by the margin of ditches. Eare.
10. Barmby Moor, Dr. Spruce; Pooklington, Dr. Spruce;
Allerthorpe Common, Bast X”orkshire, J. J. Marshall; Skipworth
Common, near Selby, William Ingham.
Found on the Continent and in North America.