Page:The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage.djvu/148

126 In an early state the difference between the calyptra of this genus and of Orthotrichum is very considerable, being, in the present case, linear and subulate ; but in the latter genus campanulate. We consider Bridel's definition of this as drawn from more natural characters than that of Schwaegrichen.

1. Macro jiitrium longirostre, Schwaegr. ; caule repente, ramis erectis, foliis confertis erecto-patentibus lineari-lanceolatis lineis duabus notatis sohclinerviis siccitate tortilibus, theca ovali sulcata, calyptra glabra. M. longirostre, Scliwaeg. Suppd. vol. ii. j)t. 2. p. 131. 1. 112. Brid. Bryol. Univ. vol. i. p. 310. Orthotrichum, Hook. Muse. Exot. t. 25.

Hab. Lord Auckland's group and Campbell's Island ; abundant on the trunks of trees near the sea.

This species varies considerably in colour and in habit ; the leaves are, sometimes, narrower and more spreading than in these specimens ; when dry they are always twisted round the stem.

2. Mackomithium aeutifolium, Bricl. ; caule repente ramosissimo, foliis lanceolatis valde acurninatis tortis nervo subexcurrente, theca ovata striata, operculi rostro aciculari, calyptra glabra. M. acutifohiun, Bricl. Bryol. Univ. vol. i. p. 736. Orthotrichuni, Hook, and Grev. in Edinb. Journ. of Science, vol. i. p. US. t, 5.

Hab. Lord Auckland's group ; on rocks at the top of the hill above Kendezvous Harbour, barren and very scarce.

9. SCHLOTHEIMIA, BriJ.

Peristomium duplex ; exterius dentes sedecim, per paria approxirnati, siccitate spiraliter revoluti ; interim merubrana conica, in lacinias sedecim pluresve dentiformes inaequaliter fissa. Calyptra comco-mitrsformis, glabra, basi appendiculata, demum lacera. TJwca sequalis, exannulata. Some sjiecies of Macromitrium, possessing a double peristome, have been confounded with this genus : from our own experience we are inclined to consider the appendicnlate cylindrical calyptra as the most decisive character of Schlotheimia ; the structure of the peristome apparently affording marks of minor importance only. In an early stage, a fold of the calyptra is produced downwards below the point of insertion of that organ into the vaginula, as in some Splachna, E/iealypta, and possibly in other genera of Mosses. This inverted portion, after the lengthening of the seta has detached the calyptra, splits into four or more segments; rid. Plate LVIII. Fig. I. — 11 and 12.

1. Schlotheimia qnadrifda, Bricl. ; foliis oblongo-lanceolatis cuspidatis tortis, theca oblongo-pyriformi laevi, calyptra glabra. S. quadrifida, Brid. Suppl. Muse. vol. ii. p. 18. Schwaeg. Suppl. vol. i. pt. 2. p. 41. and vol. ii. pt, 2. p. 147. t. 57. Brid. Bryol. Univ. vol. i. p. 321. (Tab. LVIII. Fig. I.)

Unr. /3 ; caule robusto, foliis magis confertis inferioribus nigricantibus hrevius cuspidatis.

Hab. Campbell's Island ; on rocks and dead bushes, frequent. Yar. /3, on rocks at an elevation of 1200-1400 feet.

This species approaches the S. Bromiii, Schwaeg. (Suppl. vol. ii. pt. 2. p. 52. t. 167), from which it differs in the shorter and less excurrent nerve, and from S. nitida in the leaves being straight and not recurved. The leaves of var. are of a darker colour, more closely and regularly twisted round the stem, and do not readily recover in water.

It is singular to remark how far these tropical forms extend into the southern regions, whence we infer that an equable climate is the chief condition they require. In Tasmania, where the climate is more excessive than in New Zealand under the same parallel, the Schlotheimia and Macromitria are almost unknown, though in the latter loca-