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ORTHOTRICHUM APICULATUM.
O/T/io/ric/iMm caule repente ramoso, ramis erectis, foliis
oblongis apiculatis medio canaliculatis siccitate tortis,
seta longa, capsula ovato-cylindracea, calyptra glabra
multifida. (Tab. XLV.)
H a b . P ro p e X a lap am in reg n o M e x ic an o , regione tem p e ra ta .
Humholdt et Bonpland.
Caules rep en te s, nudiu scu li, rig id i, ramosi, ramis erectis subfas-
ciculatiin divisi. Folia n umerosa, fuscescentia, su p e rio ra p a l-
lid io ra flavo-viridia nitoris e x p e rtia , h o riz o n ta lite r p a te n tia ,
oblo n g a , niargiiie su b u n d u la ta , nervo u ltra apicem in apiculum
p ro d tic to p e rc u rs a , Perichcetialia m in o ra la te ovata, su b a cu m
in a ta . Seta d cinuin lateralis longltiscula. Capsula o vato-
cy lin d ra c e a , se n e c tu te su bla iiceola ta. Operculum subu la tum .
Calyptra b ad ia , s tr ia ta , mitriformis, g la b ra , a basi usque ad
medium iu lacinias au g u s ta s fissa, laciniis apice bifidis. Peristomium
?
So closely does this moss border upon the Sclotheimia squar-
rosa of Schwaegrichen, that I can hardly point out any essentially
distinguishing character between them except in the calyptra,
which is by no means alike in the two plants. I have therefore
greatly to regret that in all the specimens 1 possess of 0 . apiculatum
the capsules are either not sufficiently, or else too much,
advanced to exhibit a peristome. Those in the latter state are
quite destitute of teeth ; and as to those upon which the operculum
still remains, I can, on removing this part under the microscope,
discover nothing but a pulpy mass filling the hollow of
the lid, the external substance of which, when the capsule is
arrived at maturity, probably forms the peristome.
Until I can satisfy myself as to the real structure of the teeth,
I shall place this species among the Orlhotricka, where it will
rank naturally enough with O. longipes, 0 . gracile, 0 . longirostre
and longifolium,—differing however from all in the form
of the leaves.
Fig. 1, plant nat. size. Fig. 2, leaves,
leaf. Fig. 4, capsule with the operculum.
Fig. 6, calyptra.
Fig. 3, perichætial
Fig. 5, old capsule.
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