POLYTRICHUM GiGANTEUM.
Polytricimm caule valde eloiigato subfastigiatim ramoso,
ioliis erectis lineari-subulatis rigidis, margine apicem
versus solummodo parum involutis dorsoque scabris,
setis numerosis, capsula ovato-cylindracea, operculo
rostrato, calyptra pilosa. (Tab. LXV.)
H a b . In devexo montis Quindiu, ad radices Ceroxyli andîcolæ,
in temperatis usque ad altitudinem 1450 hexapodarum. H umboldt
et Bonpland.
Caidìs spithamæus vel etiam pedalis, crassus, rigidus, flexuosus,
basin versus indivisus, radicibus parvis fibrosis instructus, sursum
subfastigiatim ramosus. Folia arcte imbricata, erecta,
intense fusca, liiieari-siibulata, rigida, basi vaginata, apice so-
liimrnodo margine parum involuto dorsoque. scabra; nervo
totain superficiein folli occupante, striato. Selce numerosæ,
terminales, sed ob caulis innovationes sæpissime laterales, tri-
uiiciales, crassiusculæ, rubræ. Calyptra pilosa, fusca. Capsula;
magnæ, inclinatæ, ovato-cylindraceæ, fuscæ. Operculum
rostratum, curvatum, capsula duplo brevius. Perislomium
ut in P . communi.
This remarkable plant, which exceeds in size our P . commune,
has an affinity in its ramification and the form of its capsules
with P. alpinum, and in its leaves with P . juniperinum. The
leaves, however, are plain at their margins, except just at the
point, where, as well as at the back, tliey are slightly toothed.
Fig. 1, plant. Fig. 2, calyptra, nal, size. Fig. 3, leaf. Fig. 4,
apox of ditto.—magn.