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In the enumeration of the synonymes of this fine species of
Leskea, I have been careful to introduce none that appeared
to me doubtful. The plant has obviously been confounded with
a variety of Hypnum cupressiforme, at least in this country; a
fact to which Dr H o o k e r and Dr T a y l o r allude in their observations
on the var. y of that moss, (Muse. Britt, p. 113.)
Foreign authors, trusting to the accuracy of British botanists,
have cited them as authorities, and thus increased the confusion,
by communicating tbe sanction of their own names to the
error. H e d w i g himself, and his excellent follower S c h w a e -
GRTCHEN, are among the number. W e cannot, however, be
so much surprised at the latter, as he had the high authority
of Sir J. E. S m i t h , not only in the “ Flora Britannica,” but
in that excellent and hitherto unparalleled work, “ English
Botany. S o w e r b y , in the plate of Hypnum polyanthos of
that work, has certainly not figured the inner peristome; but
tbe operculum is evidently that of H ypn. cupressiforme, and
agrees with the description of Mr T u r n e r in Muse. Hib.
and with both the figure and description quoted from D i l l e -
N i u s ; whereas the lid of the true Lesk. polyantha is merely
conical, besides the peristome being truly that of a Leskea.
W e b e r and M o h r , for their British references, depend on
the authority of S m i t h , but express their doubts. “ In Britannia
fide T u r n . , operculo rostrato, acuto occurrit; nos semper
tantum operculum conicum, breve vidimus. D i l l e n .
quoque illius, nec hujus, form® exhibet. Num itaque Anglica
stirps certe eadem ? Qui Anglos non curantes subtiliores pe-
ristomiorum internorum (inter Leskias et Hypna) differentias
norunt forte dubitabunt.”
Leskea polyantha must then be regarded as an acquisition
to Great Britain, and the more interesting, as it alFords
an opportunity of a comparison with the plant which has hitherto
passed for it.
Fig. 1. Plant, nat. size. Fig. 2. Portion o f a plant. Fig. 3. Cauline leaf.
Fig. 4. Perichadial leaf Fig. 5. Capsule. Fig. 6. Calyptra. Fig. 7.
Portion o f the outer peristome. Fig. 8. Part o f the inner one. Fig. p. Sponaes,—
A/l except Fig. 1. inorc or less magnijied,.