m
Until a recent period, this very curious moss was confounded
with Tetraphis ovata of F u n c k , and accordingly our excellent
countryman R o b e r t B r o w n , Esq. was supposed only
to have discovered the first British station for it. H e must
now, however, be regarded as having added a new species to a
very limited and highly interesting genus. Tetraphis ovata
m leality is destitute of the linear leaves so conspicuous in our
plant, and which, when it spreads over the surface of the rock,
in Us usual manner, produce a bristly appearance altogether peculiar.
It is worthy of notice, that our present species is never
found on the upper horizontal surface of the rock, very rarely
indeed on the perpendicular face, but abundantly on the roofs
and slanting sides of large cavities, crevices, and often from beneath
projecting masses, growing with its bead downwards.
One of tbe most curious circumstances connected with the
genus to which our moss belongs, is, that Mr B r o w n has observed
the four teeth of the peristome to be marked with seven
longitudinal lines, thereby indicating the real number to be
thirty-two, “ a structure contributing,” as he justly observes,
‘Mo fix tbe place of Tetraphis in the natural series between
Splachnum and Orthotrichum^ (Linn. Trans, v. xii. p. 579.^
To the latter it is brought still nearer by its furrowed calyptra.
S c h w a e g r i c h e n , in tbe second Part of his second Supplement,
just published, has placed this moss, together with
T. ovata and repanda, in a new genus, which he calls Tetro-
dontium. His character rests upon tbe dioecious gemmiform
flowers, and triangular teeth of the peristome: the latter, it
must be confessed, is too artificial to be admitted. We regret,
that, considering the very great dissimilarity of the habit of
T. pellucida, and of the mosses we have mentioned, that we
cannot at present, consistently with our ideas of bryology, follow
the example of our worthy friend.
ig. 1. Plants, nat. size. Fig. 2. A plant magnijied. Fig. 3. A young plant.
Fig. 4. Leaf. Fig. 5. Perichætial leaves. Fig. 6. Capsule with calyptra.
Fig. 7. Capsule, with operculum. Fig. 8. Peristome. Fig. p. Two o f the
teeth o f the peristome. Fig. 10. Lid. Fig. I I . Calyptra. Fig, 12. Sporules.