PHASCUM triquetrum.
Three-sided Earth-Moss.
CR YPTOGAMIA Musci.
Gen. Char. Fruitstalk terminal. Capsule closed
(lid persistent, indeliiscent). Peristome none.
Calyptra dimidiate, or sometimes campanulate.
Spec. Char. Stem scarcely any. Leaves in three
rows, connivent, obovato-navicular, sharply keeled,
margins reflexed, nerve excurrent. Capsule
spherical, horizontal, immersed among the leaves.
Calyptra subdimidiate. Inflorescence monoic'ous.
T 11 X HIS highly beautiful and curious new species was found
by Mr. Borrer in April 1844, growing in bare spots among
short grass on the summit of the cliffs between Rottingdean
and Newhaven, on the coast of Sussex. It has been overlooked
as Phascum muticum by several eminent botanists; and
we learn from Mr. Wilson that it is published under that
name in Drummond’s Musci Americani, No. 8, and in Mou-
geot and Nestler’s Stirpes Crypt. Vogeso-Rhen., No. 802.
The Sardinian specimens of Müller, distributed by the Unio
Itineraria under the name of P. muticum, belong partly to
that species and partly to P. triquetrum.
This moss is about equal in size to its near ally P. muticum,
but it grows in closer patches. The plants appear to the
eye like little triangular bulbs, which are green at the time of
flowering, but assume a reddish-brown tinge as they advance
towards maturity. Leaves about nine in number, arranged
in three ranks, closely imbricated and connivent; the three
lowest minute, ovate, nerveless, occasionally cloven; the three
uppermost (those of the perichaetium) broadly obovate, api-
culate, sharply keeled, remarkably boat-shaped, being hoi