7ajiex'XJC/ih
f4u.yi/my wmyiH'XM/m'
M u s e i E x o t i c i .—Burchelliani.
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BRYUM UMBRACULUM.
Bryum caule elongato, foliis obovatis acutis marginatis
undulatis serratis, nervo excurrente, capsula oblongo-
cylindracea pendula. (T a b . CXXXIII.)
Bryum Umbraculum. Burchell M S S .
H a b . Terrestre, in umbrosis sylvarum densarurn regionis Aute-
niqualand Africæ meridionalis ; satis copiose. D. Burchell.
Caules inferne repentes, tomento fusco obsiti, ramosi, ramis erectis
bipollicaribus, flexuosis, apice solummodo foliosis. Folia
prægrandia, stellatim disposita, horizontaliter patentia, lurido-
viridia, inferne purpurascentia, obovata, acuta, undulata, marginata,
minute serrata, nervo ultra apicem in apiculum brevem
producto. Substantia satis crassa, areolis parvis oblongis reticulata.
Setoe solitariæ vel non raro 3 ad 5 ex eodem caule,
subpollicares, rufæ. Capsula obloiigo-cylindracea, pendula,
intense rulb-fusca. Peristomium ext. dentibus luteo-fuscis,
int. membrana reticulata, sedecim-dentata, dentibus perfora-
tis, cum ciliis 2 vel 3 interpositis.
Were it not for the margined leaves which are but faintly serrated,
and the very long almost cylindrical capsule, it would be
hard to distinguish this species from Bryum roseum. These characters
are however constant, and must surely be considered sufficient
to constitute it a distinct plant. The leaves are perhaps
the largest of any known moss. In the centre of some of the
foliage I find the Hedwigian female flowers, containing, besides
the pistils, jointed filaments, both of a reddish brown colour.
Fig. 1, 1, plants, and Fig. 2, 2, 2, leaves, nat. size. Fig. 3,
leaves. Fig. 4, portion of a leaf. Fig. 5, ext. teeth of peristome.
Fig- 6, portion of inner ditto. Fig. 7, parts of the female flower.
—piagn.
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