/Z*2
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GRIMMIA Starkeana.
Minute Oval-leaved Grimmia.
CRYPTOGAMIA Musci,
Gen. Char. Fringe simple, of 16 teeth, broadest at
their base. Flowers terminal. Veil cylindrical.
Spec. Char. S t e m s i m p l e . L e a v e s o v a t e , s l i g h t l y
b e a r d e d . C a p s u l e e l l i p t i c a l , u p r i g h t . L i d c o n i c a l
o b t u s e .
Syn. G r i m m i a S t a r k e a n a . Roth. Germ. v. 3. 146. Sm
FI. Brit. 1186.
W e i s i a S t a r k e a n a . Hedw. Sp. Muse. 65. Crvbt. v. 3
83. t. 34..B.
B . m i n u t u m . Dicks. C r y p t, f a s c . 4. 7 . t. 10. f . 17 .
M r . DICKSON first observed this little moss in Britain, and
to him we are obliged for specimens, which agree exactly with
those sent from Germany. For those in the plate annexed we
are obliged to Mr. W.Borrer, who found them near Lewes in
Sussex. Mr. Turner is now convinced that the G. Starkeana
o f his Muscologia Hibemica is a new and distinct species,
being more than twice the size o f our plant, of a blacker hue,
and furnished with a branched stem. He proposes to call it
atro-virens.
The species before us is very minute, having a fibrous, probably
perennial, root, and a short undivided leafy stem.
Leaves crowded, spreading, ovate, entire, of a pale brownish
green, furnished with a strong rib, which is extended into a
small short point, often scarcely evident. Fruit-stalk solitary,
erect, straight, short, brownish. Capsule erect, elliptical,
smooth, brown. Lid conical, short. Teeth almost linear.
The lower leaves turn to a pale brown, and are permanent.
The stem grows after flowering, but does not branch.