0•I:
fSi i
I feel peculiar pleasure in being able to devote a plate to
the lUustration o f this noble moss, which, probably on account
of Its fomer extreme rarity, has not found a place in “ English
Botany. On several o f the mountains o f Scotland, however it
does not prove so rare as might be expected, as D r H o o k e r
and myself, and other gentlemen, have met with it in con-
aderable abundance, though not always in fructification On
Ben More, a mountain not very favourable to vegetation D r
H o o k e r accompanied by Mr T r e v e l y a n , found it, in
his annual excursion with his students, in such profusion that
a space o f some yards was completely covered with it ; and
1 have often seen it in a barren state extending several feet in
one uniform tuft.
In conjunction with Mr W a l k e r A r n o t t , I have expressed
it as my opinion, that Splachnum rugosum o f D ic k
s o n as given on the authority o f S m i t h and the figure in
English Botany, is a distinct species*. This we are also inclined
to do from two other circumstances; namely, from W e b e r
and M o h r having taken it up, and from having ourselves gathered
specimens o f the very plant itse lf on the higher parts
o f Ben Lawers. The figure in “ English Botany” o f this
moss is extremely characteristic; and it is only with a view o f
confirming the species that I propose to myself the pleasure o f
giving a second and early figure o f it. In justice to the able
authors o f “ Muscologia Britannica,” it is necessary to state,
that the specimens they received from D ic k s o n himself did
not agree with the “ English Botany” figure, but proved to be
the true S. vasculosum; this is sufficient to account for the absence
of S. rugosum in their excellent work.
Mfn i 7 r Z discform flower,
■ f- Capsule, with the ltd, and corrugated apophysis. Fig. 4.
i Z Z ” 7 the peristome and coteeth.
AU but the twojirst magnified.
• G k e v i l l e and A r n o t t on the Splaohnmdm, Wern. Trans, v. 6. p. 459.