erect, J to i inch with branches, few assurgent,
to height of chief stem ; when tufts loose,
stems prostrate, c reeping ; leaves c losely
clasping stem on both sides ; fertile stems
increasing in size to apex, which is blunt
and swollen ; barren shoots catenulate ;
leaves ovate, roundish ovate, bidentate ;
segments round and obtuse, finely creniilate.
Gymnomitrium obtusum, Pears. Journ. Bot.,
Nov. 1880 ; Pears. Journ. Bot., 1880, p. 337.
Gymnomitrium eoneinnatum, Gott. and Rabh.
Exs. No. 567.
In crevices of rocks.
_ In tufts a few inches in diameter, or less, of a
silvery polished appearance, dark coloured where
exposed, and, where shaded, greenish. Stems
intricately entangled, i to ^ inch, almost
round, rootlets few, hyaline, produced from
the underside of the stem. Leaves ovate, roundish
ovate, obovate, sometimes broader at the lower
half of the leaf, sometimes broader at the upper,
concave, bidentate; margin entire, except occasionally
at the outside of the leaf a shallow hollowing
out; sinus shallow, one-fifth to one-fourth deep,
sharp at the base, segments frequently slightly
overlapping, widening out broadly, with the segments
broad, obtuse, nearly equal, each segment
very concave, forming at the top of each leaf two
spoon-shaped hollows ; segments finely rounded,
crenulate ; leaves with a hyaline border. Marginal
cells quadrate, small. Male stems swollen at the
ends, where are the antheridia, perigonial leaves
but little altered, more swollen at the base, and
rather broader. Antheridia few, oval, on a peduncle
of the same \ex\gt\\.— {Plate 6, fig. 78.)
Gymnomitrium erassifolium, Carr.
Pulvinate, stoloniferous, branches ascending,
fertile, clavate, without stipules, leaves
imbricate, orbiculate, acutely emarginate, concave,
segments short, acute, of thick texture,
minutely papillose, margin entire. Oute r involucral
leaves much larger, free, cleft half
w a y into two obtuse lobes, inner involucra
shorter, three-lobed, connate, ciliate, dentate.
Gymnomitrium erassifolium, Carr. Trans.
Bot. Soc., Edin. X I IL , 461, t. 18, f. 3 ; Carr,
and Pears. Exs. No. 76.
In Alpine situations.
Forming broad shallow compact tufts of a dark
olive brown colour, nearly black when dry.
Stems 3-5 mm. long, simple, rhizomatous,
stout, decumbent at base, with tawny radicles
on the underside, fertile shoots erect, subclavate.
Leaves smaller at the base, of nearly
equal size upwards, closely imbricate, erect, secund,
embracing and hiding the stem, roundish, thick,
very convex, emarginate, segments and sinus
angular, margin entire, surface minutely papillose,
colour dull olive brown, subopaque. Dioicous.
Male shoots erect, terete, apex obtuse. Perigonial
leaves somewhat broader, tumid at the base,
' f; i: I