98 TAYLOR ON A NEW BRITISH JUNGERMANN I A. 



minutest, of British Jungermannia. Subsequent visits ena- 

 bled me to detect a few calyces, out of one of which the cap- 

 sule had protruded in January, 1839 ; but I have reason to 

 suppose that it flowers all the year round. I have also met 

 with it on Hypnum curvatum, on Jungermannia Tamarisci, 

 and on J. Mackaii, The leaves have their margins so much 

 incurved, as to present, not unfrequently, in the upper part, 

 the outline of a cone, whose sides then appear the margins, 

 when the projecting cellules look like serratures. But Mr 

 W. Wilson, with his usual acuteness, has observed the true 

 figure of the leaf which he found destitute of serratures ; he 

 likewise detected the emargination of the leaf, and showed 

 that this could easily be exhibited by sliding a piece of mica 

 over the leaf in water under the microscope. Without some 

 such artifice it is difficult to be persuaded that the leaf is not 

 entire. 



This species is plainly allied to J. minutissima, and the 

 small tribe to which this belongs, not only by the erect 

 valves of the capsule joined at the base, but also by the in- 

 volution of the lesser lobe of the leaf, the size of the plant, 

 and the very similar places of growth in which they all occur. 

 Yet the calyx is destitute of any plaits above, and tumid as a 

 bladder filled with air : the more pellucid leaves and more 

 delicate stems will keep it distinct, although there may be a 

 great resemblance between the leaves of this species and of 

 J. minutissima, especially the perigonial, which usually have 

 an expanded apex to the larger lobe. The annexed figure is 

 magnified to a very high degree ; it would be impossible to 

 represent any distinct resemblance of the natural size. 



Thomas Taylor. 



Tab. XX. — Fig. 1. The magnified plant; /. 2. A transverse 

 magnified section to show the convexity of the leaf, and 

 the echination on its back ; /. 3. A leaf magnified and 

 pressed to show the notch between the lobes. 



