The Moss Flora of the Upper Minnesota River by John M. Holzinger

Abstract

spores on tbe plants sent me by Mrs. Britton I found them to agree exactly in size and rough surface with my plant and that from Italy, but that instead of being I7-22), as Limpricht records, p. 225 of Vol. I., they are uniformly a little larger, measuring 26-30/. What I have now stated will make clear why I think Hooker and Wilson were probably right when they referred our American plants to H. rostellatum to which Lesquereux and James did not agree, retaining Sullivant's name (see the Manual, p. 52, under A. Ludovicianum). To be sure Limpricht in his historical sketch tells us that Hymenostomum rostellatuzn may also be conceived as an Astomumn (referring to the European form) which illuminates Hooker and Wilson's name Phascum crispumz rostel/atumr, but judging from his practice (See Vol. I., p. 224) he himself considers it a Hymenzos/omumrn. According to this view Astomum (or Systegiuzrm) Ludovicianum Sulliv. becomes a synonym of Hymzenostomumn r-ostel/latum (Brid) Schimp., in addition to the list given by Limpricht. On the other hand if the plant is to be referred to the genus Astomzum Hampe., or Systegiuz Schimp.. where it may stand with perfect propriety, since here also the lid is distinctly formed but not easily detached, it should be called: Astomumn rostellatumz Bry. Eur., or Systegiumi rostellatum Boulay in Muscinees del Est , p. 586 (S72). That Hooker and Wilson referred the plant to Phasczum (Astomum) crispum as a variety, is very suggestive of the close similarity of the vegetative organs, and a look at Limpricht's synonyms of the European form, ever since Bridel described it as a Phascum, is sufficient to show its ambiguous position. The frequently clustered capsules of the species are referred to, both by Limpricht and in Lesquereux and James, and the somewhat more vigorous and branching habit of Sullivant's plants is purely local, judging from the several American specimens examined. The difference in length of operculum, the European plant being on the whole a little longer beaked, is not emphasized either in plate I2, Bry. Eur., or in Sullivant's Icone, plate I2, a comparison of which shows how slight is this difference, so slight indeed that one would not care to base even a variety on it. Winona, Minn.